2/8/2024-Legendary Pecos League Manager JD Droddy was the recipient of the prestigious Service to Baseball Award at the recent 11th annual 'Bill and Ed's Holiday Baseball Extravaganza', held in Denver, Colorado.
Droddy first gained notoriety in 2013 as the manager of the Trinidad Triggers. He was a featured character in the Fox TV reality show 'Life's a Pitch'. Droddy also managed the Tucson Saguaros to the 2016 Pecos League championship, with a 55-15 record. In the championship series, he beat his former Trinidad team.
Droddy also managed the Salina Stockade in the American Association. In addition to baseball, Droddy, an Air Force veteran of over 20 years, has worked as a college president, a lawyer, a professor as well as the league adjudicator for the Pecos League. He is also an accomplished musician, composer and playwright. His various experiences led a Houston TV station to label Droddy as, "the most interesting man in baseball."
Ed Henderson, a longtime Major League Baseball scout, said, "JD is most deserving of this award. He's had a great career in and out of baseball. His love of the game is second to none and we are thrilled to present him with our Service to Baseball Award."
Droddy was not expecting to be the 2023 recipient of the award. "To say the least, I was surprised and humbled to receive this year's award. I want to thank everyone responsible for selecting me. It has a place in my living room and I shall treasure it for the rest of my life."
Not bad for a Texas kid who was All-State at Hull-Daisetta High School...in football.
Links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPwmDxZv4v0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-N-yP1y9eI&t=206s