David Rugendorf Quoted in The Athletic & Chicago Sun-Times
David Rugendorf was quoted in the article, “How did Itamar Steiner, a diehard Cubs fan, get drafted by his favorite team?” published by The Athletic on June 8, 2018. An article covering the same story was published by Chicago Sun-Times on June 10, 2018.
The articles follow how Itamar Steiner, a recent graduate of Niles North High School in Skokie, was picked No. 1,208 overall by the Cubs in the 40th and final round of baseball’s amateur draft. MSK Partner David Rugendorf was a friend of Steiner's late father, David Steiner, and helped Itamar Steiner come to the attention of Jason McLeod, the Cubs’ director of scouting and player development.
From the Athletic article...
"Steiner came to the attention of Jason McLeod, the Cubs’ director of scouting and player development, not from his area scouts, but rather from a package in the mail from David Rugendorf, a partner at the Los Angeles law firm Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP.
Rugendorf grew up in Lincolnwood with David Steiner, Itamar’s late father. David Steiner died in a bus crash in Uganda on Dec. 26, 2016. Itamar, who just turned 18 in May, was with him when it happened.
A year later, Rugendorf wanted to honor his friend and his son so he put together a package of news clippings and a letter telling the story of David Steiner’s life and death, and how his son was playing baseball and would graduate that spring, just in time for the draft. He knew baseball teams often made “honorary” picks at the end of the draft and he took a chance the Cubs would do just that."
View Chicago Sun-Times Article
View Athletic Article (subscription required)