Jonathan Mayo is a senior writer for MLB.com. He joined Major League Baseball’s official website in April 1999 and has covered every facet of the game. He’s been to three World Series and seven All-Star Games, as well as Opening Series in Japan and Puerto Rico. In his time with MLB.com, he’s also covered the Caribbean World Series in Mazatlan, Mexico and the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.
Jonathan, thanks for taking the time.
Glad to answer your questions.
Please tell us more about yourself.
Well, as you noted in the little bio, I’ve been at MLB.com for almost 14 years (gasp). Before that, I was at the NY Post. I went to the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1993. I was there with Doug Glanville and, for basketball fans, Matt Maloney and Jerome Allen. Both played in the NBA – Maloney won a couple of rings with the Houston Rockets. Allen is now the head coach at Penn. Let’s see… I grew up in northern New Jersey and now live in Pittsburgh. I’ve been here for 11 ½ years. I’ve got 2 kids, ages 11 and 8. Teaching them both to be baseball fans.
Do you have a favorite prospect you have followed?
It’s really hard to pick one favorite, but a few stand out as guys I’ve been able to follow from draft time to the big leagues. I’ll stay in Pittsburgh to name one – Neil Walker. I did a story on Neil when he was coming out of high school here in the Pittsburgh area, got to follow him on his climb up the Pirates’ ladder, along with his positions shifts (from catcher to third base to second) and I get to see him a lot here in Pittsburgh, so he kind of stands out.
Growing up who were your influences?
This sounds cliché, but more than anything, my parents, especially my mom, who’s always been so supportive of anything I wanted to do. She’s also a HUGE baseball fan and that’s where I get it from. Professionally, there wasn’t one write who I patterned myself after, but I always liked George Vescey in the NY Times. And he was fantastic to me when I was just starting out in the business, working at the NY Post. It’s always nice when an image of a person is actually surpassed by who they are in person.
What has been highlight of your career so far?
Do I have to pick one? I’ve been really lucky to get to cover some pretty cool stuff. There was nothing like that Caribbean Series I covered in Mexico. The energy was unbelievable. In similar fashion, the College World Series is an event I encourage all baseball fans to check out at least once. But if I had to pick one thing, it probably would be the 1999 All-Star Game. It was the first one I covered for MLB.com – we were a really small operation then – and it was the one with Ted Williams throwing out the first pitch and all the All-Stars crowding around him and not wanting to leave the field. Just seeing MLB superstars express that kind of admiration was unbelievable to see.
You have watched baseball in Japan, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. What was that experience like and how were they different?
Each experience was amazing by itself, getting to experience each culture – baseball and otherwise. It was great to see how much people in other places love their baseball. The passion and energy is amazing. In some ways, it’s more than here – baseball is the be-all, end-all and may not compete with other sports in the same way. When I was in Japan in 2000, that was the first time they did an Opening Series like that and it was quite an experience. Puerto Rico was the Opening Series in 2001 and the passion and energy there, as you’d imagine, was fantastic, even though the teams (Blue Jays and Rangers) didn’t have a direct connection with Puerto Rico. But we know what baseball means to the people there and I got to see first hand the lasting legacy Roberto Clemente left.
What advice would you give to aspiring young writers?
Just keep writing. Like with anything, experience is the best teacher. Read good writers and write, write, write. Try to get professionals to provide feedback if/when you can. And stick with it. It can be a tough business to get into – so you need to be passionate about wanted to do it.
Once again thanks for taking the time. We are huge fans of yours.
My pleasure.