Another ex-Dodgers flack lands a better gig: Steinberg hired by MLB

This could put a crimp in that presidential campaign …

Charles Steinberg, one of the earliest victims of Frank and Jamie McCourt’s impending divorce, has landed on his feet with Major League Baseball.

Steinberg was like the 137th public relations person hired to help shape the McCourts’ image. And ain’t that a swell job? For two years he served as the Dodgers’ executive vice president of creative production and communications.

He was well respected but made the mistake of gravitating more toward Jamie than Frank, or was at least pulled more in that direction. He was the one who came up with seven-page "Project Jamie" to get her elected president of these United States.

Naturally, after Frank fired Jamie last fall, Steinberg was just as quickly shown his exit. He and several  people he had hired, most of whom did have overlapping responsibilities with other team employees.

Steinberg has spent 34 years working in public relations for the Orioles, Padres, Red Sox and Dodgers, and now has an impressive new gig: MLB senior advisor to public affairs. Commissioner Bud Selig said Steinberg will take a "proactive role in developing the initiatives that impact and improve the enjoyment of fans throughout the nation and around the world."

Clears that up.

Steinberg will be based in Milwaukee with Selig. Rich Levin, MLB’s senior vice president of public relations, is retiring after this season.

He won’t be the first ex-McCourt image-maker to land a better job. Derrick Hall is now president and chief executive of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Camille Johnson is director of communications for Michelle Obama.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Charles Steinberg with Dodgers fans in 2008. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times.

Comments

[Zen]

Back to Money Ramirez...

Prediction:

Ramirez gets traded to the Mariners. For how much, for whom, I don't know because there is a rain-out glaze on my crystal ball. As for when, I believe it will be within 60 days.

Right now, DH-Griffey is hitting .217 for the Mariners, with zero home runs.

[Harpo in San Diego]

Why would Ramírez waive his no-trade clause to go to Seattle?
 

[Zen]

Harpo,

I'm presuming the Mariners give him an extra year with a club option for another.

It extends his career and puts him into the down-shifted mode where I suspect he wants to be.

Why did The Sandman decide before the season, with an injury-free Ramirez at the time, to sit this guy 3 days every 2 weeks?

My guess: He's too brittle for the NL.

[These Dodgers Suck]

"Someone" [hint] should write a book all about "Frank"

[factchecker]

Steve, you've got some facts wrong in this one. The several people that were let go did not have overlapping responsabilities with other members of the club. They were hired by Steinberg to do work that was necessary and not being done by the organization. I for one have noticed a change in positive press, community and fan relations, and in game experiences since Dr. Charles and these employees were let go (and the change has not been for the better). It's unfortunate that the powers that be at the Dodgers put spite ahead of talent and hard work. As usual it will be the fans that lose out. Congrats to Dr. Steinberg. MLB is lucky to have him.

[Airedale]

Does this mean Bud Selig will be a presidential candidate as soon as Sternberg can punch up Bud Lite's resume'?

[Steve Dilbeck]

factchecker: Some did not have overlapping responsibilities, but others did. Either way, it was a mini-purge. Heard it as at least 15 Steinberg hires who were let go.

[Just Sayin']

Losing Charles Steinberg was no big loss to the Dodgers unless you enjoy rude and often uncooperative executives.

[Fox]

One could argue that working for Michelle Obama is actually a sideways career move for Camille Johnson after dealing with the Frank and Jaime Show.

[factchecker]

Just Sayin', you have obviously never met Charles Steinberg. If you had rude is probably one of the last words you would use to describe him. He is everything one could want in a baseball executive: creative, kind and incredibly dedicated to baseball and its fans. The Dodgers were looking pretty good on the field, in the press, and in the community the last two seasons when Steinberg was there. How's it going now? As they say, when a ship sinks the last thing left on board are the rats. Dr. Steinberg is moving on to bigger and better things and he deserves all the success in the world.

[Just Sayin']

To factchecker: You didn't check your facts on this one.
.
Not only have I dealt with Mr. Steinberg directly so have others I know on---both personal and professional---who have had similar experiences.
.
Do as your name suggests next time.

[factchecker]

I didn't need to check my facts, Just Sayin. It has always been obvious to me that you're someone inside the organization. I know, I know, now you'll claim that you no longer work there or you know him from somewhere else. Let's be real though. I've seen this pattern before on the message boards. The truth is the Dodgers had a great thing going when they had Steinberg. I've already covered that topic so no need to repeat myself. But what I will add is that it would be nice if instead of putting Steinberg down on message boards members of the organization showed a little bit of class and simply wished him well. Just saying.