Pam Gardner Reached the Top with Astros

Gardner Was Behind the Scenes Success

The news that Pam Gardner was leaving the Astros as a full time employee was not a surprise. Her job description had changed in the turnover from Drayton McLane, Jr. to Jim Crane, but change on the business side before the new operators knew exactly how that part of the Astros was set up would not have been wise. There was a lot of planning and money already tied up in 2012 promotions and ticket sales plans. So Pam was not one of the high level employees let go. Her lofty title as President of Business Operations no longer existed, but she was working with new club CEO George Postolos to make the changeover as smooth as possible. While the other Astro president, Tal Smith, did not have that opportunity of the baseball side there is a significant reason. The business side tries to make money. The baseball side spends it. The new Astro group already had a financial plan regarding the baseball side. They were going to emphasize scouting and development. They felt their existing and planned new baseball people could do that. For awhile, and only a short while they hope, the club would not make money based on the success of the club, but from a reduced payroll while the young players developed into a winning team.


The is obviously an over simplification because if the baseball side has success or features star players that fans are interesting in watching, it will generate revenue indirectly as well. The business side has to generate as much as it can regardless how well the baseball side succeeds. That is significant reason why businessmen who buy into pro sports quickly find they have far less control of total revenue or success than in their other endeavors. How well the team plays will always be the main factor in revenue generation of all kinds.


No doubt before she voluntarily resigned and accepted an advisory position to Jim Crane, Pam had emphasized that point to the new ownership group. Now it will be up to the new owners to stick with their plan and keep fingers crossed that enough young prospects develop into players good enough to bring winning baseball back to Minute Maid Park.


As for Pam Gardner she must consider what she did in her full time baseball career. It was a lot. Starting in the Astros communications department she rose through the ranks and was with the club for 23 years—the last eleven as president for business.


Inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame as the first female member in 2006 she also received honors from the Sports Business Journal, the Houston area Urban League and by Texas Executive Women among others. With her departure as a full time Astro she ends a run that has already made her the longest tenured female executive in Major League Baseball.


In addition to her efforts to find out ways to generate more attendance and fan interest at Minute Maid Park she also ran the point on many Astro community projects which have put the Astros among the top levels of baseball in those areas. They are not just a local major league baseball club, but a part of the city in which they play.


It is hoped that the press release saying that Pam will serve as a special advisor to Jim Crane is not what those sort of announcements usually mean and that she will actually be called on to offer suggestions or to explain why certain procedures the Astros have developed over the years are used.


You cannot discount the value of experience in every walk of life. Pam Gardner has a lot of it with the Astros and the business of Major League Baseball.