Dodgers Put Genovese Back on Scouting Trail : Baseball: Retirement brief for former Giant employee; he will work San Fernando, Antelope valleys.

Over the past three decades, baseball scout George Genovese signed dozens of players who helped make the San Francisco Giants a persistent pain in the neck for the Dodgers.

Looks like the Dodgers were paying attention.

Genovese, cut loose Dec. 31 after 34 years in the Giants’ organization, will start for the Dodgers as a part-time scout in Southern California on Feb. 1.

“I wasn’t ready to retire,” Genovese said. “Now, everything’s come full circle.”

Indeed, all the way to his former employer’s archrival. Last fall, Genovese was cut loose by San Francisco with no fanfare.

A mid-level team official informed Genovese by telephone that his contract would not be renewed in 1995. Genovese, 72, said he felt “betrayed.” Giant General Manager Bob Quinn later called to apologize for the way the matter was handled.

Terry Reynolds, the Dodgers’ director of scouting, said this is not a public-relations move. “We think he’s well qualified,” Reynolds said. “We want to keep him working because he can help us.”

Reynolds said Genovese’s track record speaks for itself. Genovese has signed 43 players who later played in the big leagues, some of them household names.

“It’s an incredible list of players,” Reynolds said.

Among those whom Genovese signed are Jack Clark, Royce Clayton, Chili Davis, George Foster, Garry Maddox, Gary Matthews, Randy Moffitt, Matt Williams, Dave Kingman, Bobby Bonds and Matt Nokes.

Genovese’s primary area of responsibility will be the San Fernando and Antelope valleys, Reynolds said. He covered the same ground for the Giants.

In essence, Genovese’s retirement lasted all of one month. “I didn’t like it a bit,” he said. “I wasn’t ready to quit.”