Hazel Mae on Her Blue Jays Career, Breaking Barriers and Jack Graney Award | Conversations with Griff

In this edition of Conversations with Griff, I chat with iconic Blue Jays television personality, Hazel Mae, recently recognized by the Canadian Hall of Fame with the Jack Graney Award, given to a media member for a lifetime of contribution to baseball. We discuss her stellar career, from the first time she was handed a tape recorder and sent to a Jays game, to her current status as a huge part of the most-watched telecasts in MLB, her role models in sports broadcasting, and her positive influence on young women in Canada.

INDEX:

0:00 – Intro

0:25 – Winning the Jack Graney Award and Canadian Baseball HOF

3:25 – Her love of the Kansas City Chiefs

6:45 – The wonderful progression of women in sports media

10:00 – Admiration of Susan Waldman

14:25 – Double standard in Media + Personal anecdote

18:15 – Dealing with self doubt and struggles early on in career

24:30 – Moving and working for NESN in Boston

28:00 – Early days of MLB Network and Hazel's time there

33:38 – Working with Buck and Dan + Sportsnet

37:01 – Relationship building with players + Rowdy Tellez

39:15 – Carlos Delgado + Troy Tulowitzki

43:35 – Spirited conversations with husband and analyst, Kevin Barker

47:50 – Meeting her in-laws for the first time

49:50 – Hazels parents' reactions on her career and becoming an icon

53:10 – The humanity of Hazel's interview style

56:20 – Hazel's important influence on the next generation

59:30 - Outro

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For the full catalogue of Richard Griffin's work, including weekly Blue Jays/MLB columns, a weekly MLB Power Rankings column, exclusive conversations with some of the game's greats, past and present, and the Exit Philosophy podcast, visit https://www.griffsthepitch.com/