A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 408

The Superb Rookie of the Baseball Team 408

90 The Great Showman (2)

It’s hard to believe now, but there was a time when the Tampa Bay Rays were a huge hit.

On the day season tickets went on sale, there was an endless line in front of the team’s headquarters, and on game days, Tropicana Field was packed with fans no matter who the opponent was.

Although the period lasted less than two seasons, it was a golden moment that was passed down like a legend to the people of Tampa Bay.

The person who led that huge success as the vice president of marketing for the Tampa Bay Rays at the time was Charles Fleck, the ‘Great Showman’.

‘How old would he be now… around his mid-60s?’

After receiving his contact information from President Brian Span, Jisub had been trying hard to meet him.

Phone calls and texts were basic. He even wrote and sent a long letter to his home in New York and sent him a bunch of Korean red ginseng sets that he had obtained directly from Korea.

But despite such efforts, all Jisub had gotten from Charles Fleck over the past few weeks was the following text message.

[Thank you for the red ginseng sticks.]

[I feel energized ;)]

[Is this the mystery of the Orient? XD]

Jisub thought ‘Okay!’ when he read up to this point, but the message that followed was disappointing.

[But I have no interest in baseball at the moment :-D]

[I don’t even remember when I last watched a baseball broadcast :-P]

[So I hope you don’t contact me anymore. Good luck :)]

……X-like emoticons.

Jisub felt like his insides were boiling, but he couldn’t give up there.

How can I meet Charles Fleck? How can I find out the secret to that record-breaking success?

While he was thinking about it, he thought of Kevin Prior, the best social butterfly in the baseball world.

“Hmm, so that’s how it happened.”

Professor Prior, who had heard the whole story from Jisub, was slowly nodding his head.

“Charles Fleck… I haven’t actually met him and talked to him that many times, but he’s still quite a celebrity in our generation.”

Looking at his entire career, the Tampa Bay Rays’ record-breaking success was just a warm-up, he continued.

Charles Fleck began to make a name for himself after leaving Tampa Bay, when he was working in Las Vegas, Nevada.

It seemed that he had a huge hit by fusing Las Vegas’ unique glamorous show business with sports events.

I thought the nickname ‘The Great Showman of Nevada’ was created for that reason.

“I heard that he’s been living off the money he’s earned since he retired about 10 years ago…”

He would have strongly denied it if asked, but Professor Prior’s voice contained a hint of envy.

And, the next moment.

“Kim, have you checked that guy’s SNS [Social Networking Service] ?”

“SNS?”

“Yeah, things like Instagram and Facebook. Charles Fleck has always had a disease where he dies if he doesn’t attract attention from others.”

“Ah, Instagram…”

Of course I checked.

How could I not have checked?

“As Professor said, he seemed to be serious about SNS activities. He had a lot of posts and a lot of followers. But…”

“But?”

“The last post was two months ago. It hasn’t been updated at all since then.”

The posts that used to be uploaded six or seven times a day had stopped completely two months ago.

The comment section of the last post was crowded with messages from people asking about his recent situation.

Jisub, recalling his memories, felt like he had hit a wall again, but a bitter smile was spreading across Kevin Prior’s face.

“Really? SNS has been suspended?”

He shrugged.

“Hmm, then there’s nothing more to see. I’m sorry to say this to you, but you should put aside the idea of meeting Charles Fleck for a while.”

“No, what do you mean all of a sudden…”

Looking at Jisub, who was tilting his head, Kevin Prior gave the following answer.

“It’s a woman.”

“Excuse me?”

“Charles Fleck has a woman.”

The professor said firmly.

“He either has a new girlfriend, or he’s found a woman he likes and is trying to seduce her. One of the two. 99% chance.”

“…I heard he’s in his mid-60s?”

“What about being in your 60s?”

Professor Prior looked at Jisub with wide eyes.

Jisub remembered the professor’s age and shrank back slightly, saying, ‘Ah, no.’

Professor Prior snorted at Jisub and took off his glasses and continued.

“I told you before. That guy’s nickname.”

The rabid hunting dog of Nevada.

It was another nickname for Charles Fleck that Professor Prior remembered.

“Once he becomes interested in someone, he doesn’t stop until the other person accepts his feelings, and once he starts dating, he doesn’t turn his attention to anything else until they break up. He’s been famous for that style for decades since he was young.”

“…….”

I thought it was a remarkable talent.

How could someone who was so obsessed with dating have achieved the Tampa Bay Rays’ record-breaking success?

Beyond that, how could he be recognized as a marketing expert who dominated Las Vegas?

‘Damn it, I’m still alone at this age.’

Even while Jisub was clicking his tongue inwardly, Professor Prior’s diagnosis continued.

“Once he bites, he doesn’t let go… I guess it won’t be any different this time. Whoever he’s meeting now, he won’t be able to focus on anything else until things are settled with that person.”

So, he won’t move even if the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox call him, not Tampa Bay, for the time being.

Professor Prior seemed to want to conclude that way, but Jisub didn’t seem to have any intention of backing down here.

“I understand what you’re saying. But still, Professor, could you please contact your acquaintances once?”

“Contact?”

“I’m not asking you to persuade them. I just want to know where Charles Fleck is staying now… Yes, I just want you to check that.”

If you want to ask someone to do something they don’t really want to do, you have to give them a reason.

“There are many talented people in the world, but Charles Fleck was the only one who brought more than 40,000 spectators to Tropicana Field, right? I want to meet him and talk to him at least once, even if it’s a bit of a stretch.”

“Huh, this is really! I don’t like any of the guys around that guy…”

Even Professor Prior, who is famous for being a social butterfly, seemed to have people he was reluctant to contact.

For a while, the professor was scratching the back of his head with an unpleasant expression, but he couldn’t ignore his student, who was looking at him with sparkling eyes.

“Okay, okay! I’ll try to contact them, so wait and see.”

“Really?”

When Jisub stood up halfway with a look of delight, Professor Prior sternly urged him.

“Instead, you must submit the report in a week! If you don’t do it even after I’ve done this much for you… you know what will happen then, right?”

“Of course! I’ll give you a report that will surprise you!”

“Oh my, you’re good at talking!”

Professor Prior shook his head and took out the cell phone that was on his desk.

He put on his reading glasses and stared at the cell phone screen, then started making a call somewhere.

“Oh, Mr. Fennell! Long time no see! Yes, uh! It’s not that I have anything else to say…”

“That’s right, that’s right! The one who used to be the president of the Golden Knights…”

“Ah, really? Then where should I contact you?”

It seemed to take quite a long time.

Making calls, writing something in a notebook, and then making another call.

After a total of about 20 calls, just as a slight sense of fatigue was appearing on Professor Prior’s face.

“Wait a minute, what did you just say?”

Professor Prior, who had been leaning loosely in his executive chair, suddenly opened his eyes wide and stood up.

“Dominican Republic? Charles Fleck is in the Dominican Republic now?”

Up to this point, I thought it could be possible, but Jisub couldn’t help but tilt his head at the following words.

“And… to see baseball?!”

* * *

Charles Fleck is currently staying in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic.

He has been watching the Dominican Winter League in Santo Domingo for a week now.

When Jisub reported this fact to the team, President Brian Span’s reaction was as follows.

“…I don’t understand.”

He had a dumbfounded expression.

“Didn’t Charles Fleck say he wasn’t interested in baseball? He said something similar when I contacted him… The Dominican Winter League out of the blue.”

There are many people in the United States who consider baseball to be their life, but most of their interest is limited to Major League Baseball [MLB].

If there is no Major League Baseball team nearby, they might be interested in the Minor League.

Anyway, going to see the Dominican Winter League is difficult unless you are really crazy about baseball.

The story was that Charles Fleck himself was doing that difficult thing right now.

“So… Kim, what are you going to do?”

At the president’s question, Jisub opened his mouth without hesitation.

“If you allow me, Mr. President, I’m going to go to the Dominican Republic tomorrow to meet Charles Fleck.”

Jisub took out his cell phone.

“Professor Prior has even confirmed the name of the hotel he’s staying at. It’s like the goal is right in front of us, so we can’t stop here, can we?”

“Hmm, that’s right. But the situation here is not very relaxed.”

It was already past the beginning of December and heading towards the middle of the month.

Although the Major League front office is short of 365 days a year, all work is suspended around Christmas.

As president, he would have wanted to handle important tasks before the end of the year.

“I understand. Then let’s do this.”

The president said.

“Please finish your trip to the Dominican Republic within three days if possible. There are many things to discuss as soon as you get back.”

“Three days… I understand.”

It didn’t feel like it was too tight, but Jisub was now in a position where he had to handle several tasks at once.

“Instead, I’ll contact our team’s representatives in the Dominican Republic. They’ll be busy too, but… they’ll be able to arrange an interpreter or guide.”

“Thank you, Mr. President.”

If someone who knows the local situation well helps, things will be much faster.

Jisub felt that was enough support, but President Brian Span seemed to have prepared one more thing.

“And this… well, I think this is separate from this trip.”

As he said that, he slid a small, transparent plastic box in front of Jisub’s eyes.

When Jisub blinked and accepted the box, the president said with a faint smile.

“Kim, this is your new business card.”

“…Business card?”

“Yes, you’re the deputy general manager now. Of course, you have to replace your business card.”

“Ah.”

Jisub opened the lid of the business card case with a slightly trembling hand.

Then, what came into view was the phrase written along with the Tampa Bay Rays logo.

Deputy General Manager Kim Jisub.

Assistant General Manager KIM

I thought I was happy enough, and I thought I was proud enough.

But when I saw the title written next to my name like this, I felt a new sense of fulfillment.

As Jisub looked at the business card with an expression like he was looking at a new toy, the president was giving him some advice.

“Kim, I hope you use this business card effectively in the Dominican Republic.”

He gave a subtle look.

“People in the Dominican Winter League are very interested in Major League Baseball. It will be quite effective if you use it when things get a little stuck.”

“…Is it okay to use it like that?”

“Of course, of course! That’s why the team provides it for you to use.”

So,

It wouldn’t be bad to experience it once.

President Brian Span smiled and tapped Jisub on the shoulder.

“How much power does a Major League Baseball deputy general manager have.”