I wrote a story on Jim Howard that appeared in Thursday's paper.

Howard is a Shaker High and Siena College grad, who has been a scout in the Baltimore Orioles organization for the past 25 years.

Howard will be inducted as part of the second class to be enshrined into the Capital District Baseball Hall of Fame.

“I was pleasantly pleased and surprised," said Howard when he heard about his induction. “When you look at the names that have been compiled each of the last two years, it’s a much more impressive list from a historical standpoint than I think a lot of people would ever imagine."

Howard was named the scout of the year for the Orioles this year, for the third time (also in 2004, 2009). That meant a lot since Baltimore reached the playoffs for the first time since 1997.

One interesting thing I couldn't fit in the story was that Howard used to pick up Sam Perkins on the way to Shaker basketball games. The two played together on the team. Perkins went on to play 18 seasons in the NBA.

CAPITAL DISTRICT BASEBALL HALL OF FAME
TICKET INFO

When: Sunday, Oct. 28
Where: Hilton Hotel (Troy)
Time: Reception 4:30-6 p.m. Dinner 6 p.m.
Fee: $60
Contact Rene LeRoux at (518) 877-5170 or at cdbaseballhof@aol.com

Class of 2012 Inductees

Living
Rick Bernardo    Don Berti               
Peter Brown    Mario Cuomo         
Ken Hayner    Jim Howard            
Tim Lane    Joe Mahoney         
John Mayotte    Brian Mee              
Jon Mueller     Bill Norris              
Craig Phillips     Brendan Ryan   
Dave Smith    Karl Steffan
John Stewart    Gary Tuck
Deceased
Buck Ewing    Mike ‘King’ Kelly
Mike Maetta    Jack O'Brien
Ed Phelps    Cy Seymour
Waldo Lozano

Johnny Podres Lifetime Achievement — TBA
Johnny Evers Community Contributor — William Gladstone (Owner Tri-City ValleyCats)
John Cerutti Sportsmanship — Don Blaha

SARASOTA, Fla. — Joe Mahoney has performed well in spring training with the Baltimore Orioles.

Still, on Tuesday, the Orioles optioned the Catholic Central graduate to Triple-A Norfolk.

Mahoney was the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year last season and started spring training 7-for-17 (.412) at the plate.

“He’s done a lot to put himself on the map,” manager Buck Showalter told MLB.com.

The 24-year-old started the 2010 season at High Class A Frederick, but played the last 52 games at Double-A Bowie, where he hit .319 with nine home runs and 29 runs driven in.

Showalter indicated that even if Mahoney starts the 2011 season, back in Bowie, where he finishes the year could be based on his production.

“I think he’s primed to have that year that’s similar to last year and maybe even better,” Showalter said to MLB.com.