If you have always loved professional baseball, then it is possible for you to become involved with the industry in one way or another. One avenue to pursue is employment with a team or league in the independent baseball league part of the pro baseball industry. Independent baseball leagues and teams are not affiliated with any specific Major League Baseball organization, and their ultimate goal is to become a profitable enterprise. Front office and league personnel have more flexibility in hiring people to help them reach that aim.
The inquiry then becomes, “In what additional way can I work in the professional baseball industry without being a player, manager, coach, or owner?” Here are several starting points, each with a small description to help you better know what is available to you:
League-level: It is possible for you to work with an independent baseball league at the league office level. Skills here include media relations, strategic preparation, marketing, attracting major sponsors for league-wide exposure, and additional similar duties. Entry-level (team): Many independent baseball teams need help with game-day operations, ticket sales, community relations, and many additional tasks to entice local organizations and individuals to spend money with the team. You will need interpersonal, computer, phone, and event-preparation skills. In addition, the hours may be long and some physical effort will be vital, especially if you work on game-day operations. Specialty skills: You can join an independent baseball team with a digit of specialty skills. These could include online radio broadcasting, public address announcing, statistician, dealing with local and regional sports media, promotions development and implementation, online marketing, grounds keeping, stadium management, concessions skills, and merchandise/inventory management. Even higher-level specialty skills include stadium design, visual design for logos and sponsorship obligations, game scheduling, and raising capital for teams. Management (team): You will need to be able to manage employees, interns, and have a excellent ability to deal with additional executives, team owners, and the league executives. You also will be working long hours overseeing items dealing with concessions, merchandise, stadium operations, stadium construction/renovation, speaking at the local service organizations, dealing with player contracts, and many additional tasks. You should have the ability to run a small/medium business, including accounting/payroll understanding, budgeting, networking, and many additional senior-level tasks.
With over 50 independent baseball teams scheduled to play in 2010, there are several opportunities to join this industry. Remember that your like for the game has to be tempered with the understanding that the team owner, league president, and general manager all want to turn a profit while maintaining a high standard of excellence in the local market. If you are willing to do what you can to offer professional quality while focusing on making a profit and obtaining new fans then you have the first step needed to join independent professional baseball.
