A Wonderful Ride

After 21 years at Baseball America, it's time for another challenge as a scout for the Twins

- John Manuel

My first week at Baseball America was back in September 1996, and then-prospect Vladimir Guerrero was on the cover of the magazine. Working at BA was a different gig back then. I filed some photos, went on food runs for Jim Callis and Will Lingo and tried to learn from and listen to BA founder Allan Simpson. The knowledge in the office was daunting; I know where the phrase “out of my depth” comes from. I experienced it first-hand.

With time, I adjusted, covering the college beat after Jim left BA for two years and taking to the wider latitude afforded by the 1999 launch of BaseballAmerica.com. The next year, I not only got married to Becky Kirkland—by far the luckiest thing that’s ever happened to me—but I also spent a full year of wall-to-wall college beat work online and covered the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Five years later I was promoted, with Lingo, to co-editor-in-chief, starting a dozen years at the helm of Baseball America. I considered it a privilege and tried to cover the game with passion, integrity and a depth of knowledge to earn readers’ respect and subscription.

That’s been my goal and I have done my best to meet it. But after 21 years, I had started to look for new challenges and have found one with the Minnesota Twins, for whom I’ll work in the professional scouting department.

In honor of my time at BA, I decided to write one last top 10 (in addition to the Cubs in this issue!)—my top 10 BA moments.

10. 1998 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES: You never forget your first. Mine ended with Southern California's insane 21-14 win in the title game against Arizona State. I’ve been to every CWS since but two. I will greatly miss the Series and Omaha.