Episode 24: Mike Cameron, Ohio's Greatest High School Baseball Coach!

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Mike Cameron, the retired varsity baseball coach at Moeller High School in Cincinnati, joins the podcast. Mike had a successful coaching career, with 767 wins and 4 state championships. Many of his players went on to play college baseball and 13 made it to the major leagues, including Hall of Famers Barry Larkin and Ken Griffey Jr.
Mike shares his experiences playing at Purcell HS and working at Crosley Field, as well as his coaching journey at Moeller. He emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and the development of talent in building a successful program.
In this episode, Mike discusses his experiences coaching high school baseball and working as an official scorer for the Cincinnati Reds. He shares stories about coaching talented players like Ken Griffey, Jr., Barry Larkin, Buddy Bell, and David Bell, as well as his interactions with other coaches and players. Mike also explains the role of an official scorer and how scoring decisions are made. He reflects on his coaching philosophy and the impact of legendary Reds manager Sparky Anderson.
Overall, the conversation highlights Mike's passion for baseball and his dedication to the sport.

Takeaways

• Mike Cameron had a successful coaching career at Moeller High School, with 767 wins and 4 state championships.
• Several of Mike's players went on to play college baseball and 13 made it to the major leagues, including Hall of Famers Barry Larkin and Ken Griffey Jr.
• Mike emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and the development of talent in building a successful baseball program.
• He shares his experiences playing at Purcell HS and working at Crosley Field, including interactions with visiting players like Stan Musial.
• Mike's coaching journey started as a JV coach and he learned from every coach he came across, constantly improving his skills. Coaching high school baseball requires a strong relationship with players and a focus on their development.
• The role of an official scorer is to observe and record the official record of the game, including scoring decisions and game details.
• Sparky Anderson was a highly respected manager who was able to get the best out of his players.
• Mike's experiences in coaching and scoring for the Reds have given him a deep appreciation for the game of baseball.

Sound Bites

• "Smooth, most natural ballplayer I've ever coached." (Griffey, Jr.)
• "He hit a ball over the fence, over the trees, and it landed down on Sherman Avenue. That thing was majestic." (Ditto)
• "The longest home run that I saw him hit, well actually the umpire called it foul, was up at Lakota High School." (Ditto)
• "Who's your favorite red player of all time if you have"
• "I tried to learn from every coach, whether it was a football coach, a basketball coach. It didn't make any difference. I tried to learn from everybody."
• "Go Crusaders, what's that all about? Everybody loves the Crusaders, the Panthers, the Bombers, and the Lancers, right?"

Sponsored by Moerlein Lager House, host of the March 26, 2025 Opening Day Eve Party benefitting the Reds Community Fund!