Background
Young was born in Beijing to an academic family whose members have included Yang Xianyi and Gladys Yang.
Young was born in Beijing to an academic family whose members have included Yang Xianyi and Gladys Yang.
Rather than sign with the Reds, Young chose to enroll at Chapman College, where he played for the school"s baseball team
He has also scouted and worked in the front office. Young played in Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers in 1971. He founded, a youth baseball program aimed at increasing participation among African Americans in baseball.
The Cincinnati Reds drafted Young in the 27th round of the 1967 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft.
He was drafted again in the first round, with the 16th overall selection, of the 1969 MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers, and he signed. He played two games in Major League Baseball at first base for the Detroit Tigers in 1971, going 2-for-4 with a double and a run batted in.
After the 1974 season, the Tigers traded Young to the Saint Louis Cardinals for Ike Brookens. Young rejoined the Tigers as a minor league instructor in 1978, and became a scout for the Tigers in 1979.
He was named their director of scouting in 1981.
He also scouted for the Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, and Florida Marlins. While scouting for the Orioles, Young discovered that there were few African American players chosen in the 1986 MLB Draft. After presenting his findings to Orioles" general manager Roland Hemond and MLB Commissioner Peter Ueberroth, Ueberroth contacted Tom Bradley, the mayor of Los Angeles, who agreed to fund a youth baseball program in Los Angeles, providing $50,000.
Young also received funding from the Amateur Athletic Union.
Young organized 12 teams of 180 13- and 14-year-olds for (Reserve Bank of India) in 1989. He obtained help from African American players, including Darryl Strawberry and Eric Davis, who are from Southern California.
MLB assumed operation of the Reserve Bank of India program in 1991.