John Blundell (L), Julio Pabón (M) & David Colón (R) – Image Credit: Latino Sports
Congratulations to an MLB executive truly deserving of the recognition this award represents. John has been a steadfast friend and supporter of Latino Sports, as well as many other Latino sports organizations, often stepping in to help navigate the complex credentialing process faced by new organizations.
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DALLAS, TX – John Blundell, Vice President of Communications for Major League Baseball, has been named the recipient of the 2024 Robert O. Fishel Award for Public Relations Excellence, it was announced today during the Baseball Winter Meetings.
The Robert O. Fishel Award, named after the longtime baseball executive, goes to the “active, non-uniformed representative of Major League Baseball whose ethics, character, dedication, service, professionalism and humanitarianism best represent the standards propounded by Robert O. Fishel.” An executive with the Cleveland Indians, the St. Louis Browns, the New York Yankees and the American League Office, Fishel was the inaugural winner of the Award in 1981.
Image Credit: MLB
Blundell recently completed his 26th full-time season working for Major League Baseball after beginning his career with the New York Yankees. He manages a number of Public Relations functions for MLB, including media operations and media accreditation for the World Series and the rest of the Postseason, the All-Star Game, and special domestic and international events. The Brooklyn native serves as an MLB liaison to the 30 MLB Club PR Departments, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA), and other organizations. Blundell has played a pivotal role in the planning and execution of media logistics at MLB events in Australia, Brazil, China, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. He has served as a press officer for USA Baseball’s national teams in various international competitions since 2006, including at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Blundell and his wife, Ivón, have two children, Martín and Ivanna.
Fishel Award nominees are submitted by the 30 Major League Clubs and league officials. The nominees are voted upon by active past winners and MLB officials.
The previous winners of the Fishel Award are:
1981 – Robert O. Fishel, American League
1982 – Robert W. Brown, Baltimore Orioles
1983 – Larry Shenk, Philadelphia Phillies
1984 – Arthur E. (Red) Patterson, California Angels
1985 – Jim Ferguson, Cincinnati Reds
1986 – Fred Claire, Los Angeles Dodgers
1987 – Jim Toomey, St. Louis Cardinals
1988 – Tom Mee, Minnesota Twins
1989 – Donald Davidson, Houston Astros
1990 – Ned Colletti, Chicago Cubs
1991 – Phyllis K. Merhige, American League
1992 – Richard Griffin, Montreal Expos
1993 – John Blake, Texas Rangers
1994 – Katy Feeney, National League
1995 – Howard Starkman, Toronto Blue Jays
1996 – Bill Guilfoile, National Baseball Hall of Fame
1997 – Dick Bresciani, Boston Red Sox
1998 – Jay Horwitz, New York Mets
1999 – Bob DiBiasio, Cleveland Indians
2000 – Tim Mead, Anaheim Angels
2001 – Rob Matwick, Houston Astros
2002 – Mike Swanson, Arizona Diamondbacks
2003 – Rick Vaughn, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
2004 – Jeff Idelson, National Baseball Hall of Fame
2005 – Randy Adamack, Seattle Mariners
2006 – Rob Butcher, Cincinnati Reds
2007 – Richard Levin, Major League Baseball
2008 – Scott Reifert, Chicago White Sox
2009 – Patrick Courtney, Major League Baseball
2010 – Jay Alves, Colorado Rockies
2011 – Jim Trdinich, Pittsburgh Pirates
2012 – Staci Slaughter, San Francisco Giants
2013 – Tim Hevly, Seattle Mariners
2014 – Jason Zillo, New York Yankees
2015 – Brian Bartow, St. Louis Cardinals
2016 – Bart Swain, Cleveland Indians
2017 – Gene Dias, Houston Astros
2018 – Josh Rawitch, Arizona Diamondbacks
2019 – Tyler Barnes, Milwaukee Brewers
2020 – Dustin Morse, Minnesota Twins
2021 – Michael Teevan, Major League Baseball
2022 – Kevin Gregg, Philadelphia Phillies
2023 – Rich Rice, Texas Rangers
Press Release Courtesy of MLB
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