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On a sun-splashed August afternoon in Queens, 65 former New York Mets players and their families gathered at Citi Field for the 2022 edition of Old Timers Day, the first such reunion held by the franchise since 1994. The day was a celebration of the franchise’s 60th season, with legends such as Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry and Mookie Wilson filling up the rosters for the game. And behind the scenes, ���ϲ����� alumna Emily Epstein ’21 was the one making sure the weekend went off without a hitch.

Following her 2021 graduation, the sport management and marketing double major landed a role in the MLB franchise’s alumni relations office. As an alumni assistant, she helps facilitate events, signings, fundraisers, reunions and other engagements with former Mets players. She said she describes herself as the “middle woman” between the alumni and the organization. For Old Timers Day, that meant recruiting former Mets players to attend, coordinating the programming and making sure the one-time ballplayers had an enjoyable afternoon returning to Queens.

“I was running from dugout to dugout until seconds before the introductions started to make sure everyone was in the proper place and ready to go,” Epstein said. “It was incredibly fun to watch these men relive their glory days. The smiles on their faces – and on the faces of every fan in the packed ballpark – was so gratifying.”

Epstein clocked more than 20,000 steps that day traversing the ballpark to make sure the reunion game went smoothly and that the Mets’ contest later that evening started on time. While the day-of responsibilities were many, the planning for the event actually began in October 2021 – nearly a year prior.

“The main goal of the day was to make sure each person left with a smile and a feeling of wanting to return to Citi Field,” Epstein said. “I felt every single emotion that day – excitement, stress, happiness, sadness, frustration, success, etc. I will never forget the feeling I had when I was heading home that evening. I had never felt so accomplished. I knew then and there that I was ready to conquer anything that came my way.”

Epstein got her start with Mets thanks to a summer 2020 internship and landed a full-time position with the team in June 2021. In the time since, she’s made countless memories with the organization and enjoyed the Mets’ spirited run to the postseason this year. Yet, the Old Timers Day stands alone.

“The most rewarding part of my time with the Mets was, hands down, the week after Old Timers Day, and all the positive feedback from the media, alumni, ownership and colleagues,” Epstein said. This included an highlighting the reunion event, where Jay Horwitz, the Mets’ vice president of alumni relations and team historian, commended Epstein’s work.

“Being trusted with planning Old Timers Day, one of the largest events in Mets history, and it turning out as successful as it did is something that I will carry with me forever,” she said. “It has given me the confidence to know that no matter how big the challenge in front of me is, I can achieve it.”

During her time at ���ϲ�����, Epstein credits her connection to Assistant Professor Mark Cryan and her Transitions Strategy: Sport Management class, which included a trip to the 2018 Baseball Winter Meetings, as integral parts of her educational journey.

“Taking that course was one of the best decisions I made during my time at ���ϲ�����,” Epstein said. “Not only did I learn how to network and look for internships and jobs but I got to join some fellow classmates on a trip to the 2018 Baseball Winter Meetings. These meetings truly opened my eyes to the crazy world of baseball.”

Cryan explained that the significance of the Mets’ reunion game and its positive response from fans and the media can’t be overstated.

“The Mets have a rich history, but there hadn’t been an Old Timers Day in many years,” Cryan said. “New ownership has created a fresh start, and it seemed that fans, former players, and current players were all very excited to reconnect with the team’s past. Other than making the playoffs, Old Timers Day may have generated more media attention than anything else that happened with the Mets this year. For a young staff person like Emily to be one of the key players in this event is really impressive.”

Epstein said she is grateful to ���ϲ�����’s faculty for providing a positive environment for her to learn, as well as a strong introduction to the baseball industry, setting her up for post-graduation success.

“From day one my professors emphasized the importance of connecting with professionals in a field you are interested in,” Epstein said. “What may sound like such simple advice, was the most important advice I have ever received. Due to the power of networking, I am where I am today.”