JENNIFER: I grew up a daddy’s girl on a small ranch in the outskirts of a small town in Amity, Oregon, located in Oregon’s plush Willamette Valley. The town had about 1400 people in it.
I liked Dennis Eckersly, Hall of Fame relief pitcher for the Oakland Athletics. I thought he was cute in his white Puma cleats.
JENNIFER
I played softball in high school and a local pitching coach Larry Nichols recruited me to play at the local Community College, Chemeketa. He is now coaching the high school team in Minnville, Oregon. I wanted to focus on my education as I was burned out from playing softball year-round but I agreed to join the team if they paid for my education.
WSR: Did they? Pay for your education?
JENNIFER
Yes, I earned all semesters' tuition by my achievements both on the field and in the classroom.
WSR: Where did you finish college?
JENNIFER
Again I wanted to hang up my cleats and focus on school but another coach convinced me to go to Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. I finished the last two years of my eligibility and graduated with a BS in business administration.
WSR: Did you have a passion for the game?
JENNIFER
Yes, of course. But I was realistic and believed that women didn’t have the opportunities that men do to play sports for a living, so to my way of thinking, education always came first. I knew coaching was not my calling, so I decided to take a chance at merging my two passions, business logistics and baseball.
WSR: How did you wind up with a baseball team in Visalia, California?
JENNIFER
To be honest, I had no idea that working in baseball even existed until about six months before graduating from college.
Not knowing much about the territory I wanted to venture into, I started my research by Googling “working in baseball” and came across PBEO. (a) This is
the online home of Minor League Baseball's Official Employment Service. I applied for a few internships in the South, but I wanted to return to the West Coast. An internship opened in Visalia and I threw my resume “onto the field.”
I learned Visalia was in the center of California and agriculture was the main business. It was really hot in the summer. I learned ownership was planning on changing the teams name and they were in the process of major renovation to the stadium. I was convinced this was a golden opportunity for me and I jumped on it.
JENNIFER
The team was called the “Oaks” as Visalia was known for its Valley Oak trees.
I suggested the “Rawhide” since Visalia is located in the Dairy Capitol of the World. The site of the old ballpark was a rodeo grounds before the park was built and it ties into baseball. Baseballs and gloves are both made of Rawhide. Ownership liked my suggestion.
WSR: What are your responsibilities?
JENNIFER
Aside from the name change, I helped with the renovation plans of the stadium and the restructuring of the organization. I assist the players in finding housing, and serving as a go-to for them and their families. I have even pinch hit and played “mascot” His name is Tipper. I agreed to wear the suit while it was still new.
He’s a Holstein bull.
WSR: Do you have a favorite baseball movie? Baseball book?
JENNIFER
My favorite baseball move is A League of Their Own. Book? I don’t have one.
WSR: If you could talk to one woman in baseball, who would that be? What would you ask her?
JENNIFER
I'll be honest, I don't really idolize anyone, and I'm not easily star-struck. I admire and respect all the women working in sports who paved the path and built a good name for those that will follow in their footsteps. I know the industry is very competitive and it takes a special individual, a special kind of woman, to hold her ground. I'm new in the industry, and I have a lot to learn. I haven't had a whole lot of interaction with other women in the business. I'm really just focused on doing my job well. There is a woman who I admire very much and look to as a role model. Susan Webner who works in Minor League Administration for the Arizona Diamondbacks is definitely one of those individuals for me.
Susan is not only phenomenal at her job (and thus a good challenge for me to try and keep up with), but she responds to emails faster than anyone I have ever met in my life. She and I now have a bit of a game to see who can get the needed information to the other person the fastest. This is the extent of my competitiveness. It's women like that who are not only a joy to work with, but challenge me to grow and become better at what I do.
WSR: What advise would you give young women who were thinking of baseball as a career?
JENNIFER
Most important of all is ones work ethic, organization, paying attention to detail and working harder than everyone else. Women have definitely found their niche in the baseball industry and with these elements, we continue to set the bar high. Be willing to do perform any job offered and consistently go above and beyond the call of duty. Not to mention, doing all of this for little or no pay. It's a tough world out there. You've really got to be on top of your game and have passion for what you do.
WSR: How is your social life? What do you do for relaxation?
JENNIFER
People on the outside don’t have an idea of what our work entails. Coming straight out of college and working for the Rawhide, I am so wrapped up in my work that I am still playing catch-up on obtaining a social life. Being twenty-five years old, people often ask why I am still single and if I ever plan on having kids.
I laugh and explain I am married… to my job. And I do have kids…twenty-five of them and new ones the following April through September. I am perfectly happy with this odd lifestyle.
Jennifer Pendergraft is the Assistant General Manager for the Visalia Rawhide in the California League. They are an affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
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