Sport Management alumni to discuss roles as MLB general managers

The Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management is hosting “Covering the Bases – An Evening with our GMs” on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Campus Center Auditorium.

Major League Baseball general managers and Sport Management alumni Chris Antonetti of the Cleveland Indians, Ben Cherington of the Boston Red Sox and Neal Huntington of the Pittsburgh Pirates will return to campus for a question-and-answer session moderated by ESPNBoston.com reporter and alumnus Mike Reiss.

“Covering the Bases – An Evening with our GM’s” will feature the three front office executives providing insight on the day-to-day duties of their jobs and the scope of their professional responsibilities, while also sharing reflections on their career rise through the ranks in professional baseball and the sports industry.

“We are thrilled to have Chris, Ben and Neal return to the university,” said Lisa Masteralexis, Sport Management Department head. “Becoming a general manager is one of the most prestigious and sought-after positions in the sports industry. To have three of our alumni currently serving as Major League Baseball GMs is both an honor and a distinction for our program. We are grateful that Chris, Ben and Neal have been willing to take time from their busy schedules to return to campus and share their experiences with our current students and the university community.”

Antonetti was appointed executive vice president and general manager of the Cleveland Indians following the 2010 season. He joined the Indians organization as an assistant in the baseball operations department in 1999. Antonetti began his professional baseball career as an intern with the Montreal Expos in 1997. He graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University with a degree in business administration in 1996 and earned his master’s degree in Sport Management in 1997.

Cherington was appointed executive vice president and general manager of the Boston Red Sox in October 2011. He joined the Red Sox in 1999 as a Mid-Atlantic area scout before becoming a baseball operations assistant later that year. He began his professional baseball career as an advance scout in the Cleveland Indians organization in 1998. Cherington played four years of varsity baseball at Amherst College, graduating with a degree in English in 1996. He earned his master’s degree in Sport Management in 1997.

Huntington was appointed senior vice president and general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2007. Huntington began his professional baseball career in 1992 with the Montreal Expos and joined the Cleveland Indians as the assistant director of minor league operations in 1998. Huntington played four years of varsity baseball at Amherst College and graduated with a degree in psychology in 1991. He was a Division III second-team All-America and first-team All-New England selection at first base his senior year. He earned his master’s degree in Sport Management in 1992 and was presented with the Harold J. Vanderzwaag Distinguished Alumnus Award by the department earlier this year.

“Covering the Bases – An Evening with our GM’s” is presented with coordinating support from the Association of Diversity in Sport and Women in Sport Management, the Jewish Leaders in Business and Sport Management student clubs. Priority seating for the event will be given to Sport Management students. There are a limited number of tickets that will be made available to the general public. For ticket and event information, e-mail UMASSGMEVENT@gmail.com.