15 Year Anniversary

Steve Sclafani: All Access Pass

It was 15 years ago today...

On July 22, 1994, coach Bumps Vaughn of Prince George’s Community College was nice enough to let me and legendary San Francisco Giants scout Mike Toomey use his field. With the help of a video camera “loaned” to me by my father, the Baseball Factory was born. Five players were video taped that day including Chad Wiener (from Hammond High School), Billy Hite (Atholton) and Aaron Smith (Howard), all whom were from High Schools in Columbia, MD where I grew up.

As a kid growing up, three adults had a major impact on my life. They were my mom, my dad and Mike Toomey. I met Mike when I was a young player attending a baseball camp where he was instructing. His positive approach and ability to help each and every kid he worked with get the most out of themselves immediately resonated with me. I was the kid who called Mike non-stop to ask him about baseball strategy, hitting mechanics, 20/80 scouting scale…you name it. Mike was always gracious with his time and helped me to believe in myself as a player.

When I called Mike in 1992 to help find me a collegiate summer league, Mike didn’t hesitate finding me a spot in the Shenandoah Valley League. There was no way a no hit, under-sized all glove Ivy League second baseman was finding his way into that league on his own. Mike stuck his neck out for me, and as a result, I had the best baseball experience of my life that summer. I also began to realize how much of an impact one person can have on another person’s life and career.

To this day, Mike’s “can do attitude,” upbeat teaching style, and style of going above and beyond for all of our players is a constant theme that our staff gladly deploys. At the end of the day, what I’ve learned is that the more giving you are of yourself, the more life seems to give to you.

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” “Pay it forward.” “Do More than what you get paid for.” There are many different sayings that epitomize this philosophy, but the bottom line is that, The Baseball Factory was founded on the principle of putting yourself in a young player’s situation and doing everything in your power to help that player achieve his best both on and off the field.

As I look back at many of the players we have helped develop and place into college baseball, there is nothing more rewarding in my mind than watching a player train rigorously on the field, improve his game, keep his grades up and then have a successful college career. Serving as a mentor to young people the way Mike Toomey served as a mentor to me can truly be the difference maker in a person’s life.

15 years have came and gone and both Rob Naddelman, our President at BBF, and myself would like to thank each and every player, parent, coach and staff member who we have come in contact with during that time period. (We’d also like to extend that’s to our wives, who have put up with all of the travel and late night phone calls!)

Helping young people to believe in themselves and have hope goes way beyond baseball. We hope you have enjoyed experiencing baseball “The Factory Way.” Thanks for believing, Mike.

Oh, and dad, you can have that video camera back now.


Steve Sclafani is the CEO/Founder of the Baseball Factory. Sclafani’s ability to create new opportunities for baseball players nationwide and to develop exposure vehicles has led to over 20,000 Baseball Factory and Team One players competing at the college level, $500 million in scholarships, and over 2,000 players selected in the MLB draft. Sclafani was recognized as a member of Baltimore’s prestigious 40/40 Club, honoring 40 top executives under 40 years of age. Steve is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where he played second base.