In Carl Blando’s first couple of seasons as a coach in Kansas City’s Ban Johnson League, the administrators knew it could potentially be a brief pit stop for him. Even in those early years, he was more enthralled with the process than the results, more in tune with identifying and developing talent than reaping the rewards of it.
And sure enough, after three straight Ban Johnson League championships, he embarked on a 25-year career working as a Major League Baseball scout. But he rarely missed an opportunity to return to Ban Johnson, offering advice and time with players.