In baseball, the clubhouse is the shelter on the field where baseball teams develop unity and prepare game strategies. The clubhouse manager oversees the clubhouse and includes duties such as taking inventory for uniforms and equipments, cleaning and maintaining clubhouses and meeting with bat boys. Clubhouse managers are common in professional baseball. However, depending on major or minor league employment, the salary structure is vastly different.
Major League Baseball Clubhouse Managers
In a May 2005 article for USA Today, Jim Schmakel, the clubhouse manager for the Detroit Tigers, states that he works year-round travels, and supervises a staff of 12. He adds that he may receive a $100 tip from a player for having pizza at his locker. As far as salaries are concerned, NBC Sports profiled longtime New York Mets clubhouse manager Charlie Samuels whose salary was reported at $80,000 yearly as of 2011.
Minor League Clubhouse Managers
In Major League Baseball, the individual teams defray clubhouse manager salaries. However, in the minor leagues, the players pay their salaries. Player dues are due each game and range from $5 to as high as $11. Justin Ott, clubhouse manager for the Reading Phillies, states that 29 players on the team pay $11 per game. Much of this money goes toward pre-game and post-game meals for the players, although some leagues, such as the Eastern League, require certain foods to be provided for the teams.
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A Closer Look
According to a March 2009 post by the Lancaster Barnstormers (of the minor leagues), on their website, Lancasterbarnstormers.com, the team's clubhouse manager position paid $1,000 per month plus tips. The position was part-time from April 1st to September 30th of that year. In a March 2010 article for Baseballamerica.com, Birmingham Barons clubhouse manager Jeff Perro talks about the rigors of the profession, which includes trying to find flexible employers in the off-season. Perro also mentions that his $800 to $1,000 per month salary is supplemented by only $1 per day from player dues after he pays for food and clubhouse supplies. In all (including tips), he earns roughly $50 per game.
Bonuses and Tips
In the major leagues—much like the players—clubhouse managers receive bonuses for a team's appearance in the playoffs and even more for a World Series victory. According to an October 2005 article for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, clubhouse and locker room staffers may receive bonuses as high as $300,000. It is also common practice for players to pay clubhouse managers sizeable tips for making dinner reservations for them or programming their iPods. Tips for these types of services may be as high as $300.
