Born in Meridianville, Alabama, Scruggs began developing his baseball talent in the industrial leagues, company sponsored youth and community teams, like many other players of his time.  He played for the local Moore’s Mill Red Sox. His abilities on the mound—especially a fastball clocked near 90 mph and a breaking pitch widely remembered as “that funky curveball”—earned him a place in the Negro Professional Baseball League.

Scruggs pitched for the Detroit Stars from 1956–1957 and the Kansas City Monarchs from 1957–1958. During his time with the Stars, he recorded a standout shutout performance, striking out 16 batters in a 7–0 victory at South Haven. Although known for power and movement, he was also remembered for his competitive personality and for pitching with determination during a transitional and challenging era for Black professional baseball players.

After retiring from baseball, Scruggs built a distinguished professional life off the field. In 1970 he founded Associated Contractors, Inc., a janitorial and maintenance company serving office buildings, schools, and recreational facilities. Five years later, he became a licensed embalmer and funeral director, beginning a decades‑long career at Nelms Memorial Funeral Home in Huntsville. He trained numerous apprentices—among them his grandson—and became known for his professionalism, mentorship, and commitment to service.

Scruggs held memberships in several historic baseball and community organizations, including the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, the Alabama Negro League organization, and the Yesterday Negro League group in Milwaukee. He participated in major commemorative events such as the 75th anniversary Negro Leagues reunion in Kansas City, 50th anniversary celebration of Jackie Robinson’s entrance into Major League Baseball, and MLB’s A Tribute to the Negro Leagues at Rickwood Field in 2024. 

In recognition of his athletic legacy, Scruggs was inducted into the Huntsville–Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002. Through baseball, business, and community involvement, he became a respected figure across generations.

At the time of his passing in 2026, he was survived by his wife of 68 years, Ethel, along with a large family including children, grandchildren, and great‑grandchildren. His lived experience—from the segregated ballfields of the 1950s to the modern recognition of Negro League history—embodies a significant and treasured chapter of American sports heritage

https://www.nelmsmemorial.net/obituary/mr-eugene-scruggs-sr