Lonnie Murray is a woman in Major League Baseball who is getting the deal done. She sets herself apart from other agents by genuinely caring about her players and wanting the best for them and their families. Others have noticed the special bond Murray has with those she represents and she credits that to her intuition. She was gracious enough to take some time to talk with us about her life and what makes her stand out.
If you are a woman looking to work in sports or a young athlete, Lonnie Murray has some great advice for you!
Tell us about yourself and your job title.
Just a small-town girl. Living in a…sorry. I couldn’t help it; I use humor to resolve awkwardness, and interviews still make me nervous at times. With all of us social distancing I’ve really begun to perfect the practice of self-amusement since most of my time is spent on work. As an MLBPA-Certified player agent, it’s my responsibility to serve the needs of others in their pursuit of a long career in professional baseball, so moments like this are the only “free time” I give myself.
You used to work in the nonprofit sector. What have you brought from that experience to your career as a baseball agent?
Working in the nonprofit sector afforded me the opportunity to truly value the positive impact I was having on the lives of others simply as a result of my personal commitment and hard work. More specific to my work as an agent was my time with Coaching Corps, an organization that uses sports and the power of coaches for transformative change for youth in underserved communities. Their mission and the commitment of everyone involved, from donors to employees to volunteers, is etched on my heart and central to my approach and commitment as an agent.
While many clients are not from underserved communities, the arduous pursuit of a career in professional baseball has many challenges and absolutely no guarantees for success on the field. Yet approaching each individual with an altruistic and wholistic mindset offers a better chance for overall success.
Were you an avid sports fan? Did you ever think you’d be working in sports?
I’ve always been involved with sports. I played every sport except softball or baseball, I even wrestled. I went to a few practices in 5th grade, but my first experience fielding a bad hop the ball bounced and hit me in the neck. When I woke up a minute later, my Dad made it clear that softball was not my sport.
While I never consciously pursued a career in sports, it is what I always gravitated towards…or what always gravitated towards me! I used to work for one of the then-best trainers in the NFL doing combine preparation. Those years of experience teaching and displaying the necessary skills for professional-level physical performance only furthered my understanding and ability to work with my players now, highlighting a necessity for the integration of mind and body for true elite performance. Guiding and watching a player’s development at every level is incredibly rewarding, especially when I’m charged with also representing and/or negotiating deals based on who they are as a player and teammate.
As a woman, what do you bring to the table as an agent that is different?
I believe that my uncommon wholistic approach to decision-making, direction, and evaluation of current and future players is a result of being a woman. I don’t need to sit across from my guys to know when they need to be picked up or knocked down. I can pick up cues in the “hi” vs “hey” of a text because I just work to actually know them. I’ve picked up cues watching some guys on tv and know that something must be going on at home or away from the field based on their body language, their face – even if they’ve had a good performance.
I think being a woman also allows my male clients to be more vulnerable and transparent in conversation with me, without fear of ego-driven reservations that men often have to work past.
Many in the industry have noted, and I proudly recognize, that there’s a level of respect that many of my players have afforded me that transcends the average client-agent relationship. Perhaps being a mother plays a role as well, but one of my favorite attributes of being a woman in this business is the ability to multitask and manage competing priorities while maintaining a high level of intuition and necessary compassion.
What is something most people would be shocked to hear about your job?
It’s one of the very few jobs that you will work for years at with no pay and still be fired. You see, if you work with amateur players or most major-league-minimum players, there are generally no associated fees you can charge per NCAA and MLBPA rules.
What is your best advice to women wanting to get into the business side of sports?
Start with picking a sport. Study it. The game, the culture, it’s past and it’s future. Read the most popular book in that industry or become well-versed in that sport’s most highly acclaimed website. BOTH! It will teach you the “language”. Figure out their most well-attended convention or gathering – make a plan to go. Join every high-membership LinkedIn group associated. Engage in positive dialogue on these platforms even though some days it will seem like a research project.
Introduce yourself to people before you have an “ask”. Develop a rapport. Accept in advance that you’re not going to make a lot of money, if any, to start. Pay your dues and push forward, even if it’s an internship or so far from what you think you want to do. Just get your foot in the door and build relationships. If it’s something you truly want, there are no roadblocks or obstacles you can’t overcome.
I personally find pride and humor in overcoming or breaking past obstacles. Envision your own personal video game, lots of levels and you don’t know what happens next, but you damn sure won’t quit! Let your passion to win and accomplish your goals drive you. Let your knowledge and intelligence sustain you, applaud yourself for each level/obstacle you overcome, and never quit on yourself because of failures along the way.
Most importantly, you have NOTHING to prove to anyone else. Don’t force conversation and remember, as a woman most don’t expect you to know – and sometimes that’s okay! Have thick skin and don’t be easily offended. Play the damsel and get the information, you might end up with a great ally or sponsor in the game. Once you’re in there you can affect and be part of the change we all need to see.
What is your best advice to young athletes thinking about sports as a profession?
Careful who you vent to and why you’re venting. So many athletes cry their woes to those around them, whether its teammates or clubbies, the janitor or interns. You truly never know who you’re talking to and what they will be in the days or years ahead. There are a lot of former interns that are now running pro teams!
I have seen more teammates talk trash on a “friend” than anyone else. They’re quick to say, “I really like him BUT…” or to tell everyone that will listen to what party you were at and what you did. If you’re confronted with a question about a teammate, always take a positive approach despite any negative opinions you may have.
I think more young athletes and parents need to remember that if you (or your kid) want to be a professional, you need to act like one. For example, yelling for or expecting mom or dad to bring water to the dugout shows a lack of preparation. Pouting because your coach took you out or you don’t like where you’re hitting shows poor mental makeup.
Present as a good teammate and team player, but don’t forget that your performance as an individual is paramount, so if your team sucks and yet you consider yourself a future pro, then you should take the opportunity to really shine vs. blaming it on what they did or didn’t do!
There is no one to blame but yourself for a bad outing. 1) It’s more fun to have money as an adult than it is to play games as a child. 2) Act like a professional and you have a better chance at being one. Less than 1% have success at the highest level, so if your priority is to hang out, fit in, and act like 99% – what outcome do you expect for your future?
