Nationals Farm Authority

This offseason, the Potomac Nationals hired a new Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations to replace the departing Dan Laing. Selected for the job was 23-year old Texas native, Anthony Oppermann. Anthony was kind enough to answer a few questions about himself and what he does.

Nationals Farm Authority (NFA): Tell me something about your background. How did you get your start in broadcasting? What exactly drew you to the booth?  

Anthony Oppermann (AO): I got my start in broadcasting while I was in college at Texas Christian University. I helped produce the TCU Horned Frog baseball games and hosted the pre and post-game shows. I had always done speaking events while in grade school, and really wanted to do something different, something no else that I knew had ever done. That combined with a true love for the game of baseball drew me to the booth. I love to create, and to use my words and voice to make listeners “see the game” and feel the emotions associated with that is truly an art form.

NFA: You did some play-by-play work in the Texas Collegiate League, did you have the opportunity to see any players that are now making a name for themselves in the major or minor leagues? Is there anyone in the Nationals minor league organization that you covered?

AO: More than 20 of the players I covered in the TCL in 2005 were drafted in this past summer’s free agent draft. Because the majority of them were college freshman and sophomores at the time, none have made it the Majors yet. The only player from the TCL who was picked up by the Nationals was Jeremy Goldschmeding who was a shortstop out of Dallas Baptist that played for the Mineral Wells Steam in ‘05.

NFA: In addition to your role broadcasting the Potomac Nationals, what other responsibilities do you have in your Media Relations role?

AO: A lot of my media relations duties include working and building relationships with the local media in the D.C. area. I’m in charge of writing press releases and game stories for our website and the afore mentioned media outlets. Speaking of the website, we are on the verge of launching a new site at the end of January, so a large part of what I’ll be doing over the next several weeks will be putting together the pages and content for that site. During the season I’ll be responsible for setting the schedule for our press box staff (official scorer, PA announcer, etc.) and putting together game notes, stat packs, and rosters.

NFA: Describe a typical day for you during the season? What goes into preparing yourself for a game?

AO: To be fully prepared for a three hour game, most broadcasters suggest spending close to nine hours prepping and researching. Obviously in the minor leagues and especially the low minors, a broadcaster has so many other responsibilities that this becomes impossible to do. The way to get around that is to put time in to quality game notes and know them from cover to cover. I’m also in charge of getting stat packs to both teams and making sure everyone in the press box has all of the information they need. I like to spend at least a few minutes before each game talking with players and coaches around the cage during batting practice. As soon as I get the line-ups for both teams, I’ll distribute them and then fill out my scorebook. The sooner I get my book filled out, the more time I have to organize my notes and make a smooth transition into the broadcast.

NFA: What are you most looking forward to in 2007?

AO: I’m really looking forward to being in the Carolina League and getting the opportunity to work with all of the people within it. The Assistant General Manager in Daytona and one of my mentors, Matt Provence, was the broadcaster in Lynchburg for several years and spoke very highly of the league and its member teams. The thing I’m really excited about though is the opportunity to make something special happen in Woodbridge. The front office staff is very dedicated and there is so much potential to make the Potomac Nationals one of best organizations in all of Minor League baseball. It’s not going to happen in one year, but 2007 will be the start!

NFA: What are your long term goals? Do you want to remain in the broadcasting role or do you have interest in other aspects of baseball operations? Are the major leagues something you are interested in?

AO: Broadcasting is my passion. It is what gets me excited. I could go on for hours talking about it and analyzing it. Again, it’s the ability to create and use the spoken word to make people think and feel. I think it’s a lost art in our society, and to get the opportunity to do it is truly a privilege. With that said, I don’t consider myself an artist yet and that is my long term goal, to be an artist. Right now I’m still learning the craft and my short term goals are to improve and keep getting better. In the meantime, I like being able to contribute to other aspects of baseball operations and earn my keep so to speak. My dream is to one day be a Major League announcer because to me that is the pinnacle of this profession. Obviously there are many great broadcasters who have never gotten the chance to reach that level, so to some extent, it’s out of my control. The only thing I can do is continue to work hard and strive to get better everyday and hopefully that will translate in to a Major League career.