ABSTRACT
I did not become involved in sport and performance psychology in professional sports armed with a strategic plan. Quite simply, I evolved into the area over the course of time, based on opportunities that presented themselves to me and based on my assessment of the needs of athletes, coaches, general managers, and others. I have been a licensed psychologist for a number of years, beginning in 1978. Since 1988, I have practiced sport and performance psychology with many professional sports franchises, not only in Major League Baseball – which is the focus of this chapter – but also with NFL football, NBA basketball, NHL hockey, boxing, and tennis. In addition, I have used sport and performance psychology principles and procedures in working at the collegiate level with football teams, with men’s and women’s basketball, as well as in the performing arts and business organizations worldwide. My professional practice in sport and performance psychology has grown immensely over the years. I have been very enthused about this practice and where it is headed, both in professional baseball and beyond. Most importantly, I have been able to sustain myself in this wide-ranging kind of practice, year after year, without interruption.
