Fred McAlister

Fred Early McAlister

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 185 lb.

• Born March 1, 1928 in Lynchburg, VA USA
• Died November 23, 2008 in Katy, TX USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Fred McAlister played in the St. Louis Cardinals farm system, managed in the farm system, and worked in the front office.

McAlister played infield in the minors from 1945 to 1960, missing the 1946-1947 seasons due to military service. He was the all-star shortstop in the 1950 Western League for the Omaha Cardinals. By 1960, he was managing the Dothan Cardinals in the class D Alabama-Florida League. McAlister was a scout for the Cardinals from at least 1962 to 1980. In 1969, McAlister was the Assistant Farm and Scouting Director and from 1981 to 1993 he was the Cardinals' Scouting Director. In 2008 he was a special assignment scout for the Cards, before dying later that year.

McAlister's achievements and accolades have been numerous during his six decades of baseball. In a 1988 Sports Illustrated story, Cardinals General Manager Dal Maxvill called McAlister “the most valuable person in the Cardinal organization.” USA Today is quoted as saying “Legendary Scouting Director Fred McAlister a little known source of so much of the franchise’s success.”

In 1994, Walt Jocketty, then the General Manager of the Cardinals, named their annual scouting award given to the teams best scout the "Fred McAlister Award."

In 1997 he was chosen Midwest Scout of the Year by the National League Scout of the Year Foundation for his “excellence in scouting, years of service and professionalism in the performance of his job.”

Lynchburg, Virginia honored McAlister in 1998 with his induction in the Lynchburg Sports Hall of Fame. Texas honored McAlister in 2001 with his inclusion into the Texas Scouts Hall of Fame in Dallas, Tx.