Touring The Bases With…Anna Petersen

Anna Petersen is the Community Relations Coordinator for the West Michigan Whitecaps located in Comstock Park, Michigan. They have been a class”A” Affiliate of the Detroit Tigers since 1997.

Seamheads:  Did you ever expect to have a career in baseball?

Anna Petersen: In all honesty, I was probably the last person expected to have a career in sports. I was more interested in music as a career. In high school, I was first chair flute and competed in music competition. I was a two-year All State Band participant, and attended music camp four consecutive summers.

I also participated in five high school play productions, one production in the pit and four more on stage.

Seamheads:   How did you get involved with the West Michigan Whitecaps?

Peterson: The Whitecaps are located in Comstock Park, Michigan near the city of Grand Rapids. My sister, Malinda Petersen, who lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan introduced me to the Whitecaps organization.  I was offered a ticket sales internship and I jumped at the opportunity.

During college I struggled with pinpointing a career.  I enjoyed my Consumer Affairs major and knew it was an excellent fit for me, but when it came to applying for work, very little excited me.  I accepted the position on a Thursday, and that Friday I was making the fifteen-hour drive to my new home.

Reality set-in about a month later, and as the season progressed; new opportunities within the ballpark arose.  My supervisor allowed us to assist with ballpark tours, and suddenly pieces began coming together.

Seamheads:  When was that?

Petersen:  The ticket sales internship started in January 2008-September 2008.  Following the internship I was hired by the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL Hockey team affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings) as their Community Relations Coordinator.  This was October 2008-mid-January 2009.  In the middle of January 2009 I made the transition back to the Whitecaps and have been here since!

Seamheads:  What are some of your responsibilities with the club?

Petersen: Throughout the baseball season, I am responsible for player appearances and stress to them the importance of upholding a positive image within the community.

I assist non-profits with fund-raising opportunities, serve sack suppers to nutritionally at risk children.

Seamheads: What do you love about your job?

Petersen: The beauty of baseball for me are the fans. They are a diverse community of people coming together to enjoy the game.  It is this diversity of fans that I enjoy. Watching the children laugh and smile as they walk onto the field and run the bases.  Hearing the adults say they wish their lawns were as green as our outfield grass.

I am blessed knowing I bring joy to people with player and mascot appearances.  I am always amused at the camaraderie of the players. I’ve learned about their kangaroo courts, their daily rituals and the practical jokes they play on each other.  I relish their dedication and work ethic as they dream of someday playing in the Major Leagues.

On the Whitecaps tour I realized I was beginning an incredible career path.  I was then determined to work in community relations and gratefully made the full-time transition following the ticket sales internship.

I am blessed with an incredible job where I can bring joy to people with player and mascot appearances, assist non-profits with fund-raising opportunities, serve sack suppers to nutritionally at-risk children, and drive to a ballpark for work every morning.

With the player appearances, I become their chauffeur and the two girls on the player pass list that cannot be seated in the same section.  I am amused by the lives of the players and I value the relationships.

Every day I discover more and more that I want to give and to love–agape.  Every game day I discover more and more that I love the sound of the crack of the bat, the popping of fresh popcorn, and the cheering of a large crowd—baseball.

Thanks to an ex-boyfriend, my job is to agape baseball.

Seamheads:  When did you see your first Major League game?

Petersen: I was ten years old when my dad Harley took me to see the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome.  Years later, my boyfriend took me to the Metrodome and as I walked through the park and took my seat, I had a vision of some day escorting fans on a tour through a ballpark.

Now one of the jobs I enjoy is taking fans on a tour of Fifth Third Ballpark where the Whitecaps play. Walking them through the dugout, the clubhouse and around the field, watching the smiles on their faces gives me joy unmatched by any other job I ever held.  That is when I realized I was on an incredible career path. I made the right choice for myself.

Taking the fans on tour reminded me when I entered the Metrodome, nine years earlier. At that time, I dreamed of someday having a job where I could take fans on a tour of a park; show them the dugout and clubhouse.  My dream has come true.

Seamheads:  Where were you born and raised?

Petersen:  I was born and raised in Watertown, South Dakota also called the South Dakota Rising Star. It’s a small town, about 20,000 folks.  I graduated Watertown High School in 2004 and attended South Dakota State U. and graduated in the fall of 2007 with a Degree in Consumer Affairs.

Seamheads:  How did you become a Minnesota Twins fan?

Petersen: Many of my family and friends were Twins fans.  Born and raised in South Dakota, many friends and family were Twins fans, but my ex-boyfriend was one of those really big fans.  For him, it went beyond the present-day roster of Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer, even beyond the World Series championship team with Kirby Puckett.  He cherished the history of Harmon Killebrew and Kent Hrbek.  As our relationship progressed, I would catch myself salivating over the thought of a Dome Dog and chips while sitting in the front row of the cheap seats we ran to save.

Seamheads:  What are some of the humorous things you saw with the Whitecaps?

Peterson: My first season as community relation’s coordinator was June 2009.  I assembled the team in the dugout to explain to them that the ballpark cleaning crew took a dim view of disposing all the bubblegum left in the dugout.  “Boys,” I said, “the crew and I congratulate you on your artistic abilities but forming the gum into private body parts was not appreciated.”

I don’t care to answer questions six year olds ask me as I give them a tour of the park including the dugout. What’s that “stuff” they wanted to know. I told the players I am here to teach them about the park, not the “birds and the bees.”  They all laughed, as boys will be boys.  It didn’t happen again.

Although the bubblegum situation had a comical effect amongst the team, the reputation was a serious matter as one person’s actions represent the organization as a whole.

Seamheads: Can you name a few players on the Whitecaps that made it to the Majors?

Petersen: Since I have been with the Whitecaps only one season, no players from last year have made it yet.  However, former players from the team include Brandon Inge – Tigers; Cameron Maybin – Tigers and now with the Marlins; Alex Avila and Joel Zumaya, both with the Detroit Tigers.

Kenny Rogers, Curtis Granderson, ex Tiger and now with the New York Yankees, Magglio Ordonez and Jeremy Bonderman have all played rehab games with us.

Seamheads: What kind of influence, if any, do you have towards other females who are interested in baseball as a career?

Petersen: The influence I have is teaching women the appropriate mindset. Prior to working in baseball, I made a decision to rank everyone equally.  Whether one is famous, or has a fortune, or a title, should not affect how I treat someone. This has allowed me to be comfortable approaching supervisors, our CEO and the players in the clubhouse.  One’s rank doesn’t intimidate me.

My parents taught me to respect people and appreciate their diversity.

Another aspect is to always be professional.  My position requires interaction with the team more than any other front staff person.  It is crucial to maintain professional relationships with the players and to focus on my role of getting the players out in the Grand Rapids community. The community is very responsible to the players so it is important to coordinate appearance opportunities.

Some people assume and make accusations about women working in sports, especially younger women, especially since I am twenty-four.  The frustration stems from the occasions when a woman in the front office has a promiscuous relationship with the players.  The best I can do is to know my professional intentions and not let others’ actions affect my work ethic.  No, I do not date players.

Seamheads: Did you play or do you play any sports?

Petersen: I live an active lifestyle, but have never succeeded in playing organized sports. I played sports in school because I enjoyed being around other people.  I enjoyed the team aspect and cheering on my teammates.  I played intramural volleyball from 7 ^th grade to 10 ^th grade. I also played some rugby and floor hockey.

In high school, a group of us girls would play football at a neighborhood park.  I love cheering my team on as loud as I can to keep them going.  That is how I see my role on the team.

I was also a football manager during my junior year of high school as I wanted  a sports medicine degree.  My senior year I devoted my extra-curricular time to band, the school plays, academic clubs, and eventually spoke at our senior commencement.

Seamheads: What are some of your responsibilities for the Whitecaps?

Petersen: Every day is an incredible adventure at the park.  I enjoy working on the field in addition to my office work. The chief groundskeeper calls me down to help because he knows I know what I am doing and I love it.  I love to see the white clouds against the dark blue sky during day games and the bright lights in the evening lighting up the park.

Seamheads:  What do you love about your job?

Peterson:  Every day is an incredible adventure here at the ballpark and that is what keeps me here.  I love calling home and telling my dad how I drove the bobcat rolled (a) portafloor, mowed the infield, tamped the pitcher’s mound.

I LOVE learning all the aspects of the ballpark and fortunately, the people in our organization are all willing to teach.  I am now able to properly fold the bullpen tarps, properly water the bullpens, and slowly but surely drive the 1200A to (b) drag the infield.  Right away some people (including fans and co-workers) thought my intentions were to just be on the field, but I could not let that affect me.  Now, I have surpassed that hump with co-workers and they know I am there to learn and to work. Our GM and groundskeeper both call me down to help with the field, because they know I know what I am doing.  It is such a rewarding feeling!

This past year I have become more independent and self-sufficient, many thanks to my position.  What hasn’t changed, though, is my inability to control laughter, my love for dark beer and peanut butter (not together), and my love for people.

(a) Portafloor is a portable flooring system we use at the ballpark when we host concerts.  This is placed on the infield and any outfield turf so people can stand on the floor and not the turf.  It is rolled around PVC pipe, so for these events we unroll the floor and roll it back up.  The portafloor protects the turf from the foot traffic.  Ice arenas use this as a floor covering for concerts/events as well.

(b) The John Deere 1200A is sometimes referred to as the three-wheeler or infield drag.  It has a rake on the back that is lowered to drag the infield and also the warning track.

Norm Coleman is an actor, writer and professional photographer (ret.) He lives in Half Moon Bay, California