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Ruben Amaro Sr. Shaped the Phillies we Know and Love

By George Stockburger

Jul 5, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; A general view of Citizens Bank Park during game between Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies defeated the Braves, 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 5, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; A general view of Citizens Bank Park during game between Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies defeated the Braves, 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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Phillies lifer Ruben Amaro Sr. leaves a mark larger than life in Philadelphia

When looking at what Ruben Amaro Sr. did for the Phillies during his 81 years of life, you could argue the team doesn’t win a championship without him.

The unsung hero of Phillies baseball, Amaro Sr. played 11 seasons for the Phillies, and was a Gold Glove winner in the 1960’s playing alongside Jim Bunning and Chris Short.

While Amaro’s 1964 team collapsed in the final stretch of a championship-worthy season, the impact he leaves after his playing days is just as strong.

Amaro Sr. revolutionized international scouting, becoming the organization’s first scout in the Caribbeans. He was responsible for bringing fellow baseball lifer Juan Samuel to Philadelphia during his six years as an international scout.

“[Amaro] didn’t just discover you and sign you, he followed your career, and it was important for him to continue with that relationship and he did that for me,” Samuel said. “Even when I was with other clubs as a player and a coach, he’d always call me, ‘my son.’ That’s what he was to us, to a lot of us.”

Mar 5, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox first base coach Ruben Amaro (20) calls signals from the dugout against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox first base coach Ruben Amaro (20) calls signals from the dugout against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

During the 1980 World Series season he manned the first base coaches box, a job his son Ruben Jr. now holds in Boston.

Amaro Sr.’s impact on the 2008 Phillies was just as powerful, as he pushed the organization to take Shane Victorino in the Rule 5 Draft.

In a 2009 interview, Amaro Sr. reflected on his career in Philadelphia and expressed his desire to be buried in his Phillies uniform.

Expect the Phillies to honor Amaro. Sr with a patch on their jersey, similar to the one they will don for 1980 World Series manager Dallas Green, who passed away last week.

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