Bob Wirz
Bob Wirz has been a media specialist in the world of sports for more than 50 years, with heavy concentration on professional baseball.
One of Wirz’s more intriguing tasks was running Major League Baseball’s media office as chief spokesman for Commissioners Bowie Kuhn and Peter Ueberroth for more than a decade (1974-85). His duties included serving as chief spokesman for the commissioners and coordinating media activities for the All-Star Game, World Series and Winter Meetings.
He started Wirz & Associates, Inc., a sports public relations and consulting company he still runs in Stratford, CT, later in 1985. It handled publicity for the prestigious Rolaids Relief Man awards for more than two decades, developed Little League Baseball’s first national sponsorship program and utilized sports celebrities and venues to establish broad awareness campaigns for the industry hair-coloring giant Just For Men. National clients also have included Major League Baseball, IBM, MCI and Baseball America magazine.
From 2003-2014, he wrote a weekly column, the Independent Baseball Insider. It was unique in that it detailed news from every professional Independent baseball league in a very upbeat manner. He continues to write exclusive content for two Independent leagues, and also writes a blog about Independent Baseball, www.IndyBaseballChatter.com.
Bob’s experience includes six years as publicity director for the Kansas City Royals, and a background in newspaper, radio and television work. He worked for The Lincoln (NE) Journal, Wichita (KS) Eagle and The Denver Post. His first professional baseball position was as Public Relations Director of the Denver Bears (Pacific Coast League) in 1967-68.
He will soon publish a book, "The Passion of Baseball", which covers much of his experience in the sport as well as his business life.
Wirz is a graduate of the University of Nebraska. Bob and his wife Maybeth reside in Stratford. They have four children and five grandchildren.