Baseball has proven to be a way of life for Marc DelPiano, inductee into the 2008 Auburn High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

His journey has gone from passion to player to career for DelPiano, who got his start in the game like so many other young boys.

“My dad and I had a game of catch in the backyard on Mattie Street where I grew up,” he said. “From there I was hooked.”

DelPiano went on to play Pony League, Little League, Babe Ruth and Junior Babe Ruth while growing up and by his sophomore year had earned a spot as shortstop on the Auburn High varsity team.

While in school, DelPiano also played two seasons of varsity basketball, but he knew early that baseball was his game.

DelPiano earned All League status in his sophomore, junior and senior years.

But it was in 1985 that DelPiano and the rest of the Maroons earned what was arguably their proudest moment, winning the Section III state title.

“We all played together all through Little League and Babe Ruth and everything together. We grew up playing together, so to win the state title together was a good capper,” he said.

DelPiano went on to junior college in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where he continued to play ball and his performance earned him a scholarship and the opportunity to play for the University of Tennessee, where DelPiano continued to shine, earning a spot on the All Defense Team in 1988.

In 1989, DelPiano got the shot to play professional ball when he was picked up by the Cleveland Indians, playing for the Burlington and Kinston Indians minor league programs.

In 1990, DelPiano was picked up by the Houston Astros playing for Auburn.

It was through his time as a player that DelPiano made connections that helped him take the next step in his career, working behind the scenes as a scout. He began in 1991 with the Texas Rangers as an area scout and minor league coach.

“I knew a scout for the Texas Rangers,” DelPiano said. “He thought I would be good and I thought it would be a good opportunity.”

In 1996, DelPiano moved to the Montreal Expos as an area scout, which led to working with the Florida Marlins as east coast scouting supervisor from 2000 to 2003 and then moved on to director of player development for the Marlins from 2003 to 2004 when the Marlins won the World Series in 2003.

“That was a great experience,” DelPiano said. “To be a part of that front office team that helped to put that team on the field and win the World Series that was a really great time and a great experience.”

In 2005, DelPiano took a position as director of international scouting for the Marlins and in 2006 he worked as special assignment scout for the Boston Red Sox until 2008.

Most recently, DelPiano has taken a position with the Pittsburgh Pirates as special assistant to the general manger.

But even with World Series rings and all the other success he has seen in his career, DelPiano is still truly honored to be in the Auburn hall of fame, an accomplishment he attributes to his days back in his Mattie Street backyard many years ago.

“I'm in the hall of fame,” DalPiano said. “And that is really an honor and I am humbled, that is the best word for it. But I come from a hall of fame family. My parents, Paul and Diane always encouraged me to chase after my dreams. They always encouraged my love of baseball and my wife and daughter and step-son, they hold down the fort here at home. My whole family has been so supportive of what I do and they have made it all possible.”