How should I go about becoming a General Manager in baseball?

Question

All I can ever imagine myself being in the future is a GM of a MLB team, ever since I was about 11. I really want to do this and am 100% sure of it. I am presently in high school and won't graduate for 2 more years. What could I do that will prepare me for my dream job. ie. what classes could I take in HS and college and so forth, and things in life.

PLEASE HELP

Answer 1

Well - first off you need to go to college and get your degree in finance / business management. Then study law and have a good understanding of contract law. As the GM you need an understanding of the broad spectrum of everything that goes on with a team.

Second - know the game. Know the rules, the in and outs, and appreciate and respect the history of the game. Be able to evaluate talent. Study young players, take notes, then see if you were right a few years later. Knowing young talent makes a GM great and gives him options to make deals later. Look at Billy Bean in Oakland - that guy keep the A's competitive year after year with young guys, after he moves his studs for money reasons.

You need to be prepared to pay your dues doing other jobs for an organization, hence a good education - there are only 30 of these jobs out there and most guys don't get a GM job until late 30's early 40's. Theo Epstein is the exception. If it is truly your dream, stay focused and study other GM's. Especially the successful ones - note their work ethic, their background, how long it took them to get their break. Good Luck

Answer 2

Well, you are setting your sights high. That's OK, it's nice to have goals.

You might want to start by interning at your local baseball team, provided you have one. It's a good way to learn a bit about the business.

In college, there are plenty of avenues out there, but some sort of business degree wouldn't hurt.

Then, you'll have to work your way up the ladder, probably from the minors. You'll have to learn about player evaluation, negotiating, communication, media relations, etc. A GM wears a lot of hats. In other words, treating the players like fantasy players is a very, very small part of the deal.

I believe Theo Epstein went to an Ivy League school, interned in Baltimore in PR, got a job in San Diego in the baseball department, went through law school while he was working for the Padres, took an assistant's job with the Red Sox, was elevated when another guy turned the job down, and won the World Series in 2004. And everyone who ever met him seems to think his destiny was to be the senior Senator from Massachusetts at the least. So there's a lot of luck involved, even for an exceptionally bright person.

One last thought. One time a general manager saw some other GM's talking. The first one said, "You guys don't look like you are having any fun." A second one said, "This is not the job to have if you are looking to have fun."

Good luck.

Answer 3

Go to college and take a lot of management and finance courses. You are going to have to find a way to get involved in some lower level positions in baseball, minor leagues or below, and work your way up the ranks. There is one GM per each of the 30 MLB teams and most have been involved in baseball for many years. It is a wonderful goal you have set for yourself that is going to be quite difficult to attain. There are many minor league affiliations of MLB teams all of which have GM's. You really have to be one of the elite few, and in the right place at the right time, I wish you the very best.

Answer 4

Some say go to college and some people say you need to play or manage in minors or be a Major League player for many years to gain connections and experience.

Just remember many Major League players have a college degree well before entering the ranks of the MLB. So it pays to have both the book smarts and the baseball talent to get a GM Job. Have you ever heard of the saying "You got have talent to know talent."

You need to Business and you need to know Baseball!

Answer 5

That's a good question. I don't see any reason why a woman can't be a GM. if she has the same qualifications and standings and baseball knowledge as a man then she should have every right to that job as anyone else.

Answer 6

You would want to start by coaching in any league that will take you since you arent a former MLB player, once you have worked your way up you can start coaching HS then College, then possibly a AA team. just keep working at it. I used to work with a guy that started ref'ing lil league football games 15 years ago and last year got a job as an NFL ref. If you ever see a line judge, or the ref #75 thats him. They all have numbers. pretty bad@ss, he makes 5,000 a game. One game a week! Thats awesome!

Answer 7

First you have to go college and major in business/computer, and then start with an internship when you can with a local minor league team, work your way up, or have a connection good luck

Answer 8

Play in the MLB for a decade or two... Most big time GMs and coaches played in the MLB for a number of years. It's universal with all sports.

Answer 9

You have to be really good in baseball and at least play in the minors before you become a manager, if you're not that good, you're dreaming to high.