Special Thanks
Dick Pole - Former MLB Pitcher and Pitching Coach
Former Boston Red Sox pitcher, and original members of the Seattle Mariners through the expansion draft. Mr. Pole allowed me for many years after he retired to bring him pitching prospects to work with who were in high school and college every Tuesday in the summer and fall at Dearborn High School. Dick would work with pitchers helping to develop their arsenal, and we would always work on location and movement and changing speeds and repeating their delivery. There was never a radar gun in sight and my guys learned a lot. They learned how to develop their arsenals from one of the best pitching coaches on the planet, and in all the years he coached our kids, he never charged any of our families a dime. I can’t thank Mr. Pole enough for all he taught myself and my players.
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Bill Schudlich
1939-2021
1961 Michigan State Baseball Team Captain
61' MLB Draft Pick and an original member of the Montreal Expos scouting staff in the 1960s, Bill spent 54 years in Pro Scouting that included 23 years each with Detroit and Cleveland. Bill taught me a lot about scouting, writing reports, judging players and how important it was for pro scouts to get to know the player and their background. Bill was kind enough to call college coaching buddies for me about my high school kids, and if he really liked them that 1st phone call was ALWAYS to MICHIGAN STATE. In all my life I don't think I ever met a guy who loved their school more than the old man. Bill was Scouting Director for the Detroit Tigers and helped build that 1984 World Series team along with some great Cleveland Indian teams. Bill signed over 30 MLB players, including my all-time favorite Kirk Gibson.
(Bill pictured with Micah Ottenbreit, Phillies draft pick)
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Steve Kring
1947-2020
Former Cincinnati Reds scouting supervisor and AAA Baseball coach who also coached Central State University after graduating from Ohio State University.
Steve Kring worked with my prospect teams for years, sharing his lifetime of baseball knowledge with my players and giving families advice on how to handle college recruiting and dealing with MLB Scouts. I sat with Mr. Kring at many scouting events over the years and enjoyed the old scouting stories he and Gene Bennett would share about finding this player or that player back in the 70s-80s-90s and just tried to pick his brain as much as I could about the game of baseball.
Steve Kring will never be forgotten by this scouting staff
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Gene Bennett
1928-2017
56 years with the Cincinnati Reds, Gene played minor league baseball for the Reds, then under advice from the great Branch Rickey he took a job in scouting that lasted the rest of his life. Gene Bennett at the time of his passing drafted more MLB players than any N.L. scout in history and thanks to the Tim Martin Showcase I was able to meet this scouting legend and begin a friendship that allowed me to bring many a good player down to play in his Gene Bennett Classic Tournament that featured many top teams from around the country and Canada. Gene would come out and see my teams play and always had a kind word of inspiration for my players. Gene Bennett helped the Reds build three World Series teams and countless playoff teams as he was a major part of building The Big Red Machine.
Thank you, Mr. Bennett for all you did for my guys.
Dick Colpaert
1943-2021
Former MLB Pitcher and 30-year scout with the MLB Scouting Bureau who went to work with the Milwaukee Brewers after he retired, Dick was a friend who came out to see my teams play and allowed me to recommend players for him to see, the last of which I am proud to say plays for the Brewers.
Mr. Colpaert Pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the big leagues and for many years in professional baseball from 1962-1974.
Dick was a great friend to our baseball program, and we will never forget him.
Clyde Weir
1949-2023
Longtime MLB scout for the Detroit Tigers. Clyde Weir was a friend of our program and would come out to watch my prospect teams play whenever we played in his area. Clyde spoke to my teams on several occasions and was hired by Bill Schudlich in the 1980s to cover Michigan. Clyde Weir was a kind man who played for Western Michigan University and will always be remembered by those whose lives he entered.
Mark Monahan
Detroit Tigers scout
Longtime Detroit Tigers scout and Eastern Michigan Field Director. Mark came out to our bullpen sessions with Mr. Pole for many years and would come out to see our teams play in Detroit. It always meant a lot to have him and Clyde at our games. Growing up Tiger fans, the kids always had that extra pep in their step when I mentioned that the Detroit Tigers would be out to see us play. Mark just recently retired and I just want to thank him for all the years he allowed me to recommend him players to see and for all the kind words he had for our kids over the years because it truly meant a lot to have him at our workouts and games. Enjoy retirement Mark!
Chuck Reeder
(Pictured with longtime MLB coaches Tony Perezchica and Dave McKay)
Chuck Reeder. Our fearless leader for many years with the Chi-Town Cream. A man who for 15 years allowed kids from all over the country and Canada to play travel baseball for free and to work with major league coaches every off-season to get better in camps in Florida, Texas, and Arizona. Chuck's generosity allowed my kids to learn from guys like Dewey Robinson and Kyle Snyder and Jim Hickey and Chris Bosio as well as Rudy Jaramillo and Ryan Jackson and Orlando Hudson and Dave McKay and Tony Perezchica, Joey Ayrault, and even HOF manager Tony La Russa. Chuck treated the team as a first class opportunity for kids to get better and experience so much off-the-field activities throughout the country. It was truly amazing to be a part of. Chuck retired the Cream after back to back #1 PG Rankings for the 18U division. Enjoy retirement Coach Reeder! #WDFC