Scott Reifert

REIFERT

Posted By: June Brewer Welsch (email)
Date: 12/21/2007 at 04:11:29

From Muscatine Iowa Journal May 1, 2006
Former Muscatine resident is part of the Chicago White Sox’s extended family
CHICAGO - Scott Reifert has loved baseball since he was a preschooler. Now, at age 40, Scott has his own White Sox World Series Championship ring.

Reifert is Vice President/ Communications for the Chicago White Sox organization. He is the son of Ron and Nancy Reifert of Muscatine, and a 1984 graduate of Muscatine High School.

Scott’s father retired last year after 39 years of teaching and coaching at Central Middle School. Ron’s first job after graduating from the University of Iowa was at Calamus, where he was the athletic director and baseball coach for one year.

Ron and Nancy then moved to Belle Plaine for two years before coming to Muscatine. Scott was born at Marengo because Belle Plaine didn’t have a hospital.

"Scott went with me to all of the baseball games starting when he was 2 or 3 years old. The players would call him out on to the field after the games and Scott would run the bases, sliding into every one,"

Ron recalled.

Scott played basketball and baseball at Muscatine High in what he describes as an "unremarkable" career. "The only thing you might call an accomplishment was to win two games on the mound in one doubleheader (relieved one and started the second). " don’t think my dad matched that!"

Scott graduated from the University of Iowa in 1988, majoring in journalism/mass communications and also in American studies. He minored in philosophy.

He went on to earn a master’s degree in sports management from Western Illinois University. His first full-time job was with Bob Wirz and Associates, a Connecticut-based sports marketing and public relations firm with a variety of baseball-related clients.

Reifert, who joined the White Sox in 1991 as assistant director of public relations before being promoted to director of public relations in 1997, was named vice president of communications in April 2004.

He currently heads a staff of 28 persons, including interns, involved in marketing research, media relations and community relations. He and his staff are responsible for compiling and publishing an annual media guide of more than 400 pages.

Charity work

In addition to his communications responsibilities, Reifert serves as president of Chicago White Sox Charities. He leads the club’s efforts to give back to the Chicago community. In 2005, Chicago White Sox Charities programs and initiatives helped raise more than $1 million for the first time since the charity’s inception in 1991.

In 2004, White Sox Charities worked with the Chicago Park District to build a special, four-field complex in the Mt. Greenwood neighborhood on Chicago’s southwest side. This complex, which includes a Miracle Field for special-needs athletes, opened in April 2005.

Looking back on last year’s World Series Championship, Scott describes the season as truly amazing.

The summer itself was a roller coaster ride. We played so well to begin the season and then stumbled in August and September. Once we clinched in Detroit, you just had a sense, a feel about the team. Beating Boston was stunning.

Then, after we won Game 2 of the American League Championship Series, we knew we were going to win it. I don’t mean to sound arrogant, but there was just the sense of karma about the entire postseason.

October was strange. We were too busy to really get nervous about the games. In fact, in late December, I finally sat down on my living room couch to watch a video of Game 4 of the World Series, and I found myself to be incredibly nervous. I couldn’t watch.

Inspiring parade

Scott said the parade in downtown Chicago after the World Series was awe-inspiring. I was riding among the players and staff atop double-decker buses. Estimates were that nearly 2 million Chicagoans came out for the parade and rally downtown. You literally could feel the love and emotion being poured onto the team by our fans. It was emotionally draining.

Since then, we have been on the ‘Oprah’ show, gone to the state capitol in Springfield, traveled to the White House to meet the president and taken the Commissioner’s Championship Trophy around the state. It has been a whirlwind.

Reifert was on the field when the players and staff received their World Series rings on April 4. I received my ring with our employees in a private ceremony after the game. White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf handed rings out to all full-time employees. I have and will wear it ... selectively.

Scott is married to Amy Howley. She is the head women’s soccer coach at the University of Chicago. They have three children: a girl, Marley, 10; a boy, Taylor, 9; and a girl, Shay, 6.

Scott attends nearly all home games. Generally, I watch games with our general manager, Ken Williams, and his staff. I try to circulate from their suite to the press box and broadcast booths.

During the first 10 years

with the White Sox, Reifert

also attended all of the away games to be available to the media. He attends some of the away games now.

Someone from my staff is always with the team from Feb. 15 until our season ends. I join the team on the road if the situation dictates, either good — like clinching a division title — or bad, such as a crisis or special situation. I do spend six weeks in spring training each February/March.”

The White Sox are playing well again this year, and Scott expects another remarkable season. Maybe even a second World Series ring.