Local Student Putting His (Red) Sox On!

Walpole's Mike LawlorPublished in the Green Mountain Outlook
If you ask a typical boy from New England what he wants to be when he grows up, chances are one popular answer would be “I want to play for the Red Sox!” Well, for current Suffolk University senior and 2006 Fall Mountain Regional High School graduate, Mike Lawlor, working for the Red Sox organization as an ambassador in the Fan Services and Entertainment Department, might be the next best thing.
“I am currently finishing up my senior year at Suffolk University in Boston, while majoring in business management with a minor in marketing. A lot of my classes helped me develop the core skills I will need to succeed and exceed at my job and in my career. Work ethic, passion, dedication, trust, and balancing time-management, along with developing the appropriate people skills is huge in my department because of our interaction with the fans. Suffolk is also conveniently located only about 15 minutes from Fenway Park, which saves a lot of commuting time."
So how does a college-going, life-long Sox fan from Walpole end up finding a job with the organization? “Well, I have always wanted to work in Major League Baseball and specifically for my hometown Red Sox,” Lawlor said in a recent interview. “It was at the beginning of 2009 when I suddenly realized I need to get started on pursuing my career, so I got in contact with a Red Sox scout named Galen Carr and he forwarded my information to the Sox’ Special Projects Coordinator, who called me in for an interview for a summer internship.”
Lawlor was disappointed when he did not get the internship because the interview process had already been closed before his interview, however, was thrilled when asked if he was interested in a job interview. “My heart almost leapt from my chest,” Lawlor stated. “A few days later I drove down to Boston and interviewed for a job in the Fan Services and Entertainment Department. “I had a great interview and began training less than a week later. Then by the end of May, the department head pulled me aside and told me that I was the newest employee of the Boston Red Sox. Needless to say, I was ecstatic!”
Lawlor officially started his position at the end of May, which includes representing the team as a liaison between the organization and the fans. Lawlor also coordinates the Sox’ Peanut-Allergy friendly initiative, which helps children and adults with peanut allergies to attend games, as well as the flag-flying program for retiring military veterans. “I also coordinate a few of our community outreach programs connecting fans from unfortunate families to representatives of the team.”
Game day responsibilities for Lawlor include assisting in the pre-game ceremonies and coordinating with the fans throughout the ballpark to make sure they enjoy their experience at Fenway Park. “I’ve had some interesting experiences so far, from hanging out with other Red Sox employees and players, but one story during the first two weeks I was on the job stands out. I was down on the field for pregame ceremonies in June against the Yankees. I had finished my duties and was waiting for the anthem to begin when Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano began to throw just in front of me. Jeter began long tossing to Cano when a throw got away and zoomed just past my face and landed behind home plate. Cano came over to me and said ‘Man, bro, that was a close one.’
“Then when the anthem began, Alex Rodriguez came out and stood right next to me. After the anthem, he looked at me and said, “Jeter’s got a weak arm” referring to the wild toss. It was a very interesting night, as the Sox went on to win that game, 7-0.”
So now with his feet in the door, what might the future hold for this budding Major League baseball employee? “My plans are to represent the team in this department while continuing to learn the necessary skills to take the next step,” Lawlor concluded.
“My dream job is to work in Baseball Operations and help construct the team we so dearly love. I will be helping Theo (Sox General Manager Epstein) and our Baseball Operations Department this summer, helping prepare for the MLB Draft in early June.”