MASN: Wood: Rizzo’s new advisor

From the “I Had Forgotten About This Due To Blatz” files comes…

Mike Rizzo’s new special advisor, Ron Schueler, has seen the game from pretty much every level - from player to executive.

Schueler pitched in the big leagues for 8 seasons with Atlanta, Philadelphia, Minnesota and the White Sox; was a pitching coach for the White Sox, A’s and Pirates; was GM of the ChiSox for 11 seasons; and has been a special advisor to the Cardinals, Cubs, A’s, and most recently the Giants.

In other words, he’s no “new age” baseball guru; he’s old school with a rock-solid resume.

As a GM, Schueler did something in 1993 that had never been done before: He drafted a woman.

It wasn’t just any female; no, it was his daughter, Carey Schueler, a pitching prospect. She was drafted in the 43rd round by the White Sox, and, obviously, didn’t make it to the majors. She never actually signed with the Pale Hose, opting instead to attend college at DePaul.

Drafting his daughter was thought by most to be a publicity stunt. That she was taken in the 43rd round just 5 years after Mike Piazza was drafted in the 62nd round was a point frequently made. I didn’t see it quite that way, however.

About 30 years ago when I was hosting a show on WTOP, someone called and asked if I thought a woman would ever play big league baseball. I responded by saying that it wasn’t impossible, and that I’d like to see it in my lifetime.

Well, I’m still here, and she’s not there.