Ray Negron Honored by New York-Area Scouts

By Roberto Salvador Klapisch

Ray Negron has always considered himself a creation of the streets. Long before he became the Yankees’ community outreach specialist, he was a Bronx kid who got caught spray-painting graffiti on the walls of The Stadium – by none other than George Steinbrenner himself.

Negron’s career with the Yankees was launched the moment The Boss decided not to call the cops but instead put the frightened Puerto Rican kid to work. Ever since, Negron has been looking out for the little guy.

So maybe it was no surprise that Negron was awarded the Jim Quigley Memorial Award over the weekend for commitment to the game and community outreach. Negron was one of the guests of honor at the New York Professional Scouts Dinner in Long Island.

Negron thanked those to whom he owes a lifelong debt, including the Steinbrenner family and George in particular, as well as Yankees president Randy Levine. But he saved his kindest words for those on the streets and ballfields and every nook and cranny where baseball is being hatched.

With a nod to veteran bird dog Cesar Presbott and the Yankees’ first female scout, Kelley Rodman, Negron said, “Both of these scouts truly do understand the importance of their jobs. They’re not afraid to give a kid with a dream, some hope. Sometimes maybe more than warranted. Baseball needs more people like Cesar and Kelley in this great game. We have good people in the game, however the great ones are far and few between.”

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