D-backs don arm sleeve patch in honor of Roland Hemond

The Arizona Diamondbacks are paying tribute to the late Roland Hemond this spring training.

The team announced Thursday that it will sport a black and white arm sleeve patch with the initials RH for Hemond throughout the spring exhibitions.

Hemond died on Dec. 21, 2021, after totaling eight decades and 70 seasons that included stints with the Boston/Milwaukee Braves, Los Angeles Angels, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles and D-backs.

Hemond spent 19 seasons with the D-backs as the team’s senior executive vice president of baseball operations (1996-2000) and special assistant to the president and CEO (2007-20).

Aside from his time with Arizona, Hemond was a three-time winner of Major League Baseball’s Executive of the Year award and spent 23 seasons as a general manager with the White Sox (1971-85) and Orioles (1988-95).

Hemond also served as an executive advisor with the White Sox (2000-07) until rejoining the D-backs.

Hemond, who is considered the architect of the Arizona Fall League that began in 1992, helped found the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation that provides assistance to longtime scouts in need of special support.

For his efforts in MLB, Hemond was named as the second recipient of the Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. The honor is given to an individual “whose efforts broadened the game’s appeal and whose character, integrity and dignity is comparable to the late O’Neil.”

O’Neil died in 2006 after eight decades of contributions to Major League Baseball.

The D-backs open up spring play against the Colorado Rockies at 1:10 p.m. on Thursday. Tune to ESPN 620 AM or 98.7 FM HD-2 for all the action.

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