Page 7 - Briefcase Volume 38 Number 1

November 2019. Being promoted in short order was a
humbling accomplishment for him.
“It would be an understatement to say it’s an honor,”
Quezada said. “First of all, working in this industry is
something that I take very seriously. But working for this
class and level of organization is something that I take a lot
of pride in. To have been offered this position, this title, this
promotion with the Cardinals is something I hold very dear.
It’s a responsibility for me to uphold that tradition and that
respect that this organization commands.”

“I’m very excited to run with this opportunity and take our
department to the next level, and help us get to that next
level of competition.”
In his current role, Quezada’s primary duty is to oversee
the Cardinals’ interests outside of the U.S. He is based in
Jupiter, Fla., at the Cardinals’ spring training facility, but
also spends a great portion of his time at the club’s “My father was born and raised in San Francisco,” Quezada
academy in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic. said. “When he was a kid, my grandfather would take him
“Whether it be player acquisitions, player development, to Giants games in the ’60s. He went to go watch Willie
scouting, contract analysis — anything involving those Mays, Willie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda, the Alou brothers,
facets of baseball operations outside of the United States Juan Marichal — all of these players that were essentially
and outside of the domestic process is what I’m essentially soon-to-be Hall of Famers.”
responsible for,” Quezada said. “I help oversee the entire Quezada’s father remains an avid baseball fan, and passed
academy that we have based in the Dominican Republic. along the trait to his sons. He felt an awakening in 2004
Essentially that’s 99 percent of my focus on a daily basis.” when he was 13 and he, his brother and father traveled to
Prior to joining the Cardinals, Quezada practiced as an Arizona to watch spring training.
insurance litigation trial attorney at the Quezada Law Firm, “Ever since then I just became a baseball junkie,” Quezada
founded by his father Jesus Quezada, Jr., a 1995 alumnus said. “Being in the Texas Rangers facility and around the
of the Law Center. His time spent in depositions, hearings, players, seeing them interact, taking batting practice and
mediations and trials has helped him transition into the throwing bullpen sessions — it was something I always
business of sports. dreamed of working in. I just hoped I could have that
“All of those abilities, all of that experience, and all of the opportunity someday to work for an organization or
courses that I took at the Law Center have helped me in the realm of sports.”
transition so much more smoothly and so much more Quezada determined early in his undergraduate education
easily,” Quezada said. “I’m just so glad to have that at Texas A&M that he wanted to pursue a law degree. When
education to get me where I am now. provided the opportunity to follow in his father’s footsteps
“The world of baseball is a world of contracts at every at the Law Center, it made his choice for law school an
level. Whether you come through the draft, or whether you easy one.
sign as a player internationally, you are signing a contract “I was always really close to the Law Center because of my
with an organization. That involves negotiations, contract father,” he said. “I was a kid when I went to his graduation.
analysis and understanding how to navigate that aspect of He gave the commencement speech at the ceremony. I was
the industry is something that having a law degree gives you young, but I remember that experience.
a tremendous advantage over other people who don’t have
that training or experience.” “Houston was also a city I saw myself growing in. It’s a
place that represents growth and advancement, and the
Quezada said he always envisioned himself working University of Houston Law Center is one of the pinnacle
in baseball, partly because of the game providing a institutions in the city that represent that. Attending the
generational familial bond. A native of Brownsville, Texas, Law Center has had nothing but a positive impact on my
he did not grow up around the sport. He traces his passion life and my career. It’s something I cherish and I’m very
back to his grandfather, who passed it along to his father. proud to be a Cougar in that regard.”

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