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Austintown Fitch with two World Series connections
By Greg Gulas
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As Poland’s John Hirschbeck heads to Cleveland to serve as crew chief for this year’s World Series, his fifth and final Fall Classic between the Cubs and Indians merely marks the beginning of what two Austintown Fitch graduates hope will be the first of many to follow.
Joel Hammond, Indians assistant director of communications, and Todd Kubacki, the team’s minor league strength and conditioning coordinator, are anxiously awaiting the start of play, but savoring the moment that has escaped Indians fans since 1997.
“It has really been a fun ride since my arrival in 2013. We’ve had four straight winning seasons and now the World Series,” Hammond said. “It’s a great time to be an Indians fan, but an even greater time to be an employee.”
Hammond earned seven letters — four in cross country and three more in track — for the Falcons, graduating in 2000. Kubacki is a 2003 grad who lettered in baseball for Coach Wally Ford.
He was also a teammate of Hammond’s on the cross country team his freshman season.
“I have been blessed to be with such a great organization from top to bottom,” Kubacki said. “From office staff to players to the coaches, they have all been absolutely wonderful.”
Ford said Kubacki’s work ethic in everything he did is what caught his eye.
“Todd was a four-year player for us and I also had him in class,” Ford said. “I knew he was going to be a success because he approached his schoolwork and baseball the same way.
“They were both very important to him and he always gave his absolute best effort. Todd came back a few years ago and set up our lifting program. We’ve been using it ever since.”
The two Mahoning Valley residents didn’t start out eyeing a job with their hometown team, yet remain most appreciative of the career path they had to take in order to realize their current positions.
Hammond majored in print journalism at Bowling Green State University.
Kubacki, whose father Dan was the former head baseball coach at Youngstown State University, majored in political science at YSU but chose to take a variety of electives related to its exercise science program.
“After I graduated from BGSU, I worked nearly two years for two different newspapers in South Carolina,” Hammond said. “I then took a position with Crain’s Cleveland Business and that lasted seven years as I had the sports business beat and also designed the paper.
“The Indians were my beat and while talking to Curtis Danburg Indians senior director of communications] in late 2012, we realized there was a mutual interest in an opening within his department,” Hammond said. “And though I took a circuitous route to my current position, it was definitely a great decision.”
Responsible for the Indians’ traditional public relations, Hammond also oversees its social media, continuing to deal with national and local media as well as interacting with its fans.
“The spotlight is on the players and organization so it’s my job to get those stories out,” Hammond said. “Our players are absolutely great with the fans and that makes my job so much easier.”
Danburg appreciates the approach Hammond takes in his position.
“It’s not easy transitioning from being a journalist covering a team, to flipping the switch to promoting a team,” Danburg said. “It has definitely opened his eyes in the process and I am proud of the positive impact that he has made.
“We’re lucky he made the decision to join the Indians.”
Kubacki, who is based out of Arizona, is in his ninth season with the Indians organization.
During his first five seasons, he worked with affiliates at Lake County (2008), the Class AA Eastern League champion Akron Aeros (2009) and from 2010-12 the Columbus Clippers, two-time Class AAA national champion.
He has worked in some capacity with many that comprise this year’s playoff roster.
“There is no greater feeling than to see a player work his tail off, and then accomplish his goals. That’s the reward of coaching,” Kubacki said. “On my end, it’s the organization empowering us to do our job so it’s great to see that success. I grew up cheering for the Indians so just to be a piece of the machine that is helping out has been absolutely tremendous.”
The past year has also been fulfilling for both Falcons alums away from the game. Kubacki will marry fianc , Phuong Nguyen on Nov. 19. Hammond and his wife, Shari, welcomed son Preston six months ago.
Both employees will get to enjoy the entire series, courtesy of the Indians organization.
“When you talk about class, that’s the Indians organization as a whole,” Hammond said. “They will also be flying us, along with our spouses to the road games as well.”