The offseason usually finds many baseball executives hard at work planning their rosters for the upcoming season. New York Mets GM Sandy Alderson is no exception, but he had an extra obligation to fit in: Jury duty.
As reported in The Wall Street Journal, Alderson was summoned for jury duty in downtown Manhattan earlier this month, less than two weeks before the team started spring training.
Alderson had on two previous occasions deferred because of professional obligations. This time, though, he arrived to perform his civic duty.
"I didn’t feel I was entitled to get out of it," Alderson told the WSJ. "I just happened to get put in the jury box and answered questions, and they didn’t challenge me for whatever reason. I had to be matter of fact as to what I did."
The WSJ notes that when Alderson was called up before the judge, he was asked a series of questions meant to gauge his ability to serve on the jury. When asked to provide his occupation, Alderson said he was the general manager of the New York Mets.
Two questions later, the judge asked him what he did during his free time.
"Well, now I’m looking for a shortstop," Alderson joked.
The GM said that after answering those questions, he didn't believe he would be picked. But he was -- as was his wife, who was also summoned that day.
Alderson wound up spending three days in court and said he found the experience very interesting. He was also happy to fulfill what he saw as a responsibility as a citizen.
And when the case was over, he hopped on a plane and flew down to Port St. Lucie, Florida, to await the start of spring training.
