Baseball Industry Networking Night

Students get some realistic advice about how to break into the sports business.

Tyrone Brooks '96 talks to students about the baseball industry.

Smith School students got an insider’s look into the business of baseball at the Smith School’s Baseball Industry Network Networking Night on April 25, hosted by Tyrone Brooks ’96, director of baseball operations for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Brooks brought together a wide variety of baseball professionals who advised the audience of undergraduates and MBAs about what it really takes to break into the sport. They described an obsessively networked industry in which connections are key.

Internships, the group agreed, were an important way to get your foot in the door with most sports organizations. Matt Klentak, now director of baseball operations with the Baltimore Orioles, started his MLB career as an intern paid $6 an hour, working as a landscaper on the side to make ends meet. But that internship eventually landed him a job as a scout for the Atlanta Braves.

Working for a team in any capacity, even the most menial internship, allows hopefuls a chance to see if they really want to devote their lives to the high-stress, high-energy environment that makes professional baseball happen. Interns are low-paid and the work is entry-level. But organizations notice great workers and invest time in developing their skills, said Rachel Fink, human resources and recruiting manager for Ripken Baseball. “We even help with resume-building and interviewing skills.”

“If you’re a good intern,” said Catherine Silver, executive director of ballpark enterprises and guest services for the Washington Nationals, “we will find a job for you, either in our organization or with another team. We take care of our own.”

The panelists identified the traits they thought made people successful in the professional baseball industry: an even temperament, because dealing with the games and the public brings enough emotional drama of its own. Adaptability, because teams often choose to keep their young interns because of their drive and work ethic, and will set them in whatever staff position becomes available. And a passion for baseball—because, as Klentak said, if you didn’t really love the game, you’d never survive the punishing schedule and low pay till you worked your way up the ladder.

Baseball industry professionals gave advice about how to break into the world of professional sports.

The panel presentation was the final event of the day, which also included networking receptions and a presentation by Brooks in the afternoon.

Smith alumnus Brooks is also founder of the Baseball Industry Network. It started when he noticed that there were a number of baseball professionals on LinkedIn who weren’t connected to one another. He started a group on LinkedIn and began inviting his professional connections to join, and today the group has more than 8,000 members.

Brooks hopes the Baseball Industry Network will continue to grow and provide opportunities for others hoping to work in professional baseball. Many open staff positions in baseball organizations are never even posted, Brooks pointed out, because baseball professionals reach out to each other to fill open spots. “In baseball, it’s not a case of who you know—it’s who knows you,” said Brooks.

Panelists included:

• Jon Fetterolf, partner, Williams & Connolly LLP
• Rachel Fink, human resources and recruiting manager, Ripken Baseball
• Ben Goessling, reporter/blogger and on-air contributor at Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN)
• Matt Klentak, director of baseball operations, Baltimore Orioles
• Amy Inlander Minniti, assistant counsel, Washington Nationals
• Matt Wondolowski, Area Scouting Supervisor for the Pittsburgh Pirates
• Tripp Norton, assistant director of player development, Baltimore Orioles
• Catherine Silver, executive director of ballpark enterprises and guest services, Washington Nationals
• Lisa Winston, 20 year media veteran
• Bob Wolfe, executive vice president, Washington Nationals