ONALEE
My title is Director of Media relations, but in Minor League baseball your title usually only covers the tip of the iceberg. Along with media requests, player interviews, press releases and game recaps, I am also in charge of the Emeralds’ community relations department, website and social media. I coordinate mascot and player appearances, donation requests and fundraisers on the community relations side. I also assist in the planning and implementation of our promotions and sales.
ONALEE
My interest in working in baseball probably developed as a sophomore in college when I finally realized I could have a career in the sport I most loved. That year, I had the opportunity to cover the St. Louis Cardinals Spring Training for a local radio station—probably the best experience of my life. I always had an interest in sports media and it wasn’t until more recently that I decided to be behind the camera, microphone and notepad and work more on the media- relations side. My interest in baseball, however, goes back to when I was a little girl playing ball in the back yard with all of my friends. As the story goes in my family, my parents gave me a bat and ball instead of ballet slippers one year, and it’s been baseball ever since.
ONALEE I grew up playing softball, soccer and basketball. I played softball from when I was five all the way through high school; in the White Hall Softball League in White Hall, Arkansas and at St. Joseph Catholic High School in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. I played soccer from age eleven to eighteen in the White Hall Soccer Association, and was part of White Hall’s first all-female soccer team before going back to being the only girl on the all-boys team. I played Varsity Basketball at White Hall Junior High; I didn’t continue in high school. I didn’t play sports in college and instead focused more on career development and my studies.
ONALEE
I don’t play any sports right now, although I’m looking to find a recreation softball league in town.
ONALEE
I love the opportunity to combine my love for baseball and for media. I like that even though I’m behind the scenes, I still have some opportunities to be the team’s own “media” and make video interviews, write feature stories, etc. I see it as the best of both worlds. I also enjoy trying my hand on all the little projects in minor league baseball; not to mention all of the fun promotions we get to plan.
ONALEE
While working for the Boise Hawks, I had the chance to do a Hawks Advanced Media Cribs episode where one of the players showed us into his host family’s home. The hardest part was not laughing at the player; he was really hamming it up for the camera. We also did a Boise Hawks Top Chef episode where we pitted one of our pitchers against an intern in a Grill Master challenge. I hope to continue those fun types of interviews and videos with the Eugene Emeralds.
ONALEE
I attended Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee and graduated with a BA in English Literature.
ONALEE
I was a literature major in college so I absolutely love reading in my spare time. Other than that I try to get outside as much as possible—explore the hiking trails Eugene and the surrounding areas have to offer.
ONALEE
The Emeralds have their first-ever mascot starting this year. His name is Sluggo and he is, according to the kids, a green gummy bear. He is more of a cross between a bear and a dog—he’s cute and cuddly.
ONALEE
Minor League baseball is all about things that engage and entertain our fans. Without giving away any of our secrets, we are planning individual theme nights associated with local ties that will draw out fans that may not typically come out to the ballpark. One example is such: the movie Animal House was filmed on the University of Oregon campus so we are holding an Animal House night honoring and celebrating the movie. This will include the staff dressing in togas, Sluggo skits and spoofs on the movie, etc. Additionally, we try to highlight the community through non-profit recognition and design nights around particular causes like Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure or Boys and Girls Clubs of Emerald Valley.
ONALEE
Susan G. Komen is the namesake of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization who raises breast cancer awareness. Komen herself was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 33 and died in 1980. Her sister, Nancy Goodman Brinker, founded the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation in Komen’s memory in 1982. The foundation is most well-known for its Race for the Cure events nationally and internationally.
ONALEE
My biggest mentor in baseball so far has been Todd Rahr, General Manager of the Boise Hawks in Boise, Idaho. Additionally, Allan Benavides, the General Manager of the Eugene Emeralds and my current boss, has really taken me under his wing.
ONALEE
The most difficult part of my job is probably time management. I have so much going on and so many people to meet with that sometimes it’s hard for me to organize my day in an efficient manner. Secondly, it’s difficult for me to think of it as a job—it’s just too much fun sometimes!
ONALEE
I have a couple favorite baseball movies, but A League of Their Own and Sandlot are on the top of my list. A League of Their Own speaks to me as a woman interested in baseball; it’s not just a man’s sport. And Sandlot reminds me of playing baseball with my friends in the yard during the summer. They are both classics.
ONALEE
I would say don’t be afraid to pursue a career in a male-dominated field. Women are in the minority in baseball, but not by too much. In fact, the target demographic of many minor league clubs like the Emeralds are moms; as women, we can give an inside perspective to what other women expect to see at the ballpark. In addition, I recommend finding a mentor in baseball that can give you advice and help you build connections in the industry.
ONALEE
It’s funny, I don’t think I’ve ever had someone present baseball to me and say you should be interested in this. It is definitely something that kind of grew out of my own interests. I think it’s more the actual sport that drew me in to working in baseball, not an actual person.
ONALEE
I enjoy watching almost all sports, but I don’t religiously follow any sport besides baseball. And beyond the Emeralds, at the heart of it, I’m a St. Louis Cardinals fan.
ONALEE
One woman that has always been a stand out in my mind is Annie Oakley. One of the first books I read was a biography of hers and she seems like the perfect model of a woman that knew what she wanted and did something she loved without worrying about being a minority. Another one for me was author Zitkala-Sa; I wrote my senior thesis on her and her works. Again, she was a woman who wasn’t afraid to be a non-conformist and go against the grain while also standing true to her principals.
ONALEE
I have actually only been with the Emeralds a little over two months now, so my most outstanding moment is a little unconventional. I would have to say my favorite day with the Ems was the day we unveiled our mascot. We scheduled a press conference at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Emerald Valley and didn’t let the kids know what we were doing. All of the children filed in and we handed out old Emeralds hats, pennants, foam fingers, etc.—the kids were stoked just to have that stuff! Then our GM got up to speak about the Emeralds and all of the sudden there was a crash in the closet. All the kids gasped and turned to face the commotion; we cut he lights; and a DJ we hired hit he music—we did “Final Countdown”—and some of his cool strobe lights; and the mascot busted out of the closet, dancing and high-fiving the kids. They went absolutely nuts!! It was the most exciting press conference I’ve ever been a part of.
ONALEE
I would either make both leagues have a DH or eliminate it completely. To be honest, I’m personally not a fan of the DH, but I feel like both leagues should be consistent.
ONALEE
My long term goal is to work for a MLB club in media relations. Since I’m fresh out of college, I have quite a ways to go. Beyond that, and my more unrealistic goal, is to be a correspondent for ESPN’s Baseball Tonight.
Onalee Carson is the Director of Media Relations for the Eugene Emeralds Baseball Club located in Eugene, Oregon. They are an Affiliate of the San Diego Padres.
#
Interview conducted by Norm Coleman, written by Norm Coleman
[email protected] www.tycobb367.com
