The joint is jumping, but the real celebration happened before the first pitch. The Cubs are hosting the Dodgers (Betts, Ohtani, Freeman etal) and that’s who people came to see. However, the Cubs, their fans and baseball are celebrating the 50-year career of Tom “Otis” Hellman.

MLB has been sticking their foot a lot recently, but honoring behind the scenes guys is something they do well. Hellman was the Cubs long time Clubhouse manager and served with the Reds before that. He was one of the unsung heroes that earned the respect of scores of players, coaches and managers over the years. While he was beloved in Chicago (he passed away this past February) and Cincy, he’s not that unique a character. Home and visiting clubhouse managers are key components to the success and vibe of a team. Hellman had a larger than life personality from everything I’ve read and heard. Aside from creating a vibe, they’re responsible for doing everything for the team including protecting the players.

While I’ve never met or interviewed a ML clubhouse manager, I’ve interacted with several at the AAA level over the years and they are cut from the same cloth. They just happen to live and work in AAA cities. While they might not be paid the same as the players, they are considered essential members of the baseball family.