The Future: MLBbros Mo Vaughn and Tom “Flash” Gordon Partner With Perfect Game To Grow Baseball

The Future: MLBbros Mo Vaughn and Tom “Flash” Gordon Partner With Perfect Game To Grow Baseball

by | Jun 11, 2024 | 5TH SLOT

While it hasn’t been a meteoric surge, we’ve seen a slight rise of Black and brown ballplayers on Major League rosters. Just a few years ago, Black and brown ballplayers made up just over 7 percent of Opening Day rosters.

 

According to MLBbro.com, Black and brown ballplayers comprised 10.3 % of Opening Day rosters in April, with just over half of MLB teams starting Black and brown players. For those of a certain age, the numbers are still very low, but there is some progress.

 

In fact, a pair of former All-Star MLBbros are at the forefront of trying to improve those future numbers. And when you consider the rise of travel teams within youth sports and the organizations supporting them, it could be just a matter of time.

 

Mo Vaughn and Tom “Flash” Gordon Work With Perfect Game To Grow the Game

 

Former American League MVP Mo Vaughn and standout reliever Tom “Flash” Gordon have cultivated a working relationship with Perfect Game, the world’s largest elite youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service.

 

Founded in 1995 by former scout and college coach Jerry Ford, Perfect Game currently produces over 9,800+ events, hundreds of thousands of games, and showcases each year across the country. 

 

 

Founder and operator of the Vaughn Sports Academy in Boca Raton, Fla. Vaughn stated it was when he began to work with his son in Little League that got him back in the sport. “When I left the game, I really didn’t have a desire to be a part of baseball”, Vaughn told MLBbro.com.

 

“However, when my son started playing T-ball and started to show more of an interest in the game, it slowly brought me back around. It gave me the opportunity to spend more time with him and offer him my expertise. I’m very thankful that it brought me “back home” to the sport.

 

 

Known as the “Hit Dog” for his prowess at the plate and his towering frame, Vaughn was one of the most feared hitters in the American League throughout the 1990’s, winning the AL MVP award in 1995 after hitting .300 with 39 home runs and a league-leading 126 RBI. 

 

 

He slugged at least 33 home runs six straight years (1995-2000), making three All-Star teams over that span. A 12-year veteran of the major leagues, Vaughn finished his career with a .293 batting average, 270 doubles, 328 home runs, 1,064 RBI and a .906 OPS for the Boston Red Sox (1991-98), Anaheim Angels (1999-2000) and New York Mets (2002-03).

 

 

Not long after retiring and becoming a coach for his son’s league, Vaughn expanded his involvement in youth sports and developed his academy. Using similar philosophies as Perfect Game, the academy provides “athletes with the tools they need to succeed in sports and in life”. 

 

It’s no surprise that Vaughn would eventually be approached by Perfect Game chairman Rick Thurman a year ago about joining the organization. However, the former Seton Hall standout was skeptical initially. 

 

“At first, I was just looking to invest in the organization”, said Vaughn. “Once me and Rick started talking, I realized we were on the same page regarding the development of the kids and their talents”.

 

“In my opinion, Perfect Game is one of the greatest youth organizations in the country. I’m looking forward to discovering untapped baseball talent around the country by going to places where Perfect Game currently isn’t to find the players that maybe aren’t being seen as often as they should be.”

 

Mo Vaughn Will Be Evaluating Talent Of The Future 

 

Vaughn will collaborate with Perfect Game’s network of scouts and coaches to identify promising young baseball talent. Said Thurman, “Mo is a huge addition to the Perfect Game family, both literally and figuratively. His stature in the baseball community cannot be understated as he is as beloved off the diamond as he was feared on it.”

 

Ironically for Gordon, a teammate of Vaughn’s for three seasons in Boston, it was also his family ties to the game that initially attracted him to Perfect Game, “My youngest son, Nick began playing travel ball when he was 9 years old,” said the Florida native.

 

“Helping him to develop as a player gave me the opportunity to see the kind of quality baseball talent in the state of Florida”, said Gordon. “The main thing that I tried to instill in him and the other kids was to develop good habits and consistent habits.”

 

“I’ve been very lucky to be on the ground floor of this growth in travelball. My vision has been to encourage young athletes of all ages and skill-sets to embrace their abilities. At the end of the day, it’s the kids that set the standard. We’re just here to give them the tools.”

 

It’s been a complete family affair for Gordon as he was assisted by his brother, Anthony Gordon and his cousin Clyde “Pork Chop” Pough, who both played professional baseball. Anthony was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 26th round of the 1987 MLB Amateur Draft and played 7 minor league seasons.

 

 

Pough was drafted in the third round by the Cleveland Indians a year later and played seven seasons in the minors followed by one season in the Mexican League and five in the Atlantic League.

 

Eventually, Nick would go on to be named the Florida Gatorade Player of the Year as a high school junior in 2013. A year later, Gordon was tabbed as the fifth overall pick in the MLB Amateur Draft by the Minnesota Twins.

 

On April 23, 2021, Gordon was promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his MLB debut on May 6 as Minnesota’s starting second baseman against the Texas Rangers, At the time, he joined his paternal half-brother, Dee Strange-Gordon as another brother combo in the majors.

 

Tom “Flash” Gordon Was An Elite Closer

 

“Flash” was selected in the sixth round of the 1986 MLB Amateur Draft by the Kansas City Royals. His professional baseball career spanned 22 years from 1986-2009. In 1998, he won the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award and led the American League in saves and in games finished. 

 

From 1998-99, he set a then-MLB record with 54 consecutive saves. Gordon was also the only pitcher in MLB history with 100 wins, saves and holds and was a World Series Champion in 2008. 

 

 

A 3-time All-Star, “Flash” currently serves as the Head of Community Relations and Special Advisor to the President, Jerry Ford. In his role, Gordon helps coach young student athletes, participate in local community and charity events as well as hosting marquee Perfect Game events.

 

Gordon added that reaching out to the small towns of the country will help to locate the Black and brown players that have fallen in the cracks.

 

“We want to find those diamonds in the rough and give them a true opportunity in the game”, Gordon said.

 

“We’re looking to turn this into a great stage for these kids while continuing to inspire them. We want to unify many young athletes and families of all ages and backgrounds through their love for the game of baseball.”

Mo “Hit Dog” Vaughn Was A Beantown Bad Man & A Feared Craftsman Of The Crush

Mo “Hit Dog” Vaughn Was A Beantown Bad Man & A Feared Craftsman Of The Crush

by | Apr 29, 2021 | 5TH SLOT

By Contributor | Devon POV Mason 

The Boston Red Sox franchise is known for popular personalities as a staple over the years, and “The Hit Dog” aka Mo Vaughn reigned supreme in the mid-1990s.

The Red Sox and left-handed hitters have been joined at the hip for years. From Tris Speaker and Babe Ruth (a pitcher who belted 49 homers while in Beantown) to Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski to Fred Lynn. Wade Boggs and Mike Greenwell were southpaw forces as well, but none of them brought the power and wallop that the compact, 6-1, 275-pound rocket launcher did.

 

 

The power-hitting Vaughn spent eight seasons at first base for the Red Sox and in the process, he had 230 home runs and 753 RBI’s during his career. While also batting .304 and accumulating 199 doubles.

Vaughn finished his career with 328 home runs while playing for three franchises over 12 seasons. He also finished with a .293 career batting average and 1064 career RBI’s.

The pressure to win in Boston and end the “Curse of the Bambino” fell heavily on multiple players in the 90s, with Vaughn being one of them. Vaughn put up All-Star numbers but wasn’t able to shatter the curse as he and the Red Sox only made two playoff appearances during his tenure.

 

Boston Red Sox legends: A look back at the marvelous Mo Vaughn - Page 2

 

Through his first couple seasons beginning in 1991, he was productive in spots. The third season is where the light really came on and he drove in 101 runs. But 1995-98 is when  Vaughn really took off as a complete hitter.

He was named an All-Star three times during this span and even took home the AL MVP in 1995. Vaughn went yard 39 times, while driving in 126 runs, beating out Albert Belle and Edgar Martinez for his first and only MVP.

He only got better in 1996, and although the Red Sox missed the postseason his numbers were better than his MVP year prior. He hit 44 home runs and drove in 143 runs while batting a sizzling .346 at the plate. Despite this incredible season, he finished fifth in the MVP race. Vaughn also finished fourth in the 1998 MVP voting.

 

 

Boston might’ve been more successful during Vaughn’s years if not for their arch-nemesis New York Yankees returning to power those same exact years. A lot of the reason behind Boston’s just two playoff appearances stem from their division rival being so good as well.

Both playoff appearances ended in lopsided losses to the Uber-talented Cleveland Indians. Vaughn went a forgettable 0-14 in the 1995 playoff series. He fared much better in the 1998 series loss going 7-17 with 2 home runs and 7 RBI’s.

Consistency was always the strength of Vaughn’s game, albeit hitting for average or power, his bat was a formidable one for the Red Sox. He has 16-game hitting streaks in both 1995 and 1998. His 6 RBI game against the Royals in 1995 is still memorable. Or how bout his 3 home run day against the hated Yankees in 1997. Even with the 1998 season being his final one in Boston he started it off with a walk-off grand slam on opening day against the Mariners.

 

 

Vaughn had some run-ins with management, coupled with some off-the-field trouble and several run-ins with the media helped usher Vaughn out of “Beantown” in free agency after the 1998 season.

But prior to leaving, Big Mo spent almost a decade as a fan fave, while helping to keep those Red Sox teams competitive in a tough AL East where Derek Jeter and Joe Torre’s Yankees Dynasty was in full swing.

He was named to the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2008 and became eligible for Cooperstown in 2009. He only received a paltry 1.1 percent of the votes, meaning he’d no longer be eligible for possible induction.

Despite the ups and downs, including his non-graceful exit from Boston, he’ll always be considered a franchise great. He is easily one of the top-ten-left-handed hitters in Boston Red Sox franchise history.