It’s hard to believe I first talked to Jim Henneman about writing baseball for PressBox late in the summer of 2005. Not all decisions were as spot-on as this one, but not asking him would have been malpractice.
Jim was and still is one of the sharpest baseball minds I have ever been around. His gift for the written word is legendary. And you know what? Even well into his 80s, he is still insightful when it comes to Baltimore’s baseball team.
I mention this brief history of Jim’s association with PressBox because on Jan. 22 the Baltimore Orioles PR team did something very, very special to honor Jim. They have permanently named his “second” home, the Orioles’ press box, The Jim Henneman Press Box.
Bravo to the Orioles. Jim was clearly moved and touched as former Orioles PR director Bill Stetka, now the team’s alumni director and historian, talked a bit about Jim and then introduced him. Jim talked about how honored he was and how much he appreciated the blessing of hanging out all these years with his friends and co-workers.
One word about how this ended up happening. During a workout a few days before the O’s hosted the Texas Rangers in the ALDS, I found myself on the field standing with Jennifer Grondahl, the club’s senior vice president of community development and communications.
I wanted to reach out to someone about an idea I had, which was for the club to ask Jim to throw out a first pitch at a playoff game. So there I was standing next to Jennifer and I just blurted it out. I explained Jim’s history covering the team and that it would probably mean so much to Jim.
Jennifer listened to me politely and said she would check into it. I felt good that I had said my piece. Sadly, the 2023 season ended rather abruptly. I wrote it off that perhaps Jennifer hadn’t been able to bring the idea up to anyone because the playoffs ended so quickly.
Turns out that the same time I was whispering in Jennifer’s ears about this idea, longtime Orioles beat writer Dan Connolly was talking to her about doing the same sweet thing for his friend and mentor.
It turns out that Charles and Connolly had planted a seed in the persistent VP of PR.
The decision to honor Jim in such a meaningful way was pushed by Jennifer. She listened to not one but two folks who she knows know this market. And she ended up creating something much more fitting and long-lasting to appropriately honor Jim Henneman.
In doing so, Orioles PR has knocked one out of the park with this gesture.
Photo Credit: PressBox