Dublin High School’s Austin Ginn: From Gaels Baseball to the Oakland A’s Locker Room

DUBLIN, CA–Little did Dublin High School Class of 2011 alum Austin Ginn know that his 2011 summer job at Rockin’ Jump would open the door to incredible opportunities in the business of sports. After forming a relationship with two kids who frequently attended the trampoline park, Ginn got the chance to meet their father who just so happened to be the visiting Clubhouse Manager for the Oakland A’s. By expressing interest in the Oakland A’s, asking what it was like working in the clubhouse, and by providing his email, Ginn got the job to work with the A’s that summer.

Oakland A’s Bat Boy Austin Ginn

Five years later, Ginn is currently a Clubhouse Attendant for the Oakland A’s and has worked with multiple other sport teams in the Bay Area. As a Clubhouse Attendant, Ginn is responsible for making sure everything runs smoothly on and off the field. During games, Ginn picks up bats for the players, provide the umpires with baseballs, and keeps an eye out in case anything goes wrong or missing. Inside the clubhouse, Ginn is in charge of keeping the locker room in order, which includes doing the players’ laundry and packing the players’ bags for travel.

When asked what he loves most about his job, Ginn said, “the best part of the job is creating a relationship with the players – seeing them behind the scenes and seeing them live their normal lives. It’s pretty cool.” Working with the A’s has also included a lot of memorable moments for Ginn, such as meeting Derek Jeter during his farewell tour.

After getting experience working with equipment through the Oakland A’s, Ginn reached out to the Oakland Raiders equipment manager during the A’s off-season and received a job working with the Raiders, which included setting up the field for practices and locker room maintenance. After a year and a half with the Raiders, Ginn got in touch with the San Francisco 49ers and continued working with equipment in Santa Clara. During his time with the 49ers, Ginn was introduced to the team photographer for the 49ers and got the chance to take a slightly alternate path than the one he was on before – the one of a sports photographer. Ginn landed a photography internship with the 49ers and has spent the past year and a half photographing all the events that take place at Levis stadium – including Super Bowl 50. In regards to Super Bowl 50, Ginn says, “it was a dream come true.”

For anyone interested in turning their love of sports into a career, Ginn emphasized, “don’t be afraid to ask around. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.” Ginn explained that there are so many ways to get involved in the sports business, such as working in the front office, marketing, or game operation, and said that getting into the business is possible if you’re willing to network, introduce yourself, and talk to as many people as you can. Because of Ginn’s ability to network, his time with baseball didn’t have to end with high school graduation.

Ginn continued, “As cliched as it sounds, if you want something, go get it. It’s pretty simple I guess but the only thing holding you back from you goals is yourself. Nothing is going to be easy of course. Everything is going to take time and a lot of hard work and sacrifices. Don’t ever be afraid to put yourself out there and introduce yourself to others. Networking will eventually be the key to your career. The ability to build a relationship and gain someone’s trust will go a long way. I feel like if you learn how to sell yourself to others you are going to be very successful.”

Looking forward, Ginn hopes to one day become an equipment manager for the Oakland A’s or become a team photographer. Based on his current and past experience, it is clear that he is on the right track for both careers! To learn more about Ginn’s experiences in the world of sports, make sure to check out his blog, and be sure to take a look at his website, which includes his photography and contact information.