YORK COUNTY, Pa. — The 2024 World Series sparked fond memories for Brian Matthews, a York County native, who won a championship just a year ago as a scout with the Texas Rangers.
Matthews spent 15 years as a Major League Baseball scout, most recently covering the mid-Atlantic region for the Rangers, while living with his family in the place he grew up. This year, watching the Yankees and Dodgers fight for baseball glory, he reflects on how being part of a championship organization is a feeling like no other.
"It started to be like holy cow like this is real, you’re going to have this for the rest of your life and it was building and building and when the final out was made we were just going crazy," said Matthews as he remembered watching the final out with his family on TV in his living room.
He recalled the feeling of being a champion really sunk in when a close friend texted him, 'That ring is going to be in your family forever,' and realized he'd be able to bring back some hardware to the place where it all started.
"The combination of your name being on the ring and knowing that I’ll get to share it with people in York County and beyond but also pass it down through people in my family, that’s really when it hit me," said Matthews. "I realized this is a lot of hard work and is really special."
In December, Matthews moved on from his scouting role and started Matthews Baseball Development (MBD), in hopes of fostering the next generation of baseball players. It’s a chance for him to use his championship experience and give back to a community that helped him get to the top of the baseball world.
"It’s a really special opportunity that I have that I almost feel responsible to do," said Matthews. "I just know how hard it is to get in and get the World Series ring, let’s find a way to share it."
Of course, watching this year’s World Series does bring back some fond memories.
"Every memory pops up, this time last year we went trick or treating and rushed back to get in front of the game," said Matthews. "We always reminisce about that and we always will forever."
