January 24, 2021

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

In the undervalued, underestimated and underappreciated world of baseball scouts, Fred Ferreira is a name synonymous with the game.

So it's no surprise that the former Expos scout extraordinaire was nominated recently for induction as an executive into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.

His case will be evaluated by one of the Hall of Fame's various veterans' committees. His portfolio will also be submitted for consideration for the hall's Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award. Either way, he's an ideal candidate for selection.

Back in 2012, the revered Ferreira was selected international scout of the year by the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation. It's an award that is handed out on occasion and not necessarily every year.

Ferreira, 84, was an international scout for the Expos for 10 years from 1991 to 2001 and signed the likes of Vladimir Guerrero, Javier Vasquez, Jose Vidro and Orlando Cabrera to Montreal contracts. During part of his time with the Expos, Ferriera also ran the organization's baseball academy in the Dominican Republic.

By his accounts, Ferriera has watched 77 of his signed players make it to the major leagues.

Ferreira's baseball resumé shows that he spent nine years with the Marlins following his tenure with the Expos and then he was employed by the Orioles in a similar role from 2010-18.

Back in 1991, Expos GM Dan Duquette hired Ferreira to run the organization's international scouting department and when Duquette took over the Orioles' GM role in 2010, he brought Ferreira on board again.

"It can be said easily that Fred Ferreira is the most successful of all professional baseball scouts in the history of this great game, ever,'' Ken Barnett, a Florida lawyer, said in his nomination report to the Hall of Fame.

Ferreira has been involved in scouting circles since 1967 when he began working for the Padres on a part-time basis. He also scouted 10 years for the Yankees and he was a prospect evaluator for the Cardinals, Royals, Angels, Phillies and Reds.

To find talent, the Spanish-speaking native of New York City and son of a Brazilian-born father scouted players not only in the U.S., Canada, the Dominican Republic and Mexico but he travelled to Guyana, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Aruba, Curacao, Venezuela, Brazil, Panama, the Netherlands, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, the Bahamas, St. Thomas and other countries.

Among his signed players are Bernie Williams of Puerto Rico, Roberto Kelly of Panama and Hensley Meulens of Curacao.