Results tagged ‘ major league baseballs ’
Getting the call
by Tom Schoenfelder
Growing up all I ever wanted to be was a professional baseball player, then I realized that you needed a lot talent. Unemployed and living in my parents basement after college was far from what I expected life would be like when I graduated. I was told that finding a job would be very difficult, but I didn’t think it applied to me. After striking out at numerous job interviews and still out of work, I received some of the best advice of my life from my brother.
Having a gap in my resume does not look good and I should volunteer. So when I’m asked what I have done recently, I can say something other than reaching level 50 in Call of Duty. I began tutoring and helping out at local non-profits. While looking for volunteer opportunities on a website, I came across a job posting.
It combined that love of baseball with the helping aspect of a non-profit. I knew that I had to work for Pitch In For Baseball. Company after company told me that my resume was not good enough and that I needed more experience. I knew all I needed was a chance.
Before heading off to the Pitch In For Baseball interview I created a portfolio in a three ring binder that had my resume and all the projects I’ve worked on as a college student. I confidently left the interview and drove the hour and half back to New Jersey.
A week later I received a phone call from David Rhode, executive director and founder of Pitch In For Baseball. I was expecting to hear the “its not you, its that we found someone better” speech. Instead I heard, “would you like to be the Operations Manager?”. If he offered me the janitor position I probably would have still taken it. I wake up every morning with a smile on my face, happy to go to work because I know that the baseball equipment I am helping to donate is putting smiles on kids faces all around the world.
Meeting a hero
by Tom Schoenfelder
Before working at Pitch In For Baseball, I never thought I’d get the opportunity to meet some of my idols growing up. My first week on the job I was told I needed to call Zack Hample, ballhawk of all ballhawks and awesome author. I remember as a twelve year old boy reading his book entitled How to Snag Major League Baseballs. During that phone call I realized Zack was a normal guy…a normal guy that’s snagged 5,819 baseballs at Major League ballgames.
This past summer I had the pleasure of meeting Zack, along with his family, during a visit to our warehouse in Pennsylvania. I was asked if I didn’t mind being on camera for a Korean documentary. Of course I didn’t shy away from the limelight and relished the opportunity to have my 15 mins of fame in far away land. Here is what ensued…
Zack is a unique person and the best at what he does. If you do not already follow Zacks blog you are missing out.
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