THE SIDELINES : Giants’ Scout George Sobek Dies

HAMMOND, Ind. — San Francisco Giants scout George Sobek, who spent 40 years in the Chicago White Sox organization, has died at age 70. Sobek, of South Holland, died Monday at St. Margaret’s Hospital in nearby Hammond.

Sobek served the White Sox as a scout and minor league manager from 1945 to 1985 and during his tenure signed 30-game winning pitcher Dennis McLain to the team. He also recruited pitcher Steve Trout and first baseman Mike Squires to the White Sox. Sobek left the team in 1985 to join the Giants as a Midwest scout.

Sobek was a basketball star at Notre Dame in 1942 and served in the Navy in World War II. He played briefly in the old National Basketball League, now the NBA, for the Toledo Jeeps and Sheboygan, Wis.