Michael John Sgobba

Michael John Sgobba, 81, of Scottsdale, Ariz., passed away Dec. 8, 2011. Beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle, Mike passed suddenly and unexpectedly.

Mike had been a professional major league baseball scout for more than 35 years, spending most of his time with the Oakland A's, Chicago White Sox and finally, the Arizona Diamondbacks, with whom he served proudly for the past 10 years. As a coach at Fullerton College for 24 years, he sent more than 150 student athletes on to four-year schools, and had over 80 head into the professional ranks.

He was selected to the Junior College Baseball Coaches' Association of California, selected to the Illinois State University Hall of Fame, the Fullerton College Athletic Hall of Fame, president of the Southern California Baseball Scouts Association for seven years, and has officiated baseball, basketball and football at the high school, college and professional levels.

Besides being a great ambassador for baseball in the United States, Mexico, South America and the Dominican Republic, Mike's love of the game was surpassed only by his love for his family. Mike will best be remembered by all who knew him as a man who lived by the "old school" precepts of character, integrity, honesty, preparation, commitment, perseverance, humility and work ethic.