Major League Baseball (MLB)

Approximately 100 million fans (combined) attend MLB and Minor League Baseball games every year, so Major League Baseball has made sure to be at the forefront of innovation for the live event industry over the last two decades. In this episode of the Business of Baseball presented by CohnReznick LLP, hear about those innovative efforts, such as digital tickets and Go-Ahead Entry, from senior MLB executives Karri Zaremba and Mark Plutzer. #BusinessofBaseball #Innovation #Tech #Ticketing

Yesterday, MLB employees alongside New York Yankees Pitcher Luke Weaver, Kansas City Royals Outfielder and Catcher MJ Melendez along with members of the Commissioners Ambassador Program in coordination with the 9/11 Day Foundation, volunteered at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum where they helped pack nearly 500,000 meals during a league-wide day of service in remembrance of the tragic events of September 11th, 2001. MLB offices in both Boulder, Colorado and El Segundo, California also hosted a day of service with a field cleanup and backpack supply drive for youth experiencing homelessness. Across the league, Clubs hosted days of service in their own markets including the St. Louis Cardinals and the Detroit Tigers who hosted meal packing events in collaboration with their local 9/11 Day event partners.

In celebration of #2024HBCUWeekConference and in partnership with?Entertainment Industry College Outreach Program (EICOP), Major League Baseball recently hosted a panel discussion and office tour featuring MLB employees who are Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) alumni. They provided insights into their roles, career journeys, and experiences working with MLB.? ? This initiative is part of our broader partnership with EICOP, through which a group of talented students from HBCUs and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) joined our 2024 MLB Summer Internship program in New York. These students, including Zoria McClerklin and Jamea Beavers from Spelman College, Kennedi Armour from Howard University, Marcus Bland from Dillard University, and Stephanie Moki from the University of Richmond, which included being immersed in EICOP's dynamic programming and given hands-on experience in the sports industry. ? EICOP’s mission is to educate, train, and recruit the best and brightest diverse student leaders from our nation’s HBCUs and other MSIs for careers across the entertainment, media, sports, music, and technology industries. We are proud to support this mission and to help shape the future leaders of our industry. ? As we continue to celebrate EICOP during the HBCU Week Conference, we’re excited to see the lasting impact this partnership will have on our interns and the sports industry.? ? #Baseball #OneBaseball #EICOP #HBCUWeek

On Monday, August 26th, the MLB Women ERG (Employee Resource Group) held a fireside chat with the?League of Women Voters (LWV), moderated by MLB Home Base ERG co-chair & Director of Minor League Baseball Ticketing Nicole Poyser. All in attendance learned the significance of Women’s Equality Day, and the importance of being an informed and an active participant in voting. The panelists from the League of Women Voters shared the history of the organizations, women’s voting rights, and resources on the voting process.?Attendees also received information about registering to vote, checking their voter status, and request an absentee ballot. #WomensEqualityDay #ERG #CelebrateWomen

In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Major League Baseball, together with the New York Mets and the Jessie Rees Foundation (TeamNEGU: Never Ever Give Up!), had employees volunteer to stuff 500 JoyJars to be distributed to pediatric cancer patients receiving treatment in New York and Connecticut.? ? JoyJars are 64-ounce plastic jars that are filled with hospital-approved toys to provide a boost of encouragement for young cancer patients as they undergo treatment. Under the MLB Together platform, Major League Baseball and its Clubs are committed to addressing causes focused on cancer, while also using the power of our sport to provide resources such as these for patients and their families. #MLBTogether

Congratulations to Kaelan Ashford-Jones for being named to the 2024 class of Sports Business Journal's "New Voices Under 30." Kaelan has contributed significantly in baseball's cultural efforts, amplifying the league and its players through collaborations with creators & influencers, and spotlighting MLB's work in the youth baseball and softball spaces. After joining MLB as an intern in the Baseball & Softball dDevelopment department in 2018, he has since contributed as a producer and broadcast associate at MLB NETWORK, and has grown into his current role as a Creative, Influencer & Social Marketing Strategist. He is a proud HBCU alumnus, graduating from Morehouse College in 2020, where he also played baseball.?Kaelan?brings his purpose to work every day, using his platform at MLB to advance his mission of making the game more accessible, diverse and inclusive. Kaelan?played an integral role in bringing the #MLBatRickwoodField marketing plan to life as our sport paid tribute to Willie Mays and the legacy of the Negro leagues, while also leaving a lasting positive impact on the city of Birmingham.

Growth is critical for any business, and the ability to expand into new markets is crucial to economic viability. This episode of?"Business of Baseball presented by CohnReznick LLP"?will highlight Major League Baseball's focus on increasing awareness of the sport across the world.?With offices throughout Asia, Europe, and Latin America, activities are targeted at reaching new fans and engaging with the playing community, with the ultimate goal of making baseball a truly global passion.? #BusinessofBaseball #InternationalGrowth

Our office, our sport and our world lost a great, kind and empathetic person yesterday. Billy Bean was the kind of leader every industry needs. How fortunate are we that he was one of ours! Billy was generous with his time, helping his colleagues navigate both personal and professional challenges. No topic was too small or too large for Billy to offer his help. He cared about all those around him, and he made everyone feel heard, acknowledged and appreciated. He was so much more than an advocate of the LGBTQ+ community. He worked tirelessly to make EVERYONE feel like they belonged in our sport - whether you were a fan, a player, a coach, or if you worked in some capacity in the game. Regardless of anyone's beliefs or opinions, he always wanted to find the common ground, the foundation, that we all love our game. More than anything, he wanted to make sure that our youngest generation never felt less than or were made to feel like they didn't belong in their communities, their schools, or in our game. Simply put: he helped us be better. The impact and legacy he leaves in baseball and the larger sporting community will live on. As Commissioner Manfred stated, our hearts are broken. He meant so much to so many. We will miss him every day. Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred, Jr. said: “Our hearts are broken today as we mourn our dear friend and colleague, Billy Bean, one of the kindest and most respected individuals I have ever known.?Billy was a friend to countless people across our game, and he made a difference through his constant dedication to others.?He made Baseball a better institution, both on and off the field, by the power of his example, his empathy, his communication skills, his deep relationships inside and outside our sport, and his commitment to doing the right thing.?We are forever grateful for the enduring impact that Billy made on the game he loved, and we will never forget him.?On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Billy’s husband, Greg Baker, and their entire family.”

In honor of #NationalDisabilityIndependenceDay, celebrating the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, MLB recently hosted a panel discussion featuring: Victor Calise, PLY, Max Orland, Sydney Arnoff, Paul Laudati, Dewey Gong, Peter Poon, Teena Katz, Steve Kaczmarczyk and Moriah Maney. Victor, former Commissioner at the NYC Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities and current Director of Global Accessibility Center of Excellence at Walmart, champions accessibility and inclusivity. His efforts ensure equal opportunities for people with disabilities both nationally and globally. MLB employees shared their personal experiences, highlighting the significance of fostering a more inclusive world. Together, we continue to celebrate achievements and rights while fostering a culture of understanding and inclusion within our organization. #MLB #Inclusion #Accessibility #ADA

We are now one week removed from the amazing experience in North Texas for our 94th Midsummer Classic at Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers Baseball Club. The entertainment factor at the ballpark alone made this a memorable "can't miss" event. Further, the efforts throughout the surrounding community will continue to have an impact for years to come. Under our #MLBTogether platform, MLB and the Rangers sought to leave a lasting All-Star Legacy for fans of all ages! We cannot thank our host Club and host communities enough for their world-class hospitality and generosity.