2014 Winter Meetings - Agenda and Events

Agenda and Events

2014 BASEBALL WINTER MEETINGS SCHEDULE

Please click here to view a full schedule of events, including league meetings. Event times and location are subject to change without notice.

*Indicates event will take place at San Diego Convention Center. Otherwise, the event will take place at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, with the exception of the Gala at Petco Park.

San Diego Convention Center (Photo courtesy of the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau)

Special Events

Banquet

Sponsored by Major League Baseball and New Era Cap Co., this annual event recognizes some of the most prestigious awards in the baseball industry, including the King of Baseball, the John H. Johnson President's Award, the Larry MacPhail Award, the Warren Giles Award, the Sheldon "Chief" Bender Award, the Mike Coolbaugh Award and the John Henry Moss Community Service Award. For more information on these awards, please visit the Awards page.

PBEO Job Fair

Currently in its 21st year, the PBEO Job Fair gives individuals seeking employment in the baseball industry the opportunity to meet face-to-face and shake hands with club executives and interview on-site for a variety of available positions. The process is simple and streamlined. Job fair attendees can search jobs, ranging from internships to full-time positions, then apply, interview and receive offers all while at the Baseball Winter Meetings. With December marking the height of the baseball hiring season, an average of 400 – 500 jobs are posted each year for between 450-550 job seekers. For more information on PBEO and the Job Fair, visit www.PBEO.com.

Charlotte Knights Vice President of Sales Chris Semmens speaks at the 2013 Bob Freitas Workshop Series.

Bob Freitas Business Seminar & Workshop Series

A staple of the Baseball Winter Meetings for more than two decades, the Bob Freitas Business Seminar & Workshop Series continues its tradition of delivering insightful speakers and attention-grabbing topics to attendees. Morning breakout sessions, featuring presenters from the baseball world and beyond, provide valuable insight into the sports industry and its practices. Current Freitas tracks include Sales & Marketing, Covering Your Bases, Grand Slam Operations, Licensing & Merchandise and Community & Media Relations. Organizations can benefit from the information offered by a diverse list of presenters.

In 2013, the Monday afternoon roundtable setup, which had typically taken place in a large ballroom-type setting, was changed. Renamed the Bob Freitas Workshop Series, the previous format was replaced with a number of smaller rooms for improved communication. The new format will also be in place for the 2014 event. This will continue to allow for closer interaction among attendees in a quieter, smaller location. Featuring a room for each track (as in the mornings), a moderator will present a topic and then allow those in attendance to share their experiences and ideas on it with the group. Two sessions will be held simultaneously in each room.

Also part of the updated programming from 2013, the two informal workshops will continue during the morning and afternoon on the Baseball Trade Show floor on Tuesday and Wednesday. These informal workshops will feature speakers and discussions, giving attendees the freedom to stop in for a few minutes while walking the show floor or stay for the entire 30-minute session. This will allow participants to experience more speakers than ever before, hear a wider variety of relevant topics and have further opportunities to exchange and share ideas with their colleagues.

To view the Bob Freitas Business Seminar & Workshop Series agenda, click here.

Awards Luncheon

Sponsored by Musco Sports Lighting, the annual Awards Luncheon recognizes some of the top individuals and clubs within the game of baseball. Highlights of the event include opening remarks from Minor League Baseball President & CEO Pat O'Conner, followed by award presentations for the Joe Bauman Trophy, Rawlings Woman Executive of the Year, the Bowie Kuhn Award, Sports Turf Managers of the Year, Scouts of the Year, Baseball America Organization of the Year and The Bob Freitas Awards. The Awards Luncheon is attended by more than 1,000 individuals and is a way for attendees from both Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball to honor their peers and colleagues.

Opening Night at the Baseball Trade Show

Known as the kick-off of the Trade Show, Opening Night gives exhibitors and attendees their first opportunity to network and socialize on the trade show floor. With more than 250 companies exhibiting their products and services, the Baseball Trade Show is the ideal setting to make purchases for equipment, player apparel, retail merchandise and promotional items and services, or to simply check out the latest baseball products available on the market. For more information, visit www.BaseballTradeShow.com.

Gala

Sponsored by Essensa, K&K Insurance, New Era Cap Co., Rawlings and the San Diego Padres, the Gala's laid-back atmosphere and casual social setting offers Baseball Winter Meetings attendees, Baseball Trade Show exhibitors and job seekers a chance to network and socialize beyond the week's scheduled meetings. Join the Padres on the playing field at Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres, for a magical night in Holiday Wonderland. Petco Park will be transformed into a Holiday Wonderland this winter with 15,000 square feet of snow, live reindeer and a 40-foot Christmas tree, and our Gala will have a private viewing of this event with dinner, drinks and music!

Attendees will enjoy the Gala at Petco Park. (Photo courtesy of the San Diego Padres)