We wish you’d played for 15 years in the bigs, too, Matt. But you played enough to where you can share these cool stories with us, so thank you! I’m glad you highlighted the situation in the minors. It’s mind-boggling that Rookie and Low A ball pays barely minimum wage after expenses. That’s why the “just play better” argument works only to a point. It’s hard to “play better” when you’re not provided proper nutrition or rest. Anyways, great video! Speaking of no rules, I remember when the ‘86 Mets beat Houston in the NLDS and it was revealed they all got drunk and trashed the plane on the trip back to NY, causing several thousands of dollars worth of damage. Continental sent them the bill and the team owner demanded the players pay it. Their manager stood up for his guys and refused. The owner backed down and just paid it. LOL.
Great video. Big fan! I’ve always wondered how do mlb teams draft in the later rounds on draft day (for example 10 round or later). Do they carefully choose every player each round or do they just pick random players since there are too many rounds and players? Not sure if my question makes sense, but thank you in advance.
My father flew SWA for business quite a bit in the early 90s and he would periodically see NBA and NHL teams on board. Times changed in that relatively short span.
To keep your game at a high level to be called up to the majors dealing with the lack of sleep with brutal bus rides and puddle jumping flights is something most fans don’t even know. Thanks for sharing the unglamorous realities of life in the minors.
why wouldnt major league teams invest in the same level they do in the majors. Bet you could develop players faster that way, not having to deal with all those inconveniences. Just focus on baseball
I am a pilot for one of the world’s largest airlines, and we fly most MLB tEams, all but 2 NBA teams, and the majority of the NHL on 11 custom 757’s with first class interiors. I’ve flown many of these charters. As for the “no rules”, maybe if the Padres had their own jet, but on chartered jets, not quite. Certainly playing cards, listening to music, etc is fine, but sliding down the aisle on takeoff…not so much. The catering is amazing, but it is crazy how much it varies team to team. One NBA team is known for amazing catering. Steak (like $100 each prime ribeyes), lobster, etc almost every flight. Another nba team is known as the complete opposite, cheapest catering possible…the ONE THING that is consistent, baseball, hockey, basketball, first place, last place…doesn’t matter, never been on a sports charter that didn’t have a bunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and even with the steak and lobster dinners, there weren’t a lot of PB&J’s left over at the end of the flight! As a crew, we headed to the airplane to get everything ready about the 7th inning or the 3rd quarter, and then waited, usually the team equipment van is first to arrive, they unload all the player bags into the cargo, team busses show up, get everyone on, and away we go. I have seen some craziness, a manager boarding the team plane to go home with the team literally an hour after getting fired, craps games in the aisle with stacks of $100 bills 2 inches high being thrown around, and a lot of just really nice folks. It’s usually the team, coaches, and support staff (trainers, team media)…but occasionally a team would invite some family. Once a basketball team invited about 10 sponsors to ride with the team…they all had a blast. It’s funny, you get to peek behind the curtain and see the team when they are outside the spotlight. It’s their private time, and we try to respect that. But you can tell which teams are vibing with each other and which aren’t. I saw one where a superstar basketball player had vocally asked for a trade, he sat in the last row of team seats by himself and the suture rest of the team sat several rows in front of him, and never said a word to him….then I saw a baseball team that was just having fun together…you could tell they really liked being around each other…and the series I took them too started a crazy win streak (like 10 games or something). All in all, sports charters are a blast, and you really get to appreciate that these players and coaches are just normal folks.
Also, funny some of the things that were catered. One baseball team always had a bottle of pedialyte (kiddie Gatorade that tastes horrible) on every player seat. Baseball players ate the most junk food, nba was always very healthy food. Hockey really varied team to team.
Great videos, I love learning what it’s like playing at the different levels. One question I have which you may have answered before and I just missed it, what are your thoughts about these new all turf fields that have no infield dirt? Just curious on how you feel about them and how they can alter the game especially coming from a coaches viewpoint and from a former player too. Thanks and have a good day.
Yo, Anto, which did you like better: Bronx Zoo or Ball Four? You remind me a bit of Bouton & Spark, givin us slobs sweet inside info on life in baseball. ✌️
How was it finishing up home stand on the west coast with your last game being a night game and having to fly out to a place like Chicago just to have to be there for a 1:00 p.m. start at Wrigley the next day?
Great Video. When you went down from the Majors to AAA, did the conditions (travel, food, etc) of playing AAA seem worse than when you were first called up to AAA (did AAA seem less nice once you got a taste of the majors)
Aaron Pilkey depends on the team, league, and level. The handful of major sports teams that have their own plane will have full time crew staffed for that plane. Otherwise, there are airlines dedicated to charter work who are contracted by teams and/or leagues and those will be staffed by any crews in their system. Some teams also charter from the big airlines (Delta, United, etc) but the seat configuration will be set up for all first class seats to accommodate the players/staff. A buddy of mine flies for the charter airline that flies a lot of NHL teams around, including the Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
I don't know shit about baseball but I've been watching this guy and Eric Sim every day for a week lol. Very entertaining. This guy seems more calm and like an adult while Sim is just a frat boy animal type lol.
Good info - thanks Matt. Question - The first base coach seems like a 5th wheel on the team. What are the primary duties of a minor league or MLB first base coach? Thanks
Great stuff as always! Could you please do more of these type of videos? Does the hotel quality change in minors vs the majors? Any hotel shenanigans happen in pro ball? Do East Coast major league teams ever bus if it's close like NY to Philly or DC to Baltimore?
Matt, I am a pilot working towards the airlines. Did you ever (or maybe more tenured teammates) have any sort of relationship with any of the flight crew? I've heard of players, etc. around retiring times say they would miss people like the flight crews. Cool video!
Funny thing, Matt...when I worked for the Yankees, they had a little get-together with the team's traveling secretary. He told exactly the same story about using cardboard sleds to slide down the plane on takeoff...guess it's universal. :D
Disclaimer @3:38......They do not have the bus drive up to the runway. There are different areas on an airport that can take private jets and usually this is where Team charters also go. They get on the plane on the "Ramp" then taxi out to the runway like any other jet
You must work at an airport lol. I guess I didn't mean we go on the actual runway with planes taking off next to us. But thank you!!! Thanks for watching our videos and commenting!!!
It is my understanding that typically each team will contract with one of the airlines, normally United, Delta, or American. The airlines will then configure a 737 or a 757 for those flights. Those aircraft are sometimes used for more than one team. For example, the Dodgers and the Giants both contract with United Airlines. So there are times where United will take the Giants to someplace like Miami, then do a commercial flight to Los Angeles with it, then take the Dodgers to Washington DC for example. If you look at the schedule, you may see that the Giants had a day game the day they left nd the Dodgers had night game. In other words, they do work together to make it as good as possible.
Is jet lag a big problem when travelling between cities for games as a professional athlete? Starting times that are 3 hours ahead of when you're used to, or games ending 3 hours later than you're used to if you're accustomed to living on the east coast? I'm curious how much the differences in time zones can affect how you feel during game days or practices. Does it affect your daily routine or schedule as an individual or a team with the loss/gain of hours from jet lag? Thanks Matt!
I never really noticed it, but didn't do a ton of West to East travel. Only a few times. The minor league travel is so bad with bus trips and late night trips that it gets you ready for everything. Thank you for watching!!
On the team plane, do they provide you with any food and beverage? Is it just self-service or do you have cabin attendants? Thanks for this video - such a huge difference between the minors and majors. I really think the minor league system goes out of its way to make the players’ lives a living hell.
My dyslexia kicked in on this one. I read plane fights. So I wasted 8mins 13 seconds of my life. But you’re a cool dude and I appreciate the look into the life.
If I live in a country where baseball isn't a huge sport and there's probably no exposure to any sort of scouts whatsoever, but I really love the sport and want to become as good as I can be, is there any way to get any exposure or even have a chance to play in the MLB? Obviously, I can't just fly over to the US and skip school just to find places to show my talent, but are there any tips you have to give me the best chance that I can have to get to the majors or just anything really. Would really be helpful, thanks. PS, love the channel.
I read the title as “MLB Plane Fights” so after watching the whole video I was like “WTF this is clickbait” , then I realized I really misread the title 😂😂😂
Most professional sports teams contract with the carriers who have several of these charter planes in their fleets to shuttle the teams around in comfort.... Some have their own plane which must be nice
We wish you’d played for 15 years in the bigs, too, Matt. But you played enough to where you can share these cool stories with us, so thank you! I’m glad you highlighted the situation in the minors. It’s mind-boggling that Rookie and Low A ball pays barely minimum wage after expenses. That’s why the “just play better” argument works only to a point. It’s hard to “play better” when you’re not provided proper nutrition or rest. Anyways, great video! Speaking of no rules, I remember when the ‘86 Mets beat Houston in the NLDS and it was revealed they all got drunk and trashed the plane on the trip back to NY, causing several thousands of dollars worth of damage. Continental sent them the bill and the team owner demanded the players pay it. Their manager stood up for his guys and refused. The owner backed down and just paid it. LOL.
My favorite team ever. The book "The Bad Guys Won" by Jeff Pearlman is full of such stories. Great read.
Haha wow I misread this as plane FIGHTS and was hoping for some juicy player drama lol
Canto so did I lol
Canto I’m glad I’m not the only one that skipped the l in flights.
Same hahahaa
same
Me too lmao
I’m not sure if I missed it but they grab your bags from locker room to the bus to the plane to the bus to the park right
John, as a rookie, did you ever have to carry the beer bag? :)
D C he carried the kegs
You never carry your bags in The Show
Equipment truck brings all the bags separate from the team busses.
they dont touch their bags maybe to bring to lobby thats it. There is a truck that bribgs them to the airport...#BigLeagues
Great video. Big fan! I’ve always wondered how do mlb teams draft in the later rounds on draft day (for example 10 round or later). Do they carefully choose every player each round or do they just pick random players since there are too many rounds and players? Not sure if my question makes sense, but thank you in advance.
Good video very accurate! My dad played for the white Sox in ‘86 and all of that was just about the same for him 😂
What's his name
My father flew SWA for business quite a bit in the early 90s and he would periodically see NBA and NHL teams on board. Times changed in that relatively short span.
This was cool. Do you know about travel arrangements in terms of logistics?
What would be the best contract perk?
I enjoy every one. This was 2yrs. Old. Hope you are still doing these.
To keep your game at a high level to be called up to the majors dealing with the lack of sleep with brutal bus rides and puddle jumping flights is something most fans don’t even know. Thanks for sharing the unglamorous realities of life in the minors.
J.T. Thomas Agreed.
why wouldnt major league teams invest in the same level they do in the majors. Bet you could develop players faster that way, not having to deal with all those inconveniences. Just focus on baseball
I am a pilot for one of the world’s largest airlines, and we fly most MLB tEams, all but 2 NBA teams, and the majority of the NHL on 11 custom 757’s with first class interiors. I’ve flown many of these charters.
As for the “no rules”, maybe if the Padres had their own jet, but on chartered jets, not quite. Certainly playing cards, listening to music, etc is fine, but sliding down the aisle on takeoff…not so much.
The catering is amazing, but it is crazy how much it varies team to team. One NBA team is known for amazing catering. Steak (like $100 each prime ribeyes), lobster, etc almost every flight. Another nba team is known as the complete opposite, cheapest catering possible…the ONE THING that is consistent, baseball, hockey, basketball, first place, last place…doesn’t matter, never been on a sports charter that didn’t have a bunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and even with the steak and lobster dinners, there weren’t a lot of PB&J’s left over at the end of the flight!
As a crew, we headed to the airplane to get everything ready about the 7th inning or the 3rd quarter, and then waited, usually the team equipment van is first to arrive, they unload all the player bags into the cargo, team busses show up, get everyone on, and away we go.
I have seen some craziness, a manager boarding the team plane to go home with the team literally an hour after getting fired, craps games in the aisle with stacks of $100 bills 2 inches high being thrown around, and a lot of just really nice folks. It’s usually the team, coaches, and support staff (trainers, team media)…but occasionally a team would invite some family. Once a basketball team invited about 10 sponsors to ride with the team…they all had a blast.
It’s funny, you get to peek behind the curtain and see the team when they are outside the spotlight. It’s their private time, and we try to respect that. But you can tell which teams are vibing with each other and which aren’t. I saw one where a superstar basketball player had vocally asked for a trade, he sat in the last row of team seats by himself and the suture rest of the team sat several rows in front of him, and never said a word to him….then I saw a baseball team that was just having fun together…you could tell they really liked being around each other…and the series I took them too started a crazy win streak (like 10 games or something).
All in all, sports charters are a blast, and you really get to appreciate that these players and coaches are just normal folks.
Also, funny some of the things that were catered. One baseball team always had a bottle of pedialyte (kiddie Gatorade that tastes horrible) on every player seat. Baseball players ate the most junk food, nba was always very healthy food. Hockey really varied team to team.
What is hotel check in like? How do you know what room you are going to?
Great videos, I love learning what it’s like playing at the different levels. One question I have which you may have answered before and I just missed it, what are your thoughts about these new all turf fields that have no infield dirt? Just curious on how you feel about them and how they can alter the game especially coming from a coaches viewpoint and from a former player too. Thanks and have a good day.
Did the big stars have preferred seating, such as up front? Did the coaches sit up front and the players in the back?
Yo, Anto, which did you like better: Bronx Zoo or Ball Four?
You remind me a bit of Bouton & Spark, givin us slobs sweet inside info on life in baseball. ✌️
Dang, I read the title as "plane fights" and was waiting until you started talking about brawls you saw while on a plane.
Lol :) .
How was it finishing up home stand on the west coast with your last game being a night game and having to fly out to a place like Chicago just to have to be there for a 1:00 p.m. start at Wrigley the next day?
Great Video. When you went down from the Majors to AAA, did the conditions (travel, food, etc) of playing AAA seem worse than when you were first called up to AAA (did AAA seem less nice once you got a taste of the majors)
Food on the flights?
Flight attendants?
Same pilots everytime?
The team own the plane or just book it when needed?
pretty sure most teams rent charter flights for their teams nowadays. you can track Delta 8883 for braves departures
Aaron Pilkey depends on the team, league, and level. The handful of major sports teams that have their own plane will have full time crew staffed for that plane. Otherwise, there are airlines dedicated to charter work who are contracted by teams and/or leagues and those will be staffed by any crews in their system. Some teams also charter from the big airlines (Delta, United, etc) but the seat configuration will be set up for all first class seats to accommodate the players/staff.
A buddy of mine flies for the charter airline that flies a lot of NHL teams around, including the Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
I don't know shit about baseball but I've been watching this guy and Eric Sim every day for a week lol. Very entertaining. This guy seems more calm and like an adult while Sim is just a frat boy animal type lol.
Great vid, Very interesting. Was there a cook on the plane?
Good info - thanks Matt. Question - The first base coach seems like a 5th wheel on the team. What are the primary duties of a minor league or MLB first base coach? Thanks
Thanks!! I have a video that covers all of that if you type it into TH-cam it should come up. Thanks for watching and commenting!!
Great video! Could you make a video on international play? MLB in Puerto Rico, London, Mexico? Thanks!!
What are the hotel arrangements like in the major and minor leagues?
MLB players stay at the Ritz. Minor leaguers stay at the motel six that rents hourly.
Hey Matt are the planes owned by the team or are they a commercial airline the team pays for to have a private flight?
When do they start flying, in AAA or a little in AA???
Shannon Williams they fly in aa
Did u every come play in Toronto when u where in majors ?
Great stuff as always! Could you please do more of these type of videos? Does the hotel quality change in minors vs the majors? Any hotel shenanigans happen in pro ball? Do East Coast major league teams ever bus if it's close like NY to Philly or DC to Baltimore?
what day do you cash your check?
So how many years did you play in the major's?
Did you like the food on the planes ? And did they have a personal chef
Do major market teams have more perks than small market? Like rays, brewers, rockies vs yankees , dodgers, redsox, giants????
what do you think about Midwest national tryouts
Matt, I am a pilot working towards the airlines. Did you ever (or maybe more tenured teammates) have any sort of relationship with any of the flight crew? I've heard of players, etc. around retiring times say they would miss people like the flight crews. Cool video!
I remember very long bus rides. But in retrospect some great times.
Did the same people sit in the same spot every time or was it different every time?
Does each player get there own hotel room on the road or do u have to share with another player
.Keep up the good work with the videos matt love them!
Funny thing, Matt...when I worked for the Yankees, they had a little get-together with the team's traveling secretary. He told exactly the same story about using cardboard sleds to slide down the plane on takeoff...guess it's universal. :D
Disclaimer @3:38......They do not have the bus drive up to the runway. There are different areas on an airport that can take private jets and usually this is where Team charters also go. They get on the plane on the "Ramp" then taxi out to the runway like any other jet
You must work at an airport lol. I guess I didn't mean we go on the actual runway with planes taking off next to us. But thank you!!! Thanks for watching our videos and commenting!!!
The cardboard box story was hilarious thanks for sharing!! 😂
Shannon Williams I need to know who that was though...
It is my understanding that typically each team will contract with one of the airlines, normally United, Delta, or American. The airlines will then configure a 737 or a 757 for those flights. Those aircraft are sometimes used for more than one team. For example, the Dodgers and the Giants both contract with United Airlines. So there are times where United will take the Giants to someplace like Miami, then do a commercial flight to Los Angeles with it, then take the Dodgers to Washington DC for example. If you look at the schedule, you may see that the Giants had a day game the day they left nd the Dodgers had night game. In other words, they do work together to make it as good as possible.
Is jet lag a big problem when travelling between cities for games as a professional athlete? Starting times that are 3 hours ahead of when you're used to, or games ending 3 hours later than you're used to if you're accustomed to living on the east coast? I'm curious how much the differences in time zones can affect how you feel during game days or practices. Does it affect your daily routine or schedule as an individual or a team with the loss/gain of hours from jet lag?
Thanks Matt!
I never really noticed it, but didn't do a ton of West to East travel. Only a few times. The minor league travel is so bad with bus trips and late night trips that it gets you ready for everything. Thank you for watching!!
@@AntonelliBaseball Thanks for the reply! Your videos are great and really appreciate the insight you give all of us. Thanks for all that you do!
What happens if aplayer misses a plane or bus? Is it up to the player to get himself to the next stop? does he get fined? Thanks.
Hey dude! Cool vid!!!!!
Can you bring beer on board or alcohol? Is there someone in charge to do that? Or is it byob?
Yes you can. Usually rookies are in charge. Thanks for watching!!
Met Julio Tehran on first class flight back to ATL, really nice guy and nice family.
Do MLB players have to go through customs when playing in different countries?
Do coaches have favorites?
Anton...... I love your videos. Keep making your videos
Matt, was alchohol served during team flights?
captain_ahab but he died during the off-season in the Dominican Republic
@@haseongpresident5327 i think hes thinking of josh hancock and that was 12 years ago in 2007
He died in the offseason as well@@sominboy2757
@@nowellclay1283 nope april 29 2007 en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Hancock
read about wade boggs
Do MLB have direct flight?
What is it like in Major League hotel rooms and how do all the player check in to the hotel?
When I read the title I was like I guess they fly Delta if they fighting on the plane
Haha!
Matt: has nightmares about minor league travel
LEGO City: hEy! A man is having nightmares in LEGO city! Quick! Build the dream catcher!
On the team plane, do they provide you with any food and beverage? Is it just self-service or do you have cabin attendants? Thanks for this video - such a huge difference between the minors and majors. I really think the minor league system goes out of its way to make the players’ lives a living hell.
Always bringing quality. Keep it up, Matt
Really enjoy your videos!!
Thanks Larry!!! Thank you for watching and commenting!
The Atlanta Braves delta charter is always flight DL8883.
You been in the show, man?
Yeah, I was in the show.
The hotels all have room service, and the women all have long legs and brains.
Thunder'sDad Greatest 21 days of my life............
Bull Durham- a classic
You get white balls for batting practice, you're never handing your luggage in the show. They throw ungodly breaking stuff too. Exploding sliders...
Do big league players on rehab assignments get special treatment when im AAA?
Darn! Elvis thought it said "MLB Plane Fights" Watched the whole thing to hear about the "fights" - (Elvis judo chops his laptop)
Haha! Thanks for watching our vids and commenting I appreciate it!!
What about jet lag did that affect u as a player or were u just used to it
Who remembers boom boxes? I do?
From game end to on plane how long does it take
I don’t remember exactly, but it was pretty quick. I’d shower quick, eat, get on the bus and go
How dose that bus get to place to place?
Can you do a video on gambling in the majors? Not on games, of course, but on ping pong, cards, video games.....
What’s it like to go to Toronto
Time travel. You go back in time about a decade
Will you make a video about hotel experiences
Yes I have a few
You should do a video about teammate fights (Think Harper and Pappelbon)
love the new background 🔥
Make a video about the baseball groupies
What is the food like on the planes
My dyslexia kicked in on this one. I read plane fights. So I wasted 8mins 13 seconds of my life. But you’re a cool dude and I appreciate the look into the life.
Haha thanks so much!
Antonelli Baseball you wanna talk about the groupies or the gold diggers????
1:44 They're called nonstop flights, Matt 🙂
What’s the weirdest hazing that you’ve seen?
Once again,a great video.
The 37 dislikes are the guys who would have been Derek Jeter had their high school coach not cut them.
Nah, they're probably connected with the Orioles, Phillies, and Nationals, and felt slighted when Matt said "Everybody flies everywhere!"
If you had played in the Majors for 15 years I doubt we’d have these awesome insights
Lmao....so stressed out talking about minor league travel...so relaxed talking about mlb travel.....funny Matt
Was triple A any better than the other levels? And it would be called nonstop flights.
If I live in a country where baseball isn't a huge sport and there's probably no exposure to any sort of scouts whatsoever, but I really love the sport and want to become as good as I can be, is there any way to get any exposure or even have a chance to play in the MLB? Obviously, I can't just fly over to the US and skip school just to find places to show my talent, but are there any tips you have to give me the best chance that I can have to get to the majors or just anything really. Would really be helpful, thanks. PS, love the channel.
The guy with the Cardboard box killed me😂😂
Something I got to try
Misread the title as MLB Plane FIGHTS. I was like “Damn Anto’s getting spicy!”
Tell us about hotels stays!!
Mlb plane flights sounds amazing
Nice vidd
what r Walkoffs like?
How long did you play mlb?
Google his name, that easy...
THE PLANES *RIGHT THERE*!!
I read the title as “MLB Plane Fights” so after watching the whole video I was like “WTF this is clickbait” , then I realized I really misread the title 😂😂😂
What if I am going pro and can't get any confirmation . And it keeps looking like I am pro .
What happens when a player is cut who pays for player to get home? The player or his former team?
Most professional sports teams contract with the carriers who have several of these charter planes in their fleets to shuttle the teams around in comfort.... Some have their own plane which must be nice
Very interesting! Thanks for watching our stuff and commenting!
I thought the title was "Plane Fights" but still a cool vid 👍
Too many Ok's hahaha. Much love bro
Make a video on what is the steps to becoming a great teammate
Victor Melendez Don’t be a dick
Talk about hotel differences between minor and major league
Do a video on the Clubhouse Guys/Batboy’s tips
Will do!!!
Could you open the door when the plane was in flight?
Probably could lol. Thanks for commenting and watching our videos!
Accidentally read plane fights and was confused af when the vid ended
I remember once I flew from
Boston to Dallas to Las Vegas to Los Angeles.
In one day. It almost killed me.