Mike Radcliff: "A Special Individual"

[Seth Stohs]

On Friday afternoon, Twins executive Mike Radcliff passed away after a long fight with pancreatic cancer. Over the past couple of days, many have been willing to discuss the impact that Radcliff had on them. Here are stories and well wishes from some Twins players. 

It is always unfortunate that we wait until someone passes away to honor them, and for people to speak glowingly of them and to share stories about that person. Over the past several years, Mike Radcliff has been given and earned many awards for his career in scouting, Scouting Hall of Fames, etc. In 2021, Radcliff was presented the Herb Carneal Lifetime Achievement Award at the Diamond Awards. All of it is very well deserved. He was well respected in the organization and all around the world of baseball. 

Mike Radcliff started as an area scout, because a regional supervisor, became the team's scouting director, and VP of Player Personnel. He has watched a lot of baseball players and developed relationships with most of them. 

And that’s why it is so nice to hear and read all the stories about how Mike Radcliff impacted various players, scouts, front office types and more over nearly four decades. Here are a few stories from some Twins players of the past: 

Denard Span was the Twins first round pick in 2002 out of high school in Tampa. He was scouted, drafted and signed by Mike Radcliff. Recently, Span shared, “I was very sad to hear of the news of Mike Radcliff. What I remember about Mike, especially in my younger days, was that he was a man of few words and observed, at least when I was around him. Our relationship grew more as I matured as a man and ball player. We had very good convos the last few years when I came back to Target Field for jersey retirements and Hall of Fame inductions. He was definitely a straight shooter, cut from the same cloth as Terry (Ryan).” 

Jeff Manship was the Twins 14th round pick in 2006 out of Notre Dame. He spent parts of four seasons with the Twins and four more seasons with three other organizations. He said simply of Radcliff, “I remember that he was a great man.” 

Manship is out of baseball and working for Boston Scientific Endoscopy in medical device sales and says he sees the effects of pancreatic cancer often. “Being in this job has raised my awareness so much about that disease.”

Brian Dinkelman has known and worked with Mike Radcliff going back almost two decades when Radcliff used the Twins’ 8th round pick in 2006 on the infielder from McKendree University in Illinois. He worked his way up the ladder and earned a big-league promotion in 2011. He hit .301 over 23 games. 

Reached on Saturday, Dinkelman said, “Just awful news on Cliffy. He was a staple in this organization and was loved and respected by all. I remember him being at a pre-draft workout before I was drafted and always being so nice to everyone. He would always come visit our teams during the season to evaluate the players.” 

After a couple of years away from baseball, he returned to the Twins as a hitting coach in the GCL. He quickly moved up to Cedar Rapids in that role and is about to start his fifth season as the Kernels manager. So he and Radcliff have likely communicated in very different ways over his years. 

Dinkelman added, “Now since I have moved to the coaching side, I have got to know him even better. From visiting us during the season and being in meetings for the org. He was a very intelligent baseball man and we are going to miss him dearly.” 

Brian Dozier went from ninth round draft pick in 2009 out of Southern Mississippi as a “senior sign” to an All Star and 40-homer hitting second baseman. He retired before the 2021 season and tells me that things are “great in the Dozier household” and that he’s loving life even with three kids under the age of three! He told me about a strong relationship he had with Radcliff. 

“He was a phenomenal scout and even a better man. He was a  part of bringing me to the Twins, and we became closer each and every year.  He was so passionate about his job and wanted every player to succeed within the organization, whether he was the one who scouted him or not. He loved the game and loved the Twins. I don’t have any specific stories that come to mind about Mike, but he was a friend that impacted many. 

Fellow 2009 draft pick and current Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Gibson summarized his thoughts on Mike Radcliff by saying “He was an awesome person and a great baseball mind!”

Josh Rabe attended Division II Quincy University in Illinois. The Twins made him their 11th round pick in 2000. He played parts of 2006 and 2007 with the Twins. After retiring from playing baseball, he became the head coach at his alma mater, Quincy University, and led them to the Division II College World Series a couple of times. Two years ago, he took over as the school’s Athletics Director.  

Of Radcliff, Rabe noted, “He obviously had a huge impact with building the Twins into perennial contenders.”  He recalls a pre-draft workout with Radcliff and other scouts. 

“In 2000, right before the draft, the Twins invited me to the Metrodome for a workout.  I had gone to a few of them leading up to this, and it was a select few guys working out at the MLB park of the team that invited you.  Obviously a tremendous experience for any aspiring professional baseball player, but in my case, being from Mendon, Illinois, and attending Quincy University, it was special.

My parents could not take me to this workout, so my college coach Pat Atwell took me.  We arrived in Minneapolis the night before the workout, spent the night and drove to the Dome in the morning for this workout.  To my surprise, I was the only player there.  Billy Milos, the area scout who got me up there, told me Mike was going to see me in the NCAA tournament, but did not get the chance to see me because we did not get an at-large bid, so he wanted to watch me workout.

It was the Twins pre-draft meetings, and every scout they employed was at the workout.  All scouts and Mike introduced themselves, all but a guy in a Sports-Cream shirt and Twins shorts.  This guy ran the workout with Mike by his side.  I ran a couple of 60's, played catch with the guy in the T-Shirt and shorts and went to right field to throw to third base. Mike walked me out to right field and was on the line as the guy in the T-shirt hit grounders to me. One of the scouts had to go into my bag to grab a glove to catch the balls at third base. So, before I go to throw, the guy in the T-shirt yells, take it easy on the first couple. So after three throws, he yells one-hop it to third base!  

Being a kid from a D2 school, from the farm, I come up and just air mail one to third. I just let it fly. The man in the T-shirt hollers, ‘One-hop it please!!!’ 

I looked over to Mike, and I said, ‘Don't you guys want to see me air it out?’ 

Mike looks at me and says, "Son, when the general manager of the Minnesota Twins asks you to one-hop it to third base, I would do it!!"  

Terry Ryan did not introduce himself, as he was the guy in the T-shirt and shorts, hitting fungoes and throwing batting practice!!!  I replied to Mike, ‘I swear I did not know who he was, he did not introduce himself!!!’  

He and the other scouts that were around the right field line literally were laughing so hard I thought they were going to fall over.....

100 percent true story, I am sure Mike is still laughing about that one.”

Jamie Ogden was the Twins third-round draft pick in 1990 out of White Bear Lake High School. He spent nine seasons playing in the Twins organization including the final three seasons at Triple-A. He has remained involved with the Twins organization at events like Twins Fest, youth clinics and more. 

Of Mike Radcliff, he said, “Had many conversations with Mike. Just came across as a guy in a pivotal role who didn’t act like it. Very humble and kind and made you feel good with stories he’d tell of you being scouted. Great heart.”

Jacque Jones said, “Mike was a straight shooter, and you knew where you stood with him.” 

Taylor Rogers noted, “ All I know is he was highly respected.”

LaTroy Hawkins was the Twins seventh round draft pick in 1991 by Terry Ryan. However, Mike Radcliff was able to scout Hawkins several times. He shared with me the following story. 

“It was probably 2000, and I was with the Twins. I was coming to the ballpark, and they were up in the front office getting ready for the draft. Larry Corrigan stopped me and asked me to come in. They had all the scouts in there, and Radcliff was up there talking. And in Larry Corrigan fashion, he said, ‘Hey Radi, LaTroy Hawkins.” 

On a dime, Radi says, “Magical Arm.”

That’s the first thing Radcliff said when he saw me pitch in high school in Gary, Indiana. He said, “Magical Arm.” And every time I saw him after that, he would call me Magical Arm guy.” 

In the past six or seven years, Hawkins has been a very active Special Assistant to the Baseball Operations group. He has participated in many aspects of the game and in that area, including on the road with scouts at times. 

“His memory. His ability to break a player down, to evaluate. He was just the best at it. He cared. He loved the Minnesota Twins organization. He loved baseball. He had an unwavering passion for it that you don’t see all the time. A special individual.” 

As his voice softened, Hawkins repeated, “A special individual.”

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[PDX Twin]

Lovely tributes and great stories. Some tell you as much about the story-teller as about the subject.

[Blyleven2011]

Loved all the praised tributes the players gave to Mike ...

The best was Josh Rabe  with Mike telling him it was the general manager calling the shots and you better listen ....