In The Stands Volume 21
It's Time For Me To Fly
Jimmy the Man Retires After 27 years of Stadium
Vending
It was September 1978, I was a freshman at
Martin Spalding High School (Now Archbishop
Spalding) and there was something over the
morning announcements saying if you wanted
to sell programs at Navy football games come
on down to the office.
So I went down along with some other guys
and they let me make the call. Next thing
you know I was working the Navy games and
it was great. My grandmother would drive
me to the games in Annapolis. I'd make $50-$60
a game and I got to see the games for free.
I would hit the cars as they parked and that
is where I got most of my sales. After that
I would camp out in front of the main entrance
until shortly after kickoff and then I would
work the stands until half time and my day
was done. The special moments I remember
were in 78 when Navy beat then undefeated
Pittsburg Panthers lead by Tony Dorsett and
some years later doing the same to undefeated
and top ranked South Carolina. I worked the
Navy Games until 1992.
It was July 1989 The Why Not Season and the
Orioles held first place for most of the
year. There was an article in the Sports
2 section of the Sun and in the article it
said how the Orioles were doing great but
they couldn't get many vendors. I remember
getting very excited so I drove down to Memorial
Stadium the next day and despite the fact
they needed people I pleaded for a job vending.
They said well………………ok. I couldn't believe
it. I was a big Orioles fan but this was
too much. I think I sold pretzels my first
game and I made like $45.00 but I was on
cloud nine. Shortly after joining I learned
that this was more than just a job but I
had actually joined a fraternity. The Baltimore
Vendors were nationally renowned not just
for their production but for their ranking
system that ranked vendors by performance
and not seniority. You chose your product
by how you were ranked. You really had to
work hard to move up the list but it was
a fair system that rewarded hard work and
regular attendance. It was also unique in
that how you picked your product also decided
how you moved up the list. So it wasn't always
just hard work but there was also some strategy
involved which added to the competition,
ands at times the ire between the vendors.
There are a few distinct moments I remember
from Memorial Stadium. The first time I sold
beer was on a Sunday. (The worst beer day),
I sold National Premium downstairs and it
was difficult without an opener (punching
a whole in the beer helped to speed pouring
shortening the time it took for each sale
)but I sold 6 cases at $2.75 a beer that's
right $2.75. I was happy to get a quarter
tip but it didn't matter, it was great. I
remember the first time I took out a triple
(3 cases) of Beer. That's right 3 cases of
National Premium. We only had one room open
upstairs on the 3rd base side and to get
any sales I had to take it over to the first
bases side. It was so heavy I thought I was
going to die. So I made it over to section
33 where Premium was the "preferred
beer" and I sold all 3 cases in just
two isles. Wow!!! Another time I was in the
upper deck behind home plate and a foul ball
came up. I was at the top of the breeze way
and the ball started rolling down towards
the concourse. So despite the fact I had
two cases of empty Heineken beer cans I ran
for the ball and as this guy went to pick
it up we smashed into each other, cans went
flying and I reached down and grabbed the
ball. The funniest part of it was when a
bunch of ushers rushed over to make sure
I was ok. I smiled and said "oh yeah
I'm fine"!!!
One of the moments that sticks out in my
mind most for my entire vending career was
the last game at Memorial Stadium and the
ceremony that followed. They actually took
home plate delivered and installed to Camden
yards live on video. And at the end when
all of the old players went out to their
old positions I cried. It was a moving experience
but I don't think I was alone.
Camden Yards was a whole different experience.
It was sold out every night for the first
couple of years. A good night at Memorial
Stadium was 30,000 people while a bad night
at Camden Yards was 40,000. The money got
real good real quick and you were someone
if you worked there. One of the moments I
remember most from Camden Yards was the All
Star Game, I actually met Bill Murray and
I shook his hand. I made a lot of famous
hand shakes at Camden Yards which always
for me seemed better than bugging them for
an autograph. I remember Cal Ripkens 2131st
game. We got together as a group towards
the end of the game and took a group picture.
I met a lot of famous people over the years
but the only time I think I was ever "Star
Struck was when Joan Jet asked me for two
beers. For speed and also just to show your
vending prowess the top vendors poured two
beers at a time. Well this time I couldn't
do it for her. So I put one down and poured
them separately. She got a chuckle out of
it and I got a hand shake.
I'm not quite sure when it happened but it
was some time in the middle 90's when I met
Fan Man. He told me that he was the Fan and
I was the Man and he would always give me
a cheer. So I guess that's were it started.
So I started telling my fans that I was Jimmy
the Man. I stopped working the Orioles games
in 2001.
I think it was 1994 when they started talking
about football coming to
Baltimore. They had an exhibition game at
Memorial Stadium. I think it was the Saints
vs. the Dolphins but it didn't matter. If
Baltimore or Maryland was trying to prove
its hunger for Football then we provided
a bottomless pit as an example. The game
was sold out and it was one of the wildest
games I have ever worked. Basically you would
walk out of the vending room and you were
mobbed. I went up in the stands only because
I wanted to see some of the game. We had
a blast and at the end of the 3rd quarter
when we had to stop I chugged a beer in front
of everyone as a tip to myself and I received
a standing ovation. Too cool!!!
So next thing you know we had a pro football
team and to say we (the vendors) were psyched
was an under statement. The first game was
against the Raiders and we had a blast!!!
I think everyone was still in shock that
we had a team. The first and every other
game at Memorial Stadium I worked the Bleachers
and wow was it great. I couldn't serve them
fast enough and everyone was always in a
great mood!! The last football game at Memorial
stadium was another tear jerker. Everyone
wanted a souvenir. As the game ended I saw
a group of guys start walking out with an
entire bleacher. They were stopped at the
breezeway and then another group walked out
with it. One of my fans actually brought
his wrench and he actually took his seat
home. Too funny, but the best was the urinal.
I was leaving and this guy had actually removed
a pisser to take home. I almost laughed my
rear off. The vendors got together and threw
a little party in the parking lot after the
game to reminisce. We all chipped in a little
for beer and food. We even had a bond fire
but no one cared. It was a classic ending
to a classic stadium.
With a blink of an eye August was back and
so were the Ravens. My first game I sold
Miller Lite out of Vending room 105 and I
never worked out of a different room. The
first game was a hot one and I eventually
made it down between sections 107-109 and
I never left except to refill. Ever since
this has been my favorite section, the business
is best, the high fives are the highest,
and when I yell out Who's The Man?? The answer
is the loudest Jimmy the Man!! In 2002 I
came up with the idea for my website JimmytheMan.com.
I was wondering how I could get to know the
fans better while telling the world about
myself. The website was the best answer.
While I was working the games I would take
pictures of my fans and put them on my website
for free where I have sports info, links
to my various businesses and a column "In
the Stands" I write after each game.
I also handed business cards with my name
and web address on them. It worked like a
charm and with a little help from 98 Rock
and Steve Rouse my fans out side of the stadium
were also able to check it out. This was
all a part of my master plan to build customer
loyalty because the more time I spent serving
and the less I spent prospecting the more
sales I made.
In between all of that I worked six seasons
for the Redskins, various Soccer games, Maryland
Terps Football, Basketball, and a few World
Series games. So after all of that and after
very serious thought and consideration I
would now like to announce my RETIREMENT
from vending. I've worked over 1200 sporting
events over 28 years so I guess I'm do for
a rest!!! I reserve the right to make a comeback
but I doubt it.
Why am I doing this?? First the excuse: My
toes, my knees, (I've had to wear knee braces
since 1990 during games or I couldn't do
it) my back, (just imagine) my wrist, my
elbow, I hurt my shoulder really bad last
year and until I got some physical therapy
in February it was non stop agony, and so
on. The real reason: It's time. A year ago
you couldn't have paid me to quite and I
had my best year ever. I ended the year #
3 in the stadium for Dollar sales and there
is something to be said for going out on
top or at least close. This year I'm just
not motivated; to stay in the Top Ten its
super hard work and I couldn't do it any
other way. I guess I'm ready to take my seat
in the stands. My buddy Bob (Boda Bingy)
has been dangling a ticket in my face for
years and I'm finally going to take him up
on it. I'll be in section 103 row 7. So if
you would like to say hi come on over but
don't worry I'll be visiting my favorite
section once in a while if for nothing else
to see a smile and to get a high five.
I can't thank my fans enough for buying my
beer, hooking me up, and just being my friend.
That was always the best part, going to work
with a thousand of my best friends!!!!!!
Over the years my goal was to get you a cold
beer with a little style while leaving you
with a smile on your face. It was an honor
and a privilege to serve you.
So what will I do from here?? I'll be working
my business CreditCardStore.com, shooting
a few weddings, and hopefully coaching my
daughter Emily squirt Jones and my son James,
alias (what else but) Jimmy the Kid and I'm
working on a sports talk show called "At
The Playground" So keep an eye and an
ear for that.
Thanks for the Memories
Yours Truly As Always
Jimmy the Man
There once was a drink called Beer
Who smiled from ear to ear
It was favored by fans
Who called Jimmy the Man
Who helped them get knocked on their rear
But wasn't it fun?? Dam right it was!!!
My Estimate
of Games Worked
| Navy Football | 68 |
| Orioles | 956 |
| Redskins | 52 |
| Terps Football | 32 |
| Terps Basketball | 32 |
| Various Soccer | 8 |
| Other Football or Baseball | 9 |
| Ravens | 96 |
| 1253 |