Brookline Rotary and Brookline HUB In-Depth are proud to present
Baseball and the American Dream
a conversation among author Larry Ruttman, broadcaster Jordan Rich, and Eddie Romero Jr, Vice President and Assistant General Manager of the Boston Red Sox, discussing discrimination and inclusion in America, as seen through baseball.
Premiered Monday, July 19, at 7 pm on Brookline Interactive Group Television (BIG), Channel 3 on cable television from RCN or Comcast, and also on-demand at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-DRQdfTTa0
The program will be aired multiple times over the next few weeks on BIG, and will remain available on-demand on Brookline HUB's YouTube channel.
Historian Larry Ruttman of Brookline, Eddie Romero Jr of the Boston Red Sox general management, and Jordan Rich of WBZ Radio share their personal reminiscences about living in America with baseball as a backdrop – a retrospective spanning almost ninety years. They look at the changes in baseball as it has evolved to be more inclusive and to care about the quality of the players’ lives, not just their batting averages.
The show premieres on June 19, 2021, on Brookline Interactive Group (BIG) as an episode of “BrooklineHub In-Depth”, a series produced and funded by the nonprofit online publication BrooklineHub.com and featuring impactful interviews on important people, organizations, and subject matters that affect the Brookline Community and beyond.
The idea for this program grew out of a discussion between the Brookline Rotary club and author Larry Ruttman, following publication of his 2013 book, American Jews and America's Game: Voices of a Growing Legacy in Baseball. Rotary asked Larry to follow the many young Americans and immigrants of numerous diverse cultures striving to “make it” in baseball. Eager, aspiring young players from many countries work hard every day to earn the chance to vie for the American Dream.
Eddie Romero Jr has known and worked for many years with young athletes along this path. He shares with Larry Ruttman his journey from the suburbs of San Juan, Puerto Rico, to mainland America, following his father, Eddie Romero Sr, along his career as a professional baseball infielder and coach.
Eddie Romero Jr. is now an Executive Vice President and Assistant General Manager with the Boston Red Sox. Romero, an attorney, started his tenure with the Boston Red Sox in 2006 as an Assistant in International and Professional scouting. He spent four seasons working as the club’s Director of International Scouting from 2012-15. He has also worked for the Red Sox as Coordinator and Assistant Director of Latin American operations, and Assistant Director of Latin American Operations/International Scouting. It was Eddie who discovered Rafael Devers.
Larry Ruttman is the author of American Jews and America's Game: Voices of a Growing Legacy in Baseball, chosen as the #1 baseball book in America for the year 2013, by Sports Collectors Digest.
Jordan Rich is a prominent radio personality, host of New England Weekend and Connoisseur's Corner on WBZ-AM radio in Boston. He is a founding partner of Charter Productions of Braintree.
We would like to acknowledge the cooperation of President Sam Kennedy, Chief Marketing Officer Adam Grossman, and Assistant General Manager Eddie Romero Jr. of the Boston Red Sox.
This program is brought to you by Harvey Bravman of BrooklineHUB, in cooperation with the Rotary Club of Brookline, Massachusetts, and Jordan Rich of Charter Productions of Braintree, Massachusetts.
About BrooklineHUB:
BrooklineHub.com is a 501C3 non-profit dedicated to reporting and commenting on life, culture and community in Brookline. As part of our mission, we advocate for non-profits vital in making this a better place to live, and by sponsoring and supporting events that promote community-building. We hold the belief that as a community, we should foster the well-being of all, remaining mindful of our young people, seniors, and underprivileged. Visit brooklinehub.com
About Brookline Rotary:
We are people of action who care about each other and the larger community. We strive to make the world a better place through partnering with like-minded organizations on local and global service projects. Our members are engaged, enjoy each other’s company, and come from diverse economic, cultural, and professional backgrounds. For more information, visit brooklinerotary.org
About Rotary:
Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work impacts lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit brooklinerotary.org