When I asked Tommy Mullins what his favorite minor league ballpark was he eagerly responded, “Campbell’s Field by far!” A good answer from this 31 year old lawyer from Metuchen, New Jersey who had just been given an opportunity few get to make a reality; becoming Honorary Manager for the Day. It all began with a simple favor put in by Sarah Mullins to the General Manager of the Camden Riversharks, Adam Lorber. She asked Lorber for a donation request for a silent auction she was having for a Central New Jersey charity, Making it Possible to End Homelessness. Lorber decided to donate a unique experience of becoming a Manager for a Day. When the auction was all said and done the winner of the Manager for a Day went to Tommy Mullins – Sarah’s husband of all people who would later be caught saying, “I severely underpaid.”

Tommy entered the front office of Campbell’s Field greeted by Lorber and a contract to be signed to become Manager for the Day. For this acquisition he made $1.00. He was then taken to his very own locker in the clubhouse with a uniform ready for wear. His locker was stationed next to pitcher Erick Burke who promptly thought he was a new player. Mullins explained to him the situation and they both had a good laugh. Next, Mullins was taken to the Autograph Corral held on the field where kids line up to get autographs from the players. However, this experience was not to get autographs from the players, but to actually sign autographs as a real player on the team! If the players couldn’t tell the different between a lawyer and a baseball player then he could be sure that the kids wouldn’t either. After signing autographs it was time to send out the ceremonial first pitch followed shortly after by the line-up exchange. Here he got to meet baseball great Sparky Lyle, who happens to be the manager for the opposing Somerset Patriots, and present the starting line-up.

I met up with Tommy and Sarah Mullins and the rest of their family and friends in their complimentary Executive Suite which overlooked home plate on a gorgeous Saturday night at Campbell’s Field. Tommy had made his way up to the suite to visit with his friends after spending four innings down in the dugout with the players and manager Joe Ferguson. He explained what his day had been like up until that point, which was radically different than the first pitch he thought he was going to receive as his prize.

The day proceeded with trips between the dugout and the suite. He had to make one final trip down to the clubhouse to pick up the bat that was left for him so that he wouldn’t miss his chance to get it signed by the whole team. When I asked Tommy what his favorite baseball experience was he said, “Besides this one?” Tommy said his goodbyes to the team and left Campbell’s Field with memories of an experience this lawyer will not soon forget.