Preparing to Hit it Out of the Park: A Guide to Minor League Baseball Player Interview Questions

There’s more than one way to a good interview. We will provide two schools of thought here. It can be scary to think about calling up a former major league baseball player, especially if you looked up to them as a kid. Please know that many players love to talk about the good old days, and for some of the older players, the chance to talk to someone who is interested is even a treat.

Aside from players, these rules apply to anyone who has worked in or played baseball in Major League Baseball or the Minor Leagues for a long time. This includes umpires, managers, coaches, general managers, beat writers, public relations directors, farm directors, scouts, and players.

Recording the stories of the older veterans while we still have the opportunity should be a priority. They also usually have better stories to tell.

They don’t have to be stars. Big names are not essential for a good interview. Journeyman players who aren’t as well known are often the best storytellers, and they’ll be glad that someone remembers them and wants to hear their stories. People who play against and with the stars can teach you more about them than the stars themselves. From the 1930s to the 1950s, a lot of minor leaguers worked for managers who used to play in the major leagues. These managers know a lot about future stars who they played with or against in the minors.

Before you call someone you want to talk to, look them up in an online phone book like 411. com. A surprising number of players from the 1970s and earlier are simply listed under their own names. If that doesn’t work, you might contact one of the teams for which he played. Major-league media-relations directors often maintain lists for contacting their team’s alumni. Media guides and farm directors can be sources of scouts’ names and addresses. Tell him that you’d like to talk to him for the Society for American Baseball Research, that you won’t be getting paid, and that you hope they can put you in touch with the player in question. If you ask the chair of the Oral History Committee or the chair of the Biographical Research Committee, they might be able to give you the last known address of the oldest former players. Smalling’s lists of players’ addresses can be useful, but they may not be up to date. In any case, they will usually tell you what city and state the player lives in, which can help you narrow down your search. Local sportswriters and game broadcasters may know about former players in that area.

An introductory letter is OK, with a SABR brochure to tell them who we are. But a letter might not be answered—not because the person isn’t interested, but because most people don’t. If you start out that way, follow up within a week with a phone call. Otherwise start with a call, telling them who you are and why you would like to interview them. Sell yourself as a volunteer historian and researcher who is helping a non-profit group of baseball researchers gather information. Say that you are not a fan or an autograph collector.

Try to set up an in-person interview with the baseball player you want to talk to if they live close by. It can be very helpful in many ways. You won’t be able to talk to most baseball players in person, and even those who do might feel more comfortable talking on the phone. They don’t have to get dressed up for your call or mess around to get ready for your visit.

Before you make first contact, the most important thing you can do is be ready in case they agree to an immediate interview. See more on this below.

You may, however, run into resistance or outright refusal. Some people don’t want to be interviewed. They may say, “I’m not much of a storyteller. “One answer is, “It’s up to me to ask good questions to find out what you have to say.” You can reassure them that they can ask you to move on to another question if you ask a question they don’t feel comfortable with. You can let them know that all you’re trying to do is tell their life story.

They may be wary of how much time you’ll take. An interviewer once made an appointment to see Johnny Roseboro at an old-timers’ game. At the appointed time he knocked on the door of Roseboro’s hotel room. “How long is this going to take?” Roseboro asked as she opened the door with a frown. “As long as you feel like talking,” was the answer. The interview lasted two hours.

Some experienced interviewers think that the best way to deal with a player is to not give them too many chances to say “no.” Some of SABR’s busiest interviewers would rather call in person than write a letter ahead of time. They would rather call the player without warning and try to convince them to do an interview right then and there. Being prepared with questions in advance is essential to this approach. This approach seems to work much more often than not. If that time just isn’t right, maybe someone can try to find a better one.

For an in-person interview, the person’s home is always the best place. He is calm and the room is quiet. There are scrapbooks, photos, and other mementos nearby to help him remember (and you). If you have to do it in a restaurant or other public place, remember that noise and other people can get in the way.

For a telephone interview, again, be prepared. Learn as much as you can about the player’s past, and think about the main questions you might want to ask to fill in the blanks. Know who his manager was and who his teammates were. Also, bring a list with you to make sure you ask all the questions you need to.

Here, again, the nature of what you will want to ask depends on the reason for your interview. If you are doing an oral history, there are some questions that you should always ask. These should probably include:

These are just the questions leading up to signing the initial professional contract. One important thing to remember when you’re interviewing someone is that you are both working together on a project. The person you are interviewing is trying to help you learn more about their story, and you are trying to get information from them. You’re working together, not adversaries. Just make sure you keep an eye on the time so you don’t waste the subject’s time by making things take too long. Even though the person is taking time to help you, the conversation should stay friendly. You don’t want it to turn into a chore or something less pleasant.

Let the person you’re talking to give you answers that could go in ways you wouldn’t have thought of. Things come up. Pay attention to what they say and ask good follow-up questions to learn more about things that interest you. Try to let the subject talk and try to avoid “talking over” your subject, interrupting him or her.

At the end of every conversation, you should always ask if you can call back quickly to go over a few points and make sure you understand the story correctly.

If the subject agrees, you can offer to send them a first-draft copy of what you’ve written so that they can ask for any changes or additions, or to have something taken out that they may have said that they now regret. It’s not about making a name for yourself in “gotcha” journalism; it’s about getting a true account of the player’s (or scout’s, or executive’s, etc.) ) life.

The amount of time you should allocate depends on your objective in requesting the interview. For an oral history, which should normally last between 45 and 90 minutes, you will need to allow more time and may even need to split the interview into two parts. It would take less time if you asked a set of clear questions for, say, a BioProject biography. It’s always a good idea to add to SABR’s collection of oral histories. This way, you can get a lot more information, and sometimes you’ll find something you didn’t expect.

If you prefer to do an in-person interview, plan on two to three hours. It may take less time. His health may not be up to that long an interview. The interview may turn out to be a dud. It happens. It’s worse to have to end a good interview early because one of you needs to go somewhere else.

For an in-person interview, any basic tape recorder that can be plugged into a wall socket will do. A microphone is essential, though many recorders have acceptable built-in microphones. Some players talk softly. A little Radio Shack mic will do. Place it unobtrusively on a table near him. Don’t rely on batteries; they run down at the worst times. If you have to use them, bring extras. Also, make sure the recorder works at the beginning and end of each side of the tape.

Where is it quiet? (Beware of TVs that are on in the house, air-conditioning units, fans.)

You can hook up a tape recorder to your phone for very little money (usually less than $30) at electronics stores. This is useful for phone interviews. Check it beforehand to be sure it’s hooked up correctly. While the interview is going on, you might also want to write down some quick notes just in case you find out later that the recording was hacked in some way.

Try to get the player’s permission for the tape recording on the tape itself before you start, no matter what method you use.

Johnny Mize said, “I’m not interested in talking to anybody who doesn’t know what position I played.”

In 1920, Joe Oeschger was one of only two pitchers who worked the whole 26-inning game. He had a mediocre career record, but one thing made him famous: he did it. Because of that one game, he had people come to see him from all over the world. He said, “You wouldn’t believe how many of them started the interview by asking, ‘What position did you hold?’ I knew those interviews were going nowhere.” ”.

The key to every good interview is preparation. Most of the time, the player will enjoy it more than he thought he would because you were ready and asked good questions. From the start, if the player sees that you and he both know what you’re talking about, you’ll be fine. Not only should you learn about his career, but you should also learn about other teams and players from his era.

Have a Big Mac or Total Baseball with you, or have access to a computer. In a relaxed interview, you may use it a lot. You can look up the team roster and read off the names if he has a story about someone but can’t remember their name. If he’s uncertain about which year he led the team in stolen bases, you can look it up. “Who was that little lefty with the big curveball?” he might ask. You can list the pitchers’ names from that time.

Know what you’re talking about. Have a clipboard with his entire record — major- and minor-league stats (from Baseball-Reference. com), managers, teams played for, where they finished, team rosters. Find and write down strange facts and events from his career, as well as stories that have been printed but may not be true. Verify biographical information. Double-check even such basic things as the city and date of the player’s birth. These are sometimes wrong, even in printed works for fairly recent players.

Beginning with his childhood, family, favorite team and players, his first major league game, who taught him, how he was signed, minor league clubhouses, travel, living conditions, managers, teammates, spring trainings, and his debut in the major leagues are the best ways to tell the story.

But you must be flexible. If he goes off on a tangent that’s outside your order of questions, let him go. You never know what unexpected stories you’ll hear. Ask follow-up questions to the stories, then bend the interview back onto your track. If he starts talking about things that aren’t important, like politics, his garden, or anything else, let him ramble until you can get him back on track. That’s another reason to allow plenty of time.

Follow up for details. Boo Ferriss, a pitcher for the Red Sox, won his first eight starts in 1946 and beat every team in the league. In a talk, he said, “At the end of the season, they gave me a day off and a car.” ”.

Instead of going on to something else, the interviewer asked, “What kind of car was it?”

New cars were scarce right after the Second World War. He said, “It was a big black Lincoln Continental that had been made especially for Mrs. Edsel Ford and somehow they got hold of it and that was the car they gave me. ”.

“So you might be the only major league player who ever bought a used car in his day?”

Avoid zeroing in on the obvious. People who went to talk to Bobby Thomson were not asked about the home run until two hours later, when they talked about the 1951 season. He was then asked if he had been looking for the same pitch in the last game that he had hit a home run off of earlier in the playoffs. On his own, Thomson went into a lengthy description of everything leading up to that pitch.

When someone was prepping to talk to Ralph Branca, he was advised, “Don’t mention 1951. He’s tired of talking about it. ”.

Ralph’s childhood, how he got started, his early years in baseball, and his interactions with Branch Rickey were all talked about by the interviewer. The only person who mentioned 1951 was Branca himself. They were talking about how older Giants pitchers used to pitch at the Polo Grounds, which is in a strange shape. Branca said, “Maybe I should have pitched that way to Thomson.” ” It was a good interview.

Avoid general questions, such as “What do you remember about . ?” Or “Who was a joker, a character, etc?” Don’t put the burden of remembering on the player.

Instead, say, “I’m going to mention some names. What comes to mind about them? Not how good they were at playing, but what kind of people they were. ” Then read off the names of managers, teammates, opponents of interest. You’ll get a lot of “nice guy” or “quiet guy” or “a lot of fun” kinds of answers. Plug on; follow up. Ask for incidents that illustrate why somebody was fun or ornery or mean or whatever.

Team meetings, fights, ejections, the funniest thing ever seen in a game, favorite ballparks, bench jockeys, activities on train rides (obviously for older players), days off on the road, meal money, off-season work, salary negotiations, what they did after baseball, and getting used to life after baseball are all things that people are interested in.

For pitchers: What pitch did they rely on? Who taught them? What book did they read about the best hitters? What did they look for in a catcher? Who were the best and worst umpires behind home plate? Did managers ever call pitches? Was there a fine for giving up a hit on an 0-and-2 pitch?

Batters: Ask them about their stance, how they got it, who taught them the most, and who they thought were the best clutch hitters.

It’s okay to ask the player’s wife, who is at home and was married to him while he was playing, what it was like to be a player’s wife. If she’s always been a fan, ask her how the wives interacted and how it was to deal with fans riding their husbands.

Lack of memory: They don’t always remember things that happened fifty years ago. Or they remember them inaccurately or the way they want to remember things that never happened. Unless the record book clearly indicates otherwise, don’t contradict them. Let it go. In the event that he says he hit the game-winning home run in Game 5 of the 1957 World Series but you can prove it, it may have been a different game or year. Otherwise let it go. If you have a good relationship with him, you could try to get in touch with him again later, tell him about your memory problem, and see if you can both figure out when that event really took place. If you can’t pin it down, leave it out.

As an interviewer, one of your jobs is to help you remember things and look up information that will help you remember them. Your job is not to be a fellow nostalgic person. It’s not the time for your own opinions and memories. You can use it as a question opener: “I saw you do that at that game.” ” Then ask him why.

Following these guidelines can help you have a memorable, informative experience. The most rewarding part will be when you hear the person say to you, “I’m glad you came. I really enjoyed it. ”.

So you want to turn your passion for baseball into a professional career in the minor leagues. You’ve spent years honing your skills on the field, but now comes the next critical step – acing the job interview

When you interview for a minor league baseball team, you can show off not only your athletic skills but also your hard work, team spirit, and ability to deal with stress. Even though each company will ask different questions, there are some themes that all aspiring players should be ready for when they get that big interview call.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the most frequently asked minor league baseball interview questions tips to craft winning answers, and examples to help you get ready to knock your responses out of the park!

Common Minor League Baseball Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

Why do you want to play for our organization?

This question gives you a chance to show how much you know about the team, how much you want to work with them, and why you think you would be a good fit. Key points to cover:

Familiarity with the team’s culture, values, track record, facilities, etc. Show them you’ve done your research.
What excites you about their developmental approach, competitive level, coaches, etc.? Be specific.
Alignment between your own values/goals and what the team represents.
Long-term aspirations with the team (e.g. working your way up through their minor league system into the majors).

What do you feel are your biggest strengths and areas for improvement as a player?

Honest self-assessment is key here. Feel free to talk about your best qualities and skills, whether they are speed, power hitting, fielding range, accuracy when throwing, etc. But also show that you know yourself by being honest about the parts of your game that need work and your desire to get better.

How do you handle constructive criticism?

Positively, as an opportunity for growth. You take feedback seriously and integrate it into your training.
You have an open dialogue with coaches to fully understand their perspective.
Remain professional if you disagree, but still consider their insights.
Stay focused on your own continued development vs. the emotions of the moment.

Tell us about a time you stepped up as a leader on a team.

Set the context: Situation where leadership was needed (e.g. team morale down, unresolved conflict, lack of direction).
Explain the specific actions you took as a leader in this scenario.
Share the positive results for the team thanks to your leadership. For example, improved team cohesion, new strategy that led to a win, boost in team morale or performance.

How would you handle a slump in your performance?

Acknowledge it honestly instead of making excuses. You take ownership.
Analyze root causes objectively – mechanics, discipline, focus, etc.
Develop plan to address weak areas through extra training.
Draw motivation and humility from the experience of overcoming adversity.

Tell us about a time you adapted your game successfully based on coaching advice.

Set context: Share the initial coaching feedback that prompted you to change your approach.
Explain how you worked relentlessly on implementing that change through training and practice.
Share the positive impact it had on your skills and performance once integrated.
Convey your openness to continuous improvement through coaching.

How would you positively represent this organization within the community as a player?

Express your eagerness to engage with fans, especially youth who look up to players.
Highlight your professionalism in interacting with media and at public appearances.
Share examples of past community outreach initiatives you actively participated in.
Convey your passion for being a role model and growing the sport through community involvement.

How do you balance your professional development with taking care of your physical and mental health as an athlete?

Commitment to proper rest, recovery, nutrition fueling your training.
Dedication to injury prevention exercises, not overtraining.
Mental training through visualization, meditation to hone focus.
Setting boundaries and proper work/life balance. Off-field interests and relationships are still nurtured.
Understanding that health enables peak performance vs. burnout.

Additional Tips for Acing Your Minor League Interview

Now that we’ve covered some of the most prevalent questions, here are a few extra tips to help you craft winning answers and make the best impression:

Be specific and provide real examples – Don’t just state generic strengths or principles. Provide tangible examples that illustrate those qualities and values in action.
Convey your love of the game – Let your passion and enthusiasm for baseball shine through. It’s about more than just skills – it’s your lifestyle and calling.
Back up claims with quantifiable details – Provide stats, numbers, accolades when highlighting your abilities. Specific figures build credibility.
Highlight your commitment to continuous growth – Show that you are actively dedicated to improving weaknesses, absorbing coaching, expanding your knowledge. Growth mindset is key.
Ask insightful questions – The interview is a two-way street. Asking smart, thoughtful questions conveys your engagement. Prepare these in advance.
Watch your body language – Sit tall, make eye contact, nod. This shows active listening and confidence even when not speaking.
Follow up afterward – Send a thank you note reaffirming your interest, qualifications and fit. Shows initiative.

Sample Answers to Common Minor League Interview Questions

While each player’s experiences are unique, reviewing sample answers can help provide inspiration to craft your own winning responses:

Question: Why do you want to play for our organization?

Sample Answer: I’ve closely followed the Tigers organization for many years and have tremendous respect for the success of your player development program. Your commitment to nurturing young talent and investing in continuous skills growth really resonates with me. My goals align seamlessly with the values this organization represents in terms of competitiveness, teamwork and work ethic. I envision myself growing within the Tigers minor league system into a Major League role in the coming years. I’m excited by the coaching excellence and facilities here that will help accelerate my improvement in key areas like power hitting and speed. Overall, I believe my playing style and skills would thrive in the Tigers development program. I would be honored to wear this uniform and represent the organization’s legacy.

Question: Tell us how you handled a conflict with a coach or teammate in the past.

Sample Answer: During last season, I disagreed with my coach’s decision to remove me from the starting lineup after a few hitless games. While frustrated, I made sure to express my concerns professionally in a 1-on-1 meeting. We had an open discussion where I learned more about my coach’s perspective on needing to regain my confidence in practice before starting again. While we didn’t fully agree, I listened respectfully. I worked tirelessly over the next 2 weeks and used his advice to improve my swing mechanics and mental focus. My coach recognized my re-dedication. By maintaining open communication and committing to improve, I was able to earn back my starting role soon after. This experience taught me how to navigate conflict as a team player.

Question: How would you positively represent our organization in the community?

Sample Answer: I would be honored to represent this esteemed organization within the community as a player. If given the opportunity, I would gladly participate in fan events, school visits, youth baseball clinics, and community initiatives. I’ve volunteered previously at several youth baseball camps and enjoy mentoring young players. I’m mindful that we serve as role models and ambassadors of the sport. You can count on me to conduct myself professionally at public events and interact respectfully with supporters of all ages. I aim to promote baseball’s values of teamwork, integrity and determination during community appearances. As a passionate baseball advocate, I’m committed to building genuine connections between this team and the community that inspires us.

Preparation is Key

Preparing thoroughly for a minor league baseball job interview is the best way to minimize stress and maximize your chances of making the team. While your athletic abilities may be solid, it’s just as important to demonstrate your mental skills, competitive spirit, communication style, and genuine fit with the organization. Use this guide as a resource to reflect on your own experiences and career goals. Draft your own compelling examples and anecdotes that convey your work ethic and commitment to excellence. Think critically about what makes you stand out as a candidate beyond just baseball talent. With dedication to preparation and practice, you’ll be ready to confidently knock your interview out of the park!

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minor league baseball player interview questions

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Read the interview guidelines from the SABR Oral History Committee (updated October 1, 2014) at this link.

Recording the stories of the older veterans while we still have the opportunity should be a priority. They also usually have better stories to tell.

Before you make first contact, the most important thing you can do is be ready in case they agree to an immediate interview. See more on this below.

What did your parents do for a living?
When you were young and interested in baseball, was one of them more involved than the other? (There are many examples of the mother being more involved than the father.) ).
Did you have siblings, and what was their interest?
What is your first memory of becoming interested yourself?
Where did you go to school and how did you do?
Were there coaches or other people at different levels who made a big difference?
Did you play Legion ball, Little League, sandlot ball, etc.?
What contact did you have with scouts?
What was the process like that led to your signing?

At the end of every conversation, you should always ask if you can call back quickly to go over a few points and make sure you understand the story correctly.

“Where do you want to sit?” they might ask.

Where is it quiet? (Beware of TVs that are on in the house, air-conditioning units, fans.)

Try to get the player’s permission for the tape recording on the tape itself before you start, no matter what method you use.

Johnny Mize said, “I’m not interested in talking to anybody who doesn’t know what position I played.”

Know what you’re talking about. Have a clipboard with his entire record — major- and minor-league stats (from Baseball-Reference.com), managers, teams played for, where they finished, team rosters. Research and make notes on unusual stats and incidents from his career and stories that have appeared in print but that may not be accurate. Verify biographical information. Double-check even such basic things as the city and date of the player’s birth. These are sometimes wrong, even in printed works for fairly recent players.

Instead of going on to something else, the interviewer asked, “What kind of car was it?”

“So you might be the only major league player who ever bought a used car in his day?”

He said, “That’s right. It definitely had mileage on it.”

That kind of detail makes the story. But you have to ask.

When someone was prepping to talk to Ralph Branca, he was advised, “Don’t mention 1951. He’s tired of talking about it. ”.

Avoid general questions, such as “What do you remember about . ?” Or “Who was a joker, a character, etc?” Don’t put the burden of remembering on the player.

Batters: Ask them about their stance, how they got it, who taught them the most, and who they thought were the best clutch hitters.

Brief answers: “yes” or “no” or ‘nice guy” kind of stuff

This might go down as the greatest interview in college baseball history

Who is a good candidate for a baseball interview?

These guidelines are for player interviews, but anyone who has played or been connected with major-league baseball or had a long minor-league career is a viable subject: umpires, managers, coaches, general managers, beat writers, PR directors, farm directors, scouts.

What questions do interviewers ask a baseball coach?

Interviewers also ask questions about experience and background to learn about your educational and work history. These questions give you the chance to discuss your specific abilities and practical knowledge for a baseball coach position. Here are some questions you may encounter: How long have you been a baseball coach?

What do Interviewers look for in a baseball player?

In baseball, as in many sports, consistent performance is key. So, interviewers want to know if you have the discipline, focus, and determination to constantly refine your skills, learn from your mistakes, and turn them into success stories. Improving your batting average over the years is a clear indicator of these qualities.

How do you interview a baseball scout?

Media guides and farm directors can be sources of scouts’ names and addresses. Explain that you are hoping to interview him for the nonprofit Society for American Baseball Research, that you are not being paid for your work, and that you hope they might put you in touch with the player in question.