Elliott: Teevan joins Griffin, Starkman as Robert O. Fishel award winner

Teevan Takes Fishel Award for Public Relations Excellence.

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

You might not recognize Mike Teevan’s name when you are watching an all-star game, Game 7 of the postseason or a World Series game.

Yet, Teevan is one of the men behind the scenes, who makes things happen ... makes everything run smoothly.

Baseball recognized that naming Teevan the recipient of the 2021 Robert O. Fishel award for public relations excellence. The award is the gold standard among P.R. people. It’s named after the longtime executive of the New York Yankees and each year 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.”

If memory serves, I first met Teevan at the 2009 all-star game in St. Louis. Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants was starting for the Nationals and Roy Halladay of the Toronto Blue Jays was starting for the Americans.

At the Monday morning press conference, all-star managers Joe Maddon and Charlie Manuel went through the perfunctoriness as Halladay and Lincecum answered questions. Yet, the real time for getting questions is after they leave the podium.

Halladay was on the right side, so I figured he’d come off the stage on the right hand side. Halladay was in demand since general manager J. P. Ricciardi was going to deal his ace right-hander. Halladay had the hammer. He could say yeah or nay to a trade. Coming off the podium he looked to be headed to the right, but stopped to talk and headed the other way.

Writers covering the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and the Cardinals all wanted to ask “will you approve a trade to (team X)?” Being in the seventh row, I didn’t hear too much but as Teevan led him to the hallway on the way to an ESPN interview Halladay was kind enough stop to talk.

We talked for a few minutes but it wasn’t very newsworthy. He had his guard up. I asked what I missed when he was on stage. “Oh, nothing really ... I just told them I would not approve a trade ... to the National League ... before tomorrow’s game.” He delivered it with the timing of a headlining comedian. That would work for my paper and off I went.

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Richard Griffin (Oakville, Ont.) became the first Canadian to win the Fishel award in 1992 while working of the Montreal Expos.

Three years later, Howard Starkman (Mississauga, Ont.) of the Toronto Blue Jays won the same award which is displayed in the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

Like Teevan, Griffin and Starkman were elected by their peers. The award was established in 1981.

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Teevan, 42, a Boston College grad, began work as a communications intern for the Red Sox from 2000-02, then joined the commissioner’s office as coordinator of club relations. He was promoted to coordinator of public relations in 2004, public relations specialist in 2005, manager of public relations in 2007, director of public relations in 2011 and senior director of public relations in 2012. Teevan was made a vice-president in 2014.

Throughout his career, Teevan was respected for his strong dedication and professionalism. Next year will be his 20th with the Office of the Commissioner. He was often cited for being an invaluable resource to the clubs facing the challenges of the past two seasons, in which he delivered thoughtful and insightful advice on a wide-ranging area of critical topics.

If 2021 presented challenges, 2020 had even more due to the 60-game season caused by COVID-19.

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The Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) selected Jon Coyles the recipient of the President’s Distinguished Service Award. Coyles was given the honour for his efforts over the past two seasons to help the industry navigate COVID-19, one of the most difficult health and safety challenges baseball and everyone else has experienced.

Coyles was recognized for his unwavering dedication, sacrifice and determination during the pandemic that allowed a World Series champion to be declared the past two seasons. PBATS also noted his incredible passion for maintaining the safety and integrity of players, including working tirelessly to make vaccines available to our players and staff.

Fishel Award

Public Relations Excellence

Year Fishel Award Winner Team | Affiliation

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 Kate Feeney National League

1995 Howard Starkman Toronto Blue Jays

1996 Bill Guilfoile Major League Baseball

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 Jeffrey Idelson National Baseball Hall of Fame

2005 Randy Adamack Seattle Mariners

2006 Rob Butcher Cincinnati Reds

2007 Rich 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 MLB VP of Communications