Joel Wilson – Staff Writer

jnw5443@psu.edu

Recently, I have been fortunate enough to be employed by the Erie SeaWolves baseball club. For those who do not know, the SeaWolves are a Minor League Baseball team who play in the AA level Eastern League. 

The way professional baseball works is that a player will be drafted out of either high school or college and sent to lower levels of organized baseball until they have been developed to the point where they are Major League ready. The lowest level is Rookie ball, which encompasses the Florida and Arizona Complex Leagues. From there, multiple levels of class A ball exist. Then comes AA, AAA, and finally Major League Baseball. 

Each team in these numerous levels of the minor leagues are affiliated with an MLB team. Due to these teams “growing” players, the Minor Leagues are typically referred to as the “Farm System.” In the case of the SeaWolves, we are the farm system for the American League’s Detroit Tigers. 

It is exciting to go to the games and see tomorrow’s stars before they become famous. In my position with the SeaWolves, I have a closer view of these players than many fans will ever get. Before the 2023 campaign began, I was brought onto the production crew. When you watch a game on TV, enjoy the videos on the scoreboard, or listen to the music in between innings, you can thank the production crew for making that happen.

The home schedule for the SeaWolves began on April 11, and so far I have worked as the wireless camera operator, and the operator of the first and third base cameras. 

Typically, I report about an hour before the game is set to begin. I grab a schedule sheet, which details when the in-game entertainment takes place and get my camera. If I work the wireless camera, I go onto the field to get footage of the pregame ceremonies like the starting lineups, the mascot introduction, and the singing of the National Anthem. 

From there, I provide extra coverage for the on-field games in-between innings. My favorite of these is the Vnet knockerball challenge where fans get into large, inflated spheres and run at each other for prizes. I also provide extra coverage for the dance cams and 7th inning stretch. In the event of a SeaWolves victory, I get the privilege of going onto the field to film the postgame high five line.

If I am on one of the base cameras, I get to be in the dugout with the players for the entire game. The base camera operators are given a headset that can communicate with each other, the camera set up behind home plate, and the operator of the switchboard. As a base camera operator, I get shots of the batter for the broadcast, which has a graphic overlayed on top of it containing the batter’s stats. I also get shots of the baserunners and the pitcher. Similarly, to the wireless camera, I provide extra coverage of in game entertainment, fan cams, and the 7th inning stretch. 

Working with the SeaWolves is a great job that provides experience as well as great opportunities. Every game is a fun and unique experience.