Skip to main content
Connecticut College
  • About Connecticut College
  • Academics
  • Admission & Financial Aid
  • Alumni & Life After Conn
  • Athletics
  • Campus & Community
  • Career Preparation
  • Human Resources
  • Student Experience
  • Calendar
  • News
  • Directory
  • Employment
  • Libraries & Technology
  • CC Magazine
  • Site Map
Make a gift CamelWeb Today at Conn

Specialized Resources

  • Accessibility Services
  • Admission Deadlines
  • Admitted Students
  • Admitted Student Statistics
  • Arboretum
  • Arts and Culture
  • Bookshop
  • Campus Map
  • Clubs and Activities
  • Counseling Services
  • Directions to Campus
  • Essays That Worked
  • Financial Aid Services
  • Health Services
  • International Students
  • Interviewing
  • Libraries
  • Orientation
  • Request Information
  • Residential Life
  • Majors and Minors
  • Student Blog
  • Sustainability
  • Technology Services
  • Title IX: Sexual Respect
  • Transfer Students
  • Tuition and Fees
  • Transportation
  • Visit Campus
  • Academic Advising
  • Academic Calendar
  • Academic Resource Center
  • Arboretum
  • Arts and Culture
  • Camel Card Office
  • Campus Safety
  • Campus Map
  • Career Services
  • Class Schedules
  • Clubs and Student Engagement
  • Connections
  • Counseling Services
  • Course Catalog
  • Equity and Inclusion
  • Environmental Health & Safety
  • Global Focus
  • Health Services
  • Libraries
  • Residential Life
  • Sustainability
  • Technology Services
  • Title IX: Sexual Respect
  • Transportation
  • Academic Advising
  • Academic Calendar
  • Arboretum
  • Arts and Culture
  • Banner Self-Service
  • Camel Card Office
  • Campus Map
  • Campus Safety
  • Center for Teaching & Learning
  • Course Catalog
  • Course Information and Schedules
  • Equity and Inclusion
  • Employee Benefits
  • Environmental Health & Safety
  • Facilities Management
  • Human Resources
  • Instructional Technology
  • Libraries
  • Moodle
  • Sustainability
  • Technology Services
  • Title IX: Sexual Respect
  • Wellness Program
  • Academic Calendar
  • Academic Resource Center
  • Alcohol and Drug Education
  • Arboretum
  • Arts & Culture
  • Athletics Calendar
  • Bookshop
  • Camel Card Office
  • Campus Map
  • Campus Safety
  • Career Services
  • CARE Team
  • Commencement
  • Counseling Services
  • Equity and Inclusion
  • Fall Weekend
  • Applying for Financial Aid
  • First-Year Student FAQ
  • Global Focus
  • Health Services
  • Libraries
  • Orientation
  • Parent enewsletter
  • Parents Council
  • Residential Life
  • Resources for Parents and Families
  • Student Employment
  • Tuition and Fees
  • Visiting New London

 

  • Area Attractions & Events
  • Area Hotels
  • Arboretum
  • Arts and Culture
  • Bookshop
  • Campus Map
  • Campus Safety
  • The Children's Program
  • Community Learning/Volunteering
  • Directions
  • Events and Catering
  • Equity and Inclusion
  • Reserving Harkness Chapel
  • Local Restaurants and Dining
  • OnStage Performances
  • Transportation
  • Alumni Directory
  • Alumni Events
  • Alumni Association
  • Arts and Culture
  • Bookshop
  • Campus Map
  • Fall Weekend
  • Global Focus
  • Libraries
  • Library Databases
  • Notable Alumni
  • Email Help
  • Replacement Diploma
  • Reunion
  • Sponsor an Internship
  • Support the College
  • Title IX: Sexual Respect
  • Transcripts
  • Update Your Info
  • Volunteer
  • Post a job or internship
  • Explore employment programs
  • Learn about funded internships
  • Home 
  • Home 
  • News 
  • News Archive 
  • 2019 
  • Grassroots Baseball

Grassroots Baseball

Jeff Idelson ’86 wants to bring baseball to the world. 

After more than three decades working for major league baseball in some capacity, he’s uniquely positioned to make that happen. 

Idelson recently announced that he is stepping down as president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum to launch a new venture called Grassroots Baseball with photographer Jean Fruth. Grassroots Baseball’s mission is to promote and celebrate the amateur game around the world, with a focus on growing interest and participation among the youngest players. The overarching goal is to give back by providing inspiration, instruction and equipment to help ensure more children have the opportunity to learn, play and enjoy baseball.

“I’ve spent my 33-year career in baseball promoting the major-league game, but baseball is also about celebrating kids around the world, whether they’re playing in a park, on a sandlot, in the streets or in a minor league ballpark,” Idelson said. 

An economics major at Conn, Idelson helped found the College’s club baseball team, worked as news director and disc jockey for the College radio station and also worked in the sports information office. He built strong relationships with former Sports Information Director Mary Taylor and Athletic Director Charles Luce, who encouraged him to explore his passions. 

“My experience at Connecticut College clearly provided me with a path for success,” Idelson said. “The four years you spend in college are about more than getting an education in the classroom. They're about education in life. Conn offers the perfect environment to have that experience.”

Almost all of Idelson’s working life has revolved around baseball, beginning in junior high when he worked as a vendor at Fenway Park. Days after graduating from Conn, he returned to Boston and accepted a job as part of the Red Sox public relations team. Idelson later switched sides in baseball’s most famous rivalry, taking on media relations duties and publicity for the New York Yankees from 1989 to 1993 before joining the Hall of Fame. He started out in public relations, working his way up to VP of communications and was finally named president of the Hall in 2008. 

Grassroots Baseball will be accompanied by a new book titled, Grassroots Baseball: Route 66, the second installment in a series. The first, Grassroots Baseball: Where Legends Begin is available at www.GrassrootsBaseballBook.com.

“I’m a classic example of a kid following his dream and making the most of it,” Idelson said. “And I’m finding this new experience to be very meaningful. I couldn’t be more excited with this new endeavor.” 

For more information, visit www.grassrootsbaseball.com and follow the organization on Instagram and twitter @grassrootsbaseball. 



Put the world together in new ways. Learn more



July 11, 2019

Related News & Media

Recent News

Professor and former student win award for best article in Review of Social Economy

Professor and former student win award for best article in Review of Social Economy

Faculty News

Conn wins Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess division championship

Conn wins Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess division championship

Student News

Connecticut College
270 Mohegan Avenue
New London, CT 06320
1 (860) 447-1911
admission@conncoll.edu
Web Privacy Policy
Web Accessibility Notice

Website Navigation

  • About Connecticut College
  • Academics
  • Admission & Financial Aid
  • Alumni & Life After Conn
  • Athletics
  • Campus & Community
  • Career Preparation
  • Human Resources
  • Student Experience
Make a gift CamelWeb Today at Conn
  • Calendar
  • News
  • Directory
  • Employment
  • Libraries & Technology
  • CC Magazine
  • Site Map
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn