SPRINGFIELD — After 11 years, Andrew Buchbinder’s mother still cannot figure out why he gets to the ballpark at 9 a.m. every day.
There is no “show up, call the game, leave” for him and broadcasters across baseball. Those familiar voices on the radio are asked to wear plenty of hats, like most employees, especially in the minor leagues.
“My initial interest was the play-by-play and that’s what has carried me back-and-forth across the country and now to Springfield,” said Buchbinder.
As an Asian History major at a small liberal arts college in North Carolina, Buchbinder had little idea of what he wanted to do. He just knew that talking about baseball sounded fun.
After self-described “backing his way” into an internship where he got to call three innings of color commentary per night, he landed a pair of broadcasting jobs in Bakersfield, California: one in hockey (Condors, ECHL) and then his break in baseball (Blaze, California League).
He became versed in the routine of typing up and distributing game notes, stat packets, and updated rosters along with running the team website, all of which he still does for Springfield.
He moved back to North Carolina to serve as the Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations for the Texas Rangers Single-A club in Hickory until five years ago.
That’s when he learned about an opening in Springfield left by Jeff Levering, now with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Fast forward to 2017, he has half a decade of moments in his pocket.
“One of the memories that I’ll remember forever was in 2013. I was unaware that it was a Hammons Field tradition, but found out the national anthem is sung by the fans on the last day. That was a great example of the type of place this is and the special people that live here.
“I think I got chills from that moment.”
Buchbinder also pointed to Xavier Scruggs slugging two home runs on the final day of the season to become the club’s all-time leader.
Chris Carpenter’s rehab start that same year also came flooding back.
“That first strike, it may as well have been the World Series.”
Every opening day has its own aura, where Buchbinder is put center stage to introduce the team before sprinting upstairs to polish off the pregame show.
“It’s always special to open up the ballpark the first time. The player introductions with the red Chevy trucks bringing them in, it just adds an extra special element.”
Once he is back in the booth, he feels right at home with an organization he grew up respecting.
“If we can open up the clubhouse, so to speak, and let the listeners get to know our guys through the broadcast, I think that’s always a goal.”
