Baseball: Didier to be honored at Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation banquet

From wire reports • January 17, 2009, Daily Advertiser

Former UL athletic director and baseball coach Mel Didier will be honored Saturday in Los Angeles at the sixth annual Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation "In the Spirit of the Game" banquet.

Didier, a renowned Major League Baseball personnel executive since 1969 and former LSU football and baseball letterman, will receive a Legends in Scouting award during the banquet at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel.

Didier earned letters in baseball (1947) and football (1944-45) at LSU, and he later served as the Tigers’ freshmen team football coach for two seasons (1967-68).

Other baseball luminaries scheduled to be honored at Saturday’s event include Rich Gossage (Player Lifetime Achievement Award), Whitey Herzog (Tommy Lasorda Managers Award) and George Brett (Outstanding Achievement in Baseball History Award).

Rob Dibble is the master of ceremonies for the banquet, with celebrities Brendan Fraser, Don Johnson and Larry King serving as co-hosts.

Didier, a Baton Rouge native and a member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, presently works as Senior Advisor in the Texas Rangers organization. He has worked for nine MLB teams during his distinguished career, including the Los Angeles Dodgers during their drive to the 1988 World Series title.

Didier is credited with giving critical scouting information to Dodgers slugger Kirk Gibson about Oakland Athletics reliever Dennis Eckersley that helped Gibson hit his famous pinch-hit, walk-off homer in Game 1 of the ’88 World Series.

Didier is also recognized for significantly influencing the careers of All-Stars like Andre Dawson, Gary Carter, Mike Piazza, Luis Gonzalez, Eddie Murray and Mike Scioscia.

Didier is the author of "Podnuh, Let Me Tell You A Story," a book about his life in baseball.

Didier’s grandson, Beau Didier, is a freshman catcher/infielder for the LSU baseball team. Beau Didier joined the Tigers this season after a superb career at Bellarmine Prep High School in Tacoma, Wash.

Beau’s father and Mel’s son is Bob Didier, a former MLB catcher from 1969-74 for the Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox.

Athletic Network Footnote:  Click here for Mel Didier’s profile http://athleticnetwork.net/site.php?pageID=55&profID=2587