Royals' Bishop wins scouting award

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Bob Bishop, the area scouting supervisor for the Royals, has been named the West Coast Scout of the Year by Major League Baseball.

Bishop will be honored, along with the two other area winners, on Tuesday during baseball's Winter Meetings.

Bishop has been scouting for 36 years, including the last 14 with Kansas City. He previously scouted for the New York Mets (1971-80) and Los Angeles Dodgers (1981-94). Among the Major League players signed by Bishop are 1992 National League Rookie of the Year Eric Karros, pitcher Tim Scott and infielder Matt Howard.

Bishop's professional career as a player included stints in the Giants and Mets organizations from 1962-71. In his first professional season, Bishop struck out 20 batters in a nine-inning game for Class A Lakeland, and the following year, he pitched a no-hitter for Double-A Springfield.

Bishop and his wife Palma have a daughter, Pam, and a son, Robert.

The Scout of the Year program was founded in 1984. Each year, the scouting directors from each organization submit the names of active scouting personnel with 25 years of experience in a full-time capacity.

In August, the list of nominees is sent to all Major League scouts, who vote for candidates from one of three regions: East Coast, Midwest and West Coast.