SAN FRANCISCO – Gary Hughes, a beloved professional scout for numerous big league organizations during a 54-year career, has died in Northern California after a battle with cancer.
He was 79.Hughes was a regular at Bay Area ballparks in recent years working for the Red Sox and Diamondbacks. Arizona announced his death in a statement Saturday, saying he passed earlier in the day. “Gary Hughes was the quintessential baseball man,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said. “He coached at various levels.
He scouted. He developed players. And he helped put together major league rosters.”Hughes had lived for years in the scenic coastal city of Santa Cruz.“Gary’s impact on the game of baseball was exceeded only by the number of friends he made throughout.