Phil Pote, whose success coaching high school baseball in South Los Angeles inspired efforts to rebuild the sport in the inner city here and around the country, died Sunday. He was 85.
Pote had moved to Turlock, Calif., to be closer to family. He had been in poor health after a series of strokes followed a heart attack three years ago, said his niece, Jan Bloom.
Pote worked as a scout for half a century, for the Dodgers, Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners. He is best remembered for coaching a Fremont High team with three future major leaguers — Willie Crawford, Bobby Tolan and Bob Watson — to the 1963 Los Angeles City Section championship.