Tim Pletkovich to Share Scouting Tales at Bishop Hill
Former professional baseball scout Tim Pletkovich will appear at the Steeple Building Museum in Bishop Hill on Saturday, August 15, for a talk titled “Confessions of a Baseball Scout.” The event, organized by the Bishop Hill Heritage Association, promises a rare glimpse into the inner workings of talent evaluation at the highest level of the sport.
Pletkovich’s scouting journey began in the 1980s, when he was just 14 years old evaluating amateur free agents for the Philadelphia Phillies. His early start gave him a front‑row seat to the meticulous process of spotting raw talent, a skill that would later catch the attention of Major League Baseball’s Chicago Cubs.
From Rookie Scout to Youngest Paid Scout
At 21, Pletkovich joined the Chicago Cubs organization and quickly became the youngest paid scout in Major League Baseball history. The promotion reflected not only his keen eye for potential but also his ability to navigate the competitive scouting landscape at a young age.
During his tenure with the Cubs, he traveled across the United States and abroad, assessing prospects and providing recommendations that shaped the team’s future roster. His anecdotes from that period will form the core of the upcoming presentation, offering listeners personal stories that blend humor, frustration and the occasional serendipitous discovery.
The program will be held at the Steeple Building Museum in Bishop Hill on Saturday, August 15, at 1 p.m. Attendees can expect a relaxed, conversational format that invites questions and discussion. The event is open to the public and free of charge, though space may be limited.
Those interested in attending can contact the Bishop Hill Heritage Association at 309‑927‑3899 or visit www.bishophillheritage.org for more information. Email inquiries can be sent to bhha@mymctc.net. The talk promises to be an engaging experience for baseball fans, historians and anyone curious about the art of talent scouting.