Hamilton, longtime video coordinator, dies at 77

SEATTLE -- Carl Hamilton, who worked as the Mariners' video coordinator for 21 years before retiring following the 2010 season, has died at age 77, the club announced Saturday.
Hamilton spent 31 years as a Major League video coordinator, including his first 10 years with the Rangers before joining the Mariners from 1990-2010.
Hamilton recorded every Mariners game as well as other MLB contests for scouting and training purposes. He also videotaped Mariners' workouts and games during Spring Training and prepared numerous highlight and motivational tapes for the organization.
"Carl was a baseball original and he was a key part of the greatest teams in our history," said Mariners president Kevin Mather. "His work ethic, his constant desire to assist others to be better and his giving nature were hallmarks of his 21 seasons as our video coordinator.
"But more than that, the way he lived his life was a great example. A veteran, a heart transplant recipient who worked while awaiting a donor heart and continued his career for more than 15 years after the transplant, he was an inspiration to many of us."

Hamilton is survived by his wife, Betty, his four children -- Kathleen, Mark, Mike and Kimberly -- and seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Before his career in MLB, Hamilton was in the Marine Corps and also worked as a police officer and in private security.
Hamilton received the Professional Baseball Video Coordinators Association's first-ever award for excellence in 2005 and the association voted unanimously to name the annual honor the Carl Hamilton Award.
Hamilton's son, Mike, won the 2006 Carl Hamilton Award while working as video coordinator for the Rockies prior to moving into a pro scouting job.
In lieu of flowers, Hamilton's family requests that people consider becoming registered as organ donors.