Jim Small

About Jim Small

A leader of MLB’s international business for more than 28 years, Small is responsible for several key MLB international initiatives, including the World Baseball Classic (WBC).The WBC has grown into one of the world\'s most popular sporting events, with global viewership of more than 2 billion.Prior to his current role, Small was head of international for MLB, where he was responsible for growing MLB’s brand and revenue outside of the US. He developed and implemented a first of its kind international investment plan that brings content, participation and live events to millions of fans in nearly a dozen countries and territories around the world. From 2003 to 2019, Small oversaw MLB’s Asia Pacific business based in Tokyo. Under his leadership, MLB saw a 500% growth in the value of its media rights in the region; played games in China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea and Australia; and established a business in China that boasted more than 30 million program participants, the broadcast of MLB games reaching 900 million people and the development of the first ever Chinese professional players.A veteran of more than 40 years in the sports marketing industry, Small started his career in public relations with the Kansas City Royals, the Chicago Cubs, the Texas Rangers and MLB’s New York Office. From 19••••98, he held a variety of global marketing positions at Nike, based in Beaverton, OR.Small has served as an advisor to the Japanese Government’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and on the Board of Directors of the General Sports Administration of Saudi Arabia. He is a founding member of Tomodachi, a public-private sector youth initiative operated by the US Japan Council in partnership with the United States Embassy in Tokyo. He is a National Board Member of the University of Kansas Alumni Association and has served on the board of trustees for Hands on Tokyo, one of Japan’s leading charitable organizations, and the American School in Japan. In 2022, he was named the Italian American Baseball Foundation’s Executive of the Year.He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Sports Management at Tokyo’s Kanazawa Institute of Technology and has lectured on sports marketing and international relations at multiple colleges and universities around the world.Small holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Kansas, an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham University in New York City and a certificate in corporate governance from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

Experience

1. President, World Baseball Classic

   Major League Baseball (MLB)

   Oct 2022 — Present

   In his role as President of the World Baseball Classic (WBC), Small is responsible for the strategic vision, commercial growth and event operations of the WBC, the official world championship of baseball. The 2023 WBC was the most watched, most engaged with and most attended baseball tournament ever.

Education

• Fordham Gabelli School of Business

  Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)

• The University of Kansas

  Bachelor's Degree

• The Wharton School

  Certificate in Corporate Governance