Women's History Month: Celebrating the Heart and Soul of the Clubhouse Mom

The first thing Linda Jones noticed when she came into work after being away for a couple days was the note on her desk that read “Linda Jones, CHM.” She was confused. She had just gotten back from a training, but her most recent certification did not include “CHM.”

It was while she was wracking her brain trying to figure out what it could possibly mean that former Orioles pitcher Tommy Hunter, the author of the note, solved the mystery. As it turned out, the letters stood for something more important and more meaningful than a degree or certification. They stood for “Clubhouse Mom.”

Jones’ official title is Senior Manager of Florida Operations, where she handles the supervision and management of all clubhouse activities, but those who are lucky enough to work with her would not be surprised to hear her referred to as “Clubhouse Mom.” There is a reason she is the first person at the Ed Smith Stadium Complex each day, 13 years after she was hired for a position that was only supposed to last six weeks.

“My husband frequently reminds me, ‘Are those six weeks up yet?’” said Jones. “And I tell him ‘No.’ He indicates that I don’t know how to count, but I enjoy it here. Each day is different, and we are busy, but I learn something about the baseball industry each and every day.”

Born in Youngstown, Ohio, Jones graduated from Youngstown State University with a degree in Business Administration. Her parents wanted her to be a teacher, but she wanted to work in business, and she believed that she could do it, despite there being few women, let alone women of color, in the field at that time.

Jones’ first job out of college was in the accounting department of a steel company based out of Youngstown. Her supervisors quickly realized her value and offered to transfer her to their corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pa. Not wanting to move far from home, Jones interviewed for two positions with General Motors and ultimately accepted one in their electrical architecture division.

“I felt that it gave me a lot more opportunities,” said Jones. “The way they talked about the things that they wanted me to do, I thought that they would use my skills better, so that’s how it all started.”

While with General Motors, Jones did a little bit of everything, from mergers and acquisitions to strategic planning, to budgets and forecasts, and project management. She even traveled around the world to participate in ad hoc studies, visiting places like Argentina, Germany, and Mexico, proving to herself what she always knew – women belonged in the business world.

Jones spent 20 years with General Motors before retiring and relocating to Sarasota, Fla., with her husband where, unbeknownst to her, her second career would begin.

It was by chance that she accompanied her husband to Ed Smith Stadium to pick up his Spring Training season tickets. But it was by her own determination and desire to try something new that she asked if they were hiring.

After she began working for the Orioles as a fan service representative, there were times when Jones looked around and noticed that there weren’t too many women in the room with her. But that was not at the forefront of her mind. She was more focused on giving fans the best service she possibly could, which is why she thinks she was eventually promoted to Fan Services Supervisor, then to clubhouse administration, then to Florida Operations Assistant, before eventually landing in her current role.

Now, 14 seasons later, when she looks around, she sees a lot more women walking through the Baseball Operations Center lobby.

“I look at them and say, ‘What could I have become if I was born today,’” said Jones. “‘If I was a little girl who was born today, what could I do?’ I look at you guys and I’m just so pleased and so proud to see you guys doing everything. I think I see you guys a little bit differently than you see yourselves. I look and see what I know you will become and it’s always great to watch it when it happens.”

When it comes to strong women, Jones is no stranger. She made it a priority to show her daughter and four nieces, all of whom she considers her own, that they can be all that they want to be. It did not matter what it was that they wanted to do, only that they gave it their all.

Jones’ daughter has since graduated from Harvard University with a degree in biology, received her medical degree from Yale University, and is currently working as an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Of her four nieces, one graduated with a PHD in pharmacology from the University of Michigan, one is a speech pathologist, one is an officer of the court, and the youngest is a junior in college studying psychology.

Now, Jones sits behind her desk at the Baseball Operations Center and does her best to pass along those same messages of perseverance to all who enter through the doors. She focuses on handling things behind the scenes, watching all that one can accomplish when they know that they are supported.

A true “Clubhouse Mom,” her goal each day is to make the lives of those around her as easy as possible.

“Every day I look and say, if I can make the administrative side better, then you can focus on doing what you need to do because I’ve taken away whatever concerns you have,” said Jones. “You don’t have to worry about your packages, you don’t have to worry about your car, you don’t have to worry if you are safe. Let me take care of it and let you guys put the best product that you can out on the field. That’s my philosophy. I will take care of everything else.”

When the team leaves at the end of the month, Jones will miss having everyone around. But their clubhouse mom will be watching and cheering them on from afar, just like she has done every season for the past 13 years.

“For me to watch what occurred last year, what happened, the success, it was just phenomenal,” said Jones. “And I feel very, very, very good about this year.