For nearly half a century, Jim Schmakel has been a fixture in Major League Baseball, dedicating his career to the Detroit Tigers and playing a pivotal role in the formation and growth of the MLB Clubhouse Managers Association. As he transitions to an alumni role with the organization, we look back on his remarkable career filled with memorable moments and significant contributions, which has left an indelible mark on the game and the MLB Clubhouse Managers Association (MLBCMA).
His journey, marked by passion, perseverance, and success, began in an unexpected way—with rejection. In 1965, the Toledo Mud Hens, returning to Toledo after a hiatus, held a promotional contest announced in the local newspaper, the Toledo Blade. The contest invited young hopefuls to write 50 words or less on why they wanted to be the team’s batboy. Jim, then in eighth grade, eagerly participated and made it to the Final Four but was not chosen. Instead, he received a season pass, which allowed him to stay connected with the team. Undeterred, he entered the contest again the following year and won, becoming the home batboy for the Toledo Mud Hens in 1966. This marked the beginning of a lifelong career in baseball, leading to his pivotal role with the Detroit Tigers.
Throughout high school and college, Jim continued to work with the Toledo Mud Hens, gaining invaluable experience and nurturing his love for baseball. After college, he briefly worked as a high school teacher while continuing his part-time role with the Mud Hens. During this period, he met the Vice President of a corporation called Eltra while working in the visiting clubhouse. Impressed by Jim’s dedication and work ethic, the VP offered him a position in human resources, with the stipulation that Jim could still work with the Mud Hens. Jim accepted the job, balancing his new corporate role with his passion for baseball.
In 1978, while still employed at Eltra, Jim read an article in the Toledo Blade about Pio DiSalvo, the equipment manager for the Detroit Tigers. He had previously been a trainer and worked with Jim in the early ’70s. Thinking it would be fun to reconnect and tease Pio a little bit about how he couldn’t be a trainer so now he is the equipment guy, Jim called him. During their conversation, Pio said that he did not want to be the equipment manager and, surprisingly, told Jim, “Do you want this job? You got it.” Without even an interview, Jim was thrust into the role of clubhouse manager for the Detroit Tigers, a position he embraced and excelled in for decades. For the next 46 years, Schmakel would become an integral part of the Tigers’ family, witnessing historic moments and forging lifelong friendships with players and staff alike.
In the early 1990s, Schmakel recognized the need for clubhouse managers across the league to collaborate and professionalize their roles. Along with a small group of like-minded individuals, he helped establish the MLB Clubhouse Managers Association. Schmakel served as the organization’s first president and was instrumental in drafting its initial bylaws, laying the foundation for what would become a powerful force within baseball.
One of Schmakel’s proudest achievements with the association was the establishment of its scholarship program. What began as a modest initiative in 1993 has grown into a significant endeavor, awarding substantial scholarships to deserving recipients. These scholarships, funded by contributions from suppliers and supporters, provide financial assistance to deserving individuals pursuing higher education. The scholarships have grown from modest amounts to substantial awards, with recent scholarships reaching $25,000. Since that time, the Major League Baseball Clubhouse Managers Association has awarded over a half million dollars in annual scholarship awards to batboys and assistants. Schmakel recalls with pride how these scholarships have helped launch successful careers, including those of an attorney and a future medical doctor. One of Schmakel’s proudest achievements is the establishment of scholarship awards through the MLBCMA. This initiative reflects Schmakel’s commitment to giving back and supporting the next generation.
“I think all of us clubhouse managers, We’re all proud of the young men that have worked for us,” Schmakel said about the pride when one of his staff members is recognized. “They’re all great guys. And I think they appreciate the leadership that all of us have shown and teach them how to be disciplined and how to be respectful and how to dress and how to talk and it’s really cool all these years there’s just so many young men that have worked for me and all the other guys.”
Throughout his tenure, Schmakel has been a witness to some of baseball’s most memorable moments. He fondly remembers the Tigers’ 1984 World Series championship and how he helped arrange the team’s subsequent visit to the White House, which was not something every championship team was guaranteed quite yet. The emotional closing of Tiger Stadium in 1999 also stands out as a particularly poignant event in his career he will remember forever. He fondly recalls the final game at Tiger Stadium, where Mark “The Bird” Fidrych’s appearance brought the crowd to its feet, and Robert Fick’s late grand slam secured a win for the Tigers. Jim has been able to experience the game from both sides of the field throughout his career. After serving as the Tigers’ home clubhouse manager for 45 years from 1978-2022, he has transitioned into the visiting clubhouse for the last two years.
As Schmakel looks toward the future, he is proud to assist in the development of an MLBCMA Alumni Program. This program is designed to keep clubhouse managers who are retired together, and still involved with the association and the game of baseball. As a founder of the association, Jim felt he was the appropriate person to lead this next chapter for the organization. He looks forward to maintaining his connections within the baseball community and helping to recognize the contributions of his fellow clubhouse managers. “As I sort of head down the road, it’ll give me an opportunity to maintain contacts with the organization and my friends over all the years,” Schmakel said of his transition to an alumnus. “And it gives an opportunity to recognize some of the guys that are still attached to us and try to bring them back around and show our appreciation for them.”
His legacy as a founding father of the association and his decades of service to the game will continue to inspire future generations of clubhouse professionals. Jim Schmakel’s career is a testament to the often-unsung heroes who work behind the scenes to keep the game of baseball running smoothly. His dedication, innovation, and commitment to fostering a sense of community among clubhouse managers have left an indelible mark on America’s pastime.
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