Passaic Today

Montclair State University students played a key role in the recent Yogi’s Big Catch Challenge, held at Yogi Berra Stadium on September 21. The event, organized by the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center to honor what would have been Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra’s 100th birthday, set a new Guinness World Records title for the largest continuous game of catch.

A total of 2,358 participants took part in the record-setting event at the refurbished stadium. Notable attendees included emcee Bob Costas, former New York Yankees players Ron Guidry, Willie Randolph, Rick Cerone, as well as members of Berra’s family.

Students from Montclair’s College of Communication and Media were actively involved throughout the day. Hawk Communications, the university’s student-run PR agency, managed media relations for attending news organizations. NewsLab student journalists reported from the field and produced stories for Hawk+, Montclair’s digital streaming platform.

The Red Hawk Sports Network provided live coverage of the attempt with a team consisting of 15 students and three professors producing a pre-event show that featured interviews and trivia segments. WMSC 90.3 FM student broadcasters hosted a special two-hour live show with interviews involving university leadership and museum officials.

Montclair students also assisted with event planning and logistics through their work with the Office of Special Events. Members of Montclair's baseball and softball teams volunteered on-field to help facilitate participant counting required by Guinness World Records.

Museum Director Eve Schaenen said: “We’re of course thrilled to have broken the record. But the real joy is in seeing so many families, friends, community members and Montclair State University students come together around Yogi’s legacy, playing the game that he loved best. The fact that Montclair students were right in the thick of the action, applying what they’re learning to the execution of our event made it all the more special. We look forward to creating many more opportunities for students to engage with our programming in the future.”

Alba Rodriguez, an international student from Spain who worked on media relations during the event as part of Hawk Communications, shared her personal experience: “My grandmother watched the event from Spain. For me, she is like a second mother, and the fact that she had the chance to see everything I’m doing on such an important day has been incredible. She told me how exciting it had been for her to watch all those people coming together to achieve a common goal. She was completely focused on the TV, pointing me out to my mother whenever I appeared on screen, and she was moved to see all the work I am doing here in the United States. It’s truly emotional to see how, on a day when families came together, mine did too. Even though they are thousands of miles away, today they were with me, and they were able to experience a little bit of the amazing adventure I am living here at Montclair.”

The involvement gave Montclair State University students practical experience working at a large-scale live event while highlighting their contribution both behind-the-scenes and on-air.