Robert Field ’96 has served as Special Events Manager at Major League Baseball for nearly 13 years. In this position, Robert manages PLAY BALL PARK during MLB All-Star Week, a 600,000 square foot baseball interactive show, which includes onsite execution with corporate partners, installation and dismantling of the show floor, oversight of 50 operational staff and 2,200 volunteers, the Legends Program that features Hall of Fame Players and Current MLB players, and ensuring contractual obligations are fulfilled. He also manages the Rookie Career Development Program, an event for the top MLB Prospects, which includes overseeing the event logistics, off-site events, audio and visual setup, and run of show for the event. Robert has also worked on various events throughout the years including the Baseball Winter Meetings, Retail Summit, and World Series. Prior to joining MLB, Robert served as Promotions and Entertainment Manager and Account Executive for six years with the Brooklyn Cyclones. After graduating from the University of Hartford, he began working in the baseball industry with the Long Island Ducks. However, Robert got his start in the special events industry with an internship at the University of Hartford focusing on promoting the athletic events for the men’s and women’s soccer and basketball teams. His very first event was Midnight Madness which was Hartford’s pep rally for the Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams. Robert majored in marketing and holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Hartford. He currently resides in Harlem, NY with his wife, Amber, and his two daughters, Keira (8) and Ava (6).
How did your high school experience at Kellenberg shape who you are today?
My experience at Kellenberg is one that I will never forget. During my four years, Kellenberg provided me an opportunity to grow in faith, academics, and sports. The atmosphere of the school provided a structure that allowed me to be part of a community. As I look back, the importance of diversity in the school certainly played a larger role that I didn’t know at the time. The various backgrounds of students and staff made it an easy transition to college and certainly has made a positive impact on my everyday life.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The most satisfying part of my job is that I get to create an event that impacts and generates a positive baseball experience for fans in various cities and across the world. Each baseball city that I work on MLB All-Star Week in has its own uniqueness and challenges. With each city I have the opportunity to create new experiences and concepts each year. Being someone who played baseball throughout most of my life, working on high profile events such as MLB All-Star Week, World Series and World Baseball Classic to name a few is something I find amazing to be part of over the years.
Do you have any advice for students or young alumni who are interested in breaking into the field of event planning for major industries like MLB?
If someone wants to work in the event planning industry, I always tell them a couple of things. The first is to put a portfolio together that highlights all the events they have worked/volunteered for with pictures and descriptions for each event. The portfolio provides a more detailed description and paints a much better picture than a resume. The second item I share is to get yourself involved in events, whether you are a student or alumni volunteer. You will be surprised by the relationships you build and satisfaction you get for being part of something great. Events come in all shapes and sizes. You can volunteer for Open House, Alumni Weekend, a community 5K, weddings, or birthday parties. The list goes on and on. The more opportunities you give yourself being around or part of events, you start to take away ideas and knowledge and develop relationships.
Who was your favorite teacher/class, moderator/club, or coach/team from your time as a student here, and why?
This is a loaded question as there were so many quality teachers and coaches. From the coaching side, Mike McCabe, my sophomore year baseball coach, helped launch my career and helped me take my game to the next level. On the teacher side, Mr. Huggard is at the top of the list. Mr. Huggard builds an authentic relationship with the students and fellow staff members. I had the privilege of having him as a homeroom teacher and religion teacher. He made school enjoyable but more importantly, he always treated me and fellow students with respect.