A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY; AREA GRAD COACHES FOR PIRATES

Scott Little is not one to toot his own horn, so he just kind of laughed when asked if he's probably the most famous professional athlete to come out of Scott City.

But Little does concede that he's no doubt the only Scott City native to ever coach in baseball's major leagues -- just as he no doubt was at one time the only Scott City native to ever play in the big leagues.

"I would imagine that's probably a safe bet," he said with a chuckle. "I don't think Scott City has had too many major leaguers."

In a professional baseball career that started in 1984, Little has primarily toiled in the minor leagues -- as a player, coach and manager.

After several seasons as a minor league player, Little finally was called up to the major leagues late in the 1989 season, although he only played in three games. He went 1-for-4 at the plate for the Pittsburgh Pirates, getting a pinch single off Chicago's Scott Sanderson for his only big-league hit.

But now the 35-year-old Little is back in baseball's highest level, serving as the Pirates' major league field coordinator. In his new role, he assists the major league coaching staff in various aspects of instruction and he travels with the team.

"The Pirates haven't had this job in the past and I feel pretty good they approached me about it," said Little. "I'm basically an extra coach. I throw batting practice and hit fungoes. We have a bullpen catcher at home, but on the road I help out in the bullpen.

"At home, I'm in the dugout for most of the game, then I go to the bullpen in case two guys need to throw. On the road, I'm in the bullpen the whole game."

Little also handles all the Pirates' advance scouting, distributing the reports to the coaches and manager.

"I'm having a great time," he said. "I'm treated basically like one of the other coaches. The manager and the coaches treat me the same."

After so many years toiling in the minors, where long bus rides and fast food are staples, Little certainly hasn't had trouble adjusting to the perks of the big time.

"We fly everywhere. We're in nice hotels, we get nice meal money, we're playing in front of lots of fans, more than I've been accustomed to," he said. "This is something you can adapt to very easily, I can assure you of that. It can spoil you in a hurry."

A 1981 Scott City High graduate, Little is arguably one of the finest all-around athletes that school has ever produced. He starred in football, basketball and baseball for the Rams before attending Mineral Area College and the University of Missouri. While baseball was the sport he would eventually make into a career, he was talented enough in football to compete in that sport at Missouri.

Little was selected by the New York Mets in the seventh round of the 1984 June free agent draft and spent four seasons in their minor league system before being acquired by Pittsburgh in 1987. He finally made it to the majors in 1989 but lasted only briefly.

After spending some more time in the minors, Little retired as a player in 1991 in order to become a coach in the Pittsburgh organization.

"I wanted to be a coach once my playing days were over and I was fortunate that it worked out with the Pirates," he said.

Little got his first taste of minor league coaching late in 1991, then spent most of the next four seasons managing three different teams on the Class A level.

The last two seasons, Little has been with Class A Augusta, Ga., serving as hitting coach and also managing the second half of last year.

And this year Little got the opportunity to return to the major leagues, which he welcomed with open arms, although he doesn't believe the opportunity will last more than one season.

"I'm happy with the way things have worked out for me this year," he said. "But next year I could be and probably will be back in the minor leagues at some capacity. I hope to use this to help further my career."

It's a career that Little feels fortunate to have, even though the majority of it has been spent out of the limelight.

"I signed in 1984, so I've been at this quite a while. I feel fortunate I don't have to get a real job," he said with a laugh. "I feel fortunate that I've been able to make a career out of baseball. It's almost ridiculous, to get paid for what I enjoy doing more than anything."

Little, who makes his permanent home in Jackson with wife Lori and their two young children, has no doubt that he wants to spend the rest of his professional life in baseball and it appears he'll be able to do that. And now that he's gotten a taste of major-league coaching, that's where his goals lie.

"Probably everybody that's ever managed in the minor leagues, in the back of your mind you'd like to manage in the major leagues," he said. "But realistically, it's more a goal of mine to become a coach. Not too many guys actually get to manage in the big leagues, so I want to take it a step at a time."