Hard to believe...everyone. Hard to believe. But, yes, 2009 marks the fifth year I've been chugging along as a baseball writer, in one capacity or another. I can't help but look back. There are so many exciting moments, not to mention embarrassing, funny, wild, weird and, ok, sometimes frustrating. Did I mention embarrassing?
If I had to guess, I'd say a lot of people didn't think I had what it took. I wasn't the guy or gal with a journalism degree or an internship through college. My college was experience. And I just kept collecting them, scratching at the door and hoping someone would let me in. Sometimes I had to bang on that door, but I was lucky enough that, in the age of the internet, I could find my way through more of them.
There was a period of uncertainty for me and, I'm sure many can relate. I thought I had it all figured out. I'd always loved baseball, but over the years my passion grew. My passion for writing had been part of me since I was a child. Everyone always thought I'd become a writer, it just took some time. And a direction. I read something on the internet about Scout.com's Philly Baseball News looking for writers. It was all unpaid. But at that point, I just wanted to express myself, get more experience, and, hopefully, more confidence and polish.
My start wasn't so hot. I was no different than any rookie on the field: natural ability, but a need to sharpen my skills. I wrote mostly from a fan standpoint. I didn't pay a lot of mind to editing myself or study the AP press guide for sportswriting. I wish I had. But the mistakes I made (and there were plenty), were part of an almost entirely positive experience. I interviewed my first baseball coach - Rich Dubee; first baseball manager- Marc Bombard, when both were with the then Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Barons. I did "Where Are They Now?" pieces on former Phillies, including Larry Andersen. It was in the broadcast booth and there was a funny moment in which he dropped his lolipop and just about had a fit. It was endearing. He really is a big kid. I was surprised that, when I saw him the other day in the Phillies press box, he remembered that.
After going to my first media day at Reading, someone within the Phillies organization gave me some advice and I took it. I went out on my own, leaving Scout.com behind. Not long after I interviewed then Phillies prospect, Michael Bourn, for an international baseball magazine. I followed that up with my first major league interview, Mike Lieberthal, for Junior Baseball Magazine. Now THAT was a good learning experience. He wasn't in the mood to talk that day, so that interview was tough. But it was good for me to learn the pace of baseball and that sometimes, you have to wing it. Now, if I were in that situation, I would come up with something else.
Over the next two years, I did as many minor league stories as possible for as many publications that would have me. I continued to contribute Phillies profiles to Junior Baseball, and realized that my passion as a baseball writer is writing about the game for kids. I feel proudest of my work for them.
Along the way I spent more than a year as a sports copy editor at Minor League News, and covered the Can-Am League teams, the Atlantic City Surf and the Worcester Tornadoes for their local papers. I spent the end of last season covering the Trenton Thunder. Finally, I decided to accept a bit of a challenge (and, hey, needed the work) and took a gig covering high school cross country for The Trentonian after finishing my coverage of the Thunder.
Now, as the newspaper business suffers, I find myself struggling to find steady work. It's an interesting time to be a baseball writer. The very medium I started out in is now taking over, as traditionalists shake their heads and call it a funeral. I don't believe it is. But it is a birth of a new generation. Let's not pretend every print writer is of the highest quality. And let's make sure the quality of web-writers is exemplary. In ten years, many of those writers will be the future of the business.
I hope I'm included.
Highlight Reel: Interviewing Charlie Manuel solo, in his office after a game. I remember thinking, 'I can't believe I'm talking hitting with Charlie Manuel'; Asking Ryan Howard for ten minutes of his time. He responded, "How much?" I realized what he was doing and quickly said, "Oh, about five minutes." He ended up giving me about fifteen; Interviewing Pete Incaviglia. He called me "darlin'." A real gentleman; My conversation with Brett Myers and walking away thinking, "Now THAT'S a competitor." You can almost feel the sparks shooting off that guy; Being in the Thunder clubhouse, watching Phil Coke make his Major League debut with the team; Getting to tell Comcast Sportsnet's Leslie Gudel
how much I admire her and having a fan moment with Gary Mathews, who was so gracious and kind when I told him I grew up a Phillies fan. He was kind of busy with work, but took the time anyway; Sitting at the feet of Cecil Fielder when he managed the Surf. You can't help but learn about the game from that guy; Convincing the commissioner of the Can-Am league to implement an anti-discrimination policy in the league; and although I've gotten to interview 1993 Phillies favorites such as Darren Daulton, Tommy Greene and Mickey Morandini, my career highlight of all-time (so far!) is interviewing Dale Murphy, by telephone.
Embarrassing Moments: Oh, just about a million. Really. I've forgotten names and talked too fast and too high and walked in the clubhouse, um, too soon and gotten lost at nearly every ballpark I've been to.
So for those of you who have the same dream. Don't. Give. Up.
I get lost all the time, and, somehow, found myself in a pretty great place.
*Thank you to Sports-Boards for acknowledging my little anniversary. Good to read you guys are still thinking of me....
