Being a Clubhouse Attendant in Minor League Baseball

By Norm O:

I’m often asked what it’s like in the clubhouse. Over the next couple of posts I will walk you through a day in the life of a clubby.

This is what a typical day looked like when I was in Lancaster:

8am-2pm- Usually, I would have the home towels in the dryer so I finished folding them. Then I’d make a trip to the visiting clubhouse to grab their towels and clean the clubhouse, which included vacuuming and cleaning the bathrooms and showers. After that, I finished the towels and touch up the home clubhouse.

Next came inventory of the food and personal items. As a clubby you provide a pre-game meal after batting practice (usually pb&j sandwiches some fruit, snacks, and some luncheon meat and cheeses). You also provide the players and coaches with the basic personal items (shaving cream, body wash or soap, shampoo, razors, baby powder, and bathroom cleaner). The bathroom cleaner, aka Scrubbing Bubbles, is used to clean the players’ spikes.

Once all the laundry was done and the clubhouses were clean, I took my shopping cart up to the front office to get all the players’ mail. After putting the mail in the lockers, I then had a little free time. I tried to get as much done early as I could so I could take a little nap. Players usually didn’t show up till 1 or 2 pm. Sometimes coaches showed up early around 12-1 pm.

2pm-Gametime- For a clubby this is when it gets hectic.  The players are in the clubhouse and there is a lot going on. Players would hunt me down with a uniform issue, or my favorite, to pay me dues. Sometimes a player or a coach had a special request for me to pick something up.

In the Cal League the Umpires mudded up the balls. So I’d put 6 dozen balls in the Umpire room. I filled up the water jugs in the clubhouses, bullpens, and dugouts. In Lancaster I had to pay special attention to the water jugs as it gets really hot.

Once the players were on the field or in the cage for batting practice, I brought out the food table. I set it up kind of like a buffet line. I also made sure everyone got a towel. At this point, the players and coaches got game ready. I tossed the batting practice jerseys in the wash to get them started. Once clubhouse started to empty out, I cleaned up a little and headed down to the dugout.

During the game I would have a small load of towels and the batting practice jerseys washing. I would also do a little clean up in the clubhouse. Pick up the remnants of the pre-game meal and vacuum the clubhouse.

I would also be making plans for dinner.  When we were at home, we would have sponsored nights. In and Out had a night where we would get Double Doubles and fries. We also had Chipolte, Panda Express, and The Outback helped us out. I would have to go and get the food.

I also spent some time in the dugout and would check in with the other team to see if they needed anything. I always would leave beer for the visiting coaches as well.

So after the game and the team is fed, that’s when things got busy. I would wash the pants and jerseys. This included treating for stains. I used Spray and Wash and laundry emulsifier to get the stains out. After they were done I would load the personals. The personals were on a laundry loop http://www.laundryloops.com/prod_info.html. This would have the players personal stuff (jock, socks, undershirt, shorts, etc.)

During the time the loops were washing I would go over to the visitors’ clubhouse and lock up and pick up a little. I would also screw around a little. Okay a lot. In Lancaster we had Jackrabbits. The trainer and I would sit outside the clubhouse and lure them in with the left over salad. We would then toss balls at them (not meaning to hit them) to scare them and get them to jump. We would score on how high the jump was and how wild of a jump it was.

After the loops were done I would throw them in the dryer and do the coaches and umpires laundry. Now if we were on the road things were different. I would be doing the laundry out of the hotel or at a laundry mat. The after game meals were up to a player unless it was a getaway day. Then I would hook up with the concessions manager of the home team and work something out.

There’s a lot of down time as well. In Lancaster I was treated very well. I always had a host family providing dinner or lunch for me. I refer to Lancaster as one of the best times I’ve ever had. It was a great experience. Working with Brett Butler, Damon Mashore, Jeff Pico, Rob Knepper, and Jay Signorelli is something I will never forget.

Great times with a great group of guys. To this day I still keep in touch with the guys. I also still follow the former Jethawks that were there with me that season. Emilo Bonifacio (Marlins), Carlos Gonzalez (Rockies), Esmerling Vasquez (Twins), Wilken Castillo (Braves), Mark Reynolds (Orioles) and others that have seen time in the show; Greg Smith (A’s and Rockies), Rusty Ryal (Dbacks), Matt Chico (Nationals, and Dodgers). I look back at that roster and wonder we didn’t win it all. Though it wasn’t all fun and games it was a special time in my life. I do miss being in the clubhouse.

Join me next time as I talk about the best names and nicknames in baseball.

Check out some of Norms other blogs:  Best Promotions and Favorite Ballparks.