...with
Dave Schultz.
Whenever I’m asked what I do for
a living, I proudly state I am a minor league baseball
announcer. I go on to add my aspirations are to get to
the major leagues. In turn they ask, how do you get there?
I always respond, I don’t know since I’m not
there yet. Though that happens to be the case, I do have
some thoughts on the subject.
Working in minor league baseball has
been a great experience. The amount I have learned, from
actual baseball knowledge to the business end of it, has
been tremendous. I have met some of my closer friends
through the minors and would not trade them for anything.
However, I do not necessarily believe the minor leagues
are the best track to the majors.
Sure, there are numerous major league
broadcasters that came up through the minor leagues. Today,
however it appears to me more local sportscasters are
being considered rather experienced play-by-play announcers.
Though their resume might not be filled
with stops in Peoria, IL, Jackson, TN or Omaha, NE, they
are usually talented broadcasters who happen to be in
the right place at the right time.
The minor leagues are a great place to
begin a career. As I said, the learning experience and
the people you meet make it extremely worthwhile. Eventually
though I suggest you branch out. If you find yourself
in a good minor league market, for example Kane County,
IL, Jacksonville, FL and certainly now Frisco, TX, do
your best to break further into the market. Though set
your sights high. Sure the normal progression in the past
has been a move up from A to AA and then AAA, all before
a move to the bigs is possible. Yet in today's environment
you never know, that jump could come sooner (or later)
than previously possible.
In any case, whatever path you choose,
enjoy the journey. While we all want to be the next Vin
Scully don't become so obsessed with traversing the path
that you forget to stop and smell the roses along the
way.
Dave Schultz has been calling minor
league baseball games for various teams across the country
for nearly a decade. The upstate NY native is still looking
for his first Major League break.
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