Minors' impact felt at opening of Winter Meetings
Dallas is the center of the baseball universe this week as the site of this year's annual Baseball Winter Meetings, which kicked off Monday at the Wyndham Anatole Hotel and will run through Thursday.
The four-day meetings -- which are attended by approximately 3,000 officials and representatives from 160 Minor League and 30 Major League teams, along with agents, exhibitors, job seekers and media members -- are an opportunity for baseball's powers-that-be to reflect on the last season and plan for the future.
"There is tremendous potential and strength among the baseball leaders in this room," said Mike Moore, president of Minor League Baseball, as he addressed a packed room of MiLB representatives at the meeting's Opening Session.
"It is no time for us to doubt our power and ability to move forward as an industry and target our long-term potential. Do not settle for short-term, quick fixes that in the long term leave you empty-handed. ... Aspire not only for the success of your franchise today, but for the greater whole of the industry into the future."
The opening remarks from the MiLB commissioner -- who quoted Michelangelo, Will Rogers and Walt Disney in his speech -- are the traditional kickoff for the meetings, which took place in Anaheim in 2004 and are scheduled for the Swan and Dolphin Hotels at Disney World in Orlando in 2006.
Pat O'Conner, vice president of administration and chief operating officer of Minor League Baseball, also spoke at the Opening Session. He painted an optimistic, yet cautionary, view of the game's financial status.
"As a $500 million industry, we continue to see growth in gross revenues at impressive clips, 6.8 percent between 2003 and 2004," he said, adding that revenues have fully doubled in the past 10 years.
"However, the biggest threat to our growth, prosperity and future stability is sitting right here in this room. ... Our ability or inability to deal with relationships, partnerships, greed and egotism will directly -- and proportionately -- determine our success. When looking out for No. 1 becomes the rule, rather than the exception, we are in trouble. When personal agendas replace what is good for the whole, then we have trouble on the horizon."
Various league officials were also honored during the opening session by their peers in their respective leagues as Executives of the Year for 2005.
They were: Joe Napoli, Toledo (International League); John Allgood, Oklahoma (Pacific Coast); Carlos Peralta Quintero, Tigres de la Angelopolis (Mexican League); Scott Brown, Binghamton (Eastern); Peter Bragan Jr., Jacksonville (Southern); Joe Kremer, Carolina (Southern); Ken Schrom, Corpus Christi (Texas); North Johnson, Rancho Cucamonga (California); Matt O'Brien, Myrtle Beach (Carolina); John Timberlake, Clearwater (Florida State); Dave Walker, Burlington (Midwest); Tom Howe, Greensboro (South Atlantic); Jeff Eiseman, Aberdeen (NY-Penn); Bob Beban, Eugene (Northwest); Jim Keough, Great Falls (Pioneer); and Mike Mains, Elizabethton (Appalachian).
An awards luncheon followed the packed opening session. Players, teams, scouts and officials from around Minor League Baseball were to be honored with accolades, including the Joe Bauman Trophy presented annually to the overall Minor League home run leader, the Baseball America Organization of the Year Award and the Sports Turf Managers of the Year honors. The Bauman Trophy went to Angels product Brandon Wood, who smacked 43 homers for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
Following the awards luncheon, officials from the various Minor League circuits will begin to meet in individual groups. For example, the California and Carolina leagues will get together Monday to discuss their joint All-Star Game and the Pacific Coast League Executive Committee will convene, as will that of the New York-Penn League.
Meanwhile, the business of baseball will take center stage at the Bob Freitas Business Seminar, which is celebrating its 14th year at the meetings. This seminar is geared for baseball executives with speakers, panels and workshops dedicated to everything from tickets and concessions to media and community relations, promotions and stadium operations.
Monday's action at the Winter Meetings culminates with Opening Night at the Baseball Trade Show, where baseball executives and exhibitors will enjoy cocktails and appetizers in an informal setting amongst the hottest new products in the industry. More than 275 exhibitors are expected to attend, and this year marks the 40th anniversary of the trade show. This is where some of your favorite in-game promotional items - whether they're bobblehead dolls, bronze statues or seat cushions -- are discovered by team officials.
More MiLB league meetings, along with a workshop for host cities of 2006 MiLB All-Star Games, will dominate the rest of Tuesday and Wednesday. The annual gala takes place Wednesday night at Eddie Deen's Ranch in downtown Dallas, where baseball will take a back seat to country music, armadillo races, mechanical bull rides and Texas barbecue.
Finally, Thursday's anticipated highlight will be the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft, starting at 10 a.m. ET. MiLB.com will present a live audio broadcast of the Draft as part of a special two-hour Around the Minors with Mayo.
The Winter Meetings also includes a Job Fair attended by hundreds of people interested in working for the baseball industry, whether as a play-by-play announcer, a would-be GM or even a mascot. Last year, more than 550 people took part in the fair.