Jim Russo, 81; Scouted Rival Teams for Baltimore Orioles

Jim Russo, 81, a former scout for the Baltimore Orioles who pioneered advance scouting of opposing major league clubs, died Sunday at his home in Wildwood, Mo. He had been in failing health, but the cause of death was not reported.

Russo, who as a player never made it beyond semipro baseball, signed several players who would become key members of the Oriole teams that won world championships in 1966 and 1970. Among them were pitchers Jim Palmer and Dave McNally, first baseman Boog Powell and second baseman Davey Johnson.

It was also on Russo’s recommendation that the Orioles obtained future Hall of Fame slugger Frank Robinson in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds for pitcher Milt Pappas and two minor leaguers.

Born in Huntington, Ind., Russo joined the St. Louis Browns as a scout in 1951 and moved with the team to Baltimore when it became the Orioles three years later. He retired in 1986.