Although the honor of captain is not uncommon in most sports, it is a rare distinction in baseball. So when the Brewers named Christian Yelich the first official captain in franchise history, it made me pause and revisit a question that some athletic directors and coaches love to ask: Why have a team captain and what should they do?
When I worked in athletics, I came to learn that a number of athletic directors and coaches wanted to do away with sports captains entirely. They felt the importance of the position was entirely overblown. Others believed leadership should simply emerge from within a team and that a person didn't need a “C” on their uniform to confer that role.
Rather than abandon an opportunity for a young person to exercise leadership, we considered their arguments and grievances and folded those concerns into making the selection process clearer. We returned again and again to the question: Why should a team have a captain? And, to me, that leads to an even better question: What are captains for?
Yelich is one of only three active Major League players with the title of captain, joining the Yankees’ Aaron Judge and the Royals’ Salvador Perez. What is particularly interesting to me is that the idea to name Yelich captain came from within the Brewers' clubhouse.
According to manager Pat Murphy, an unnamed player brought the idea to him. Murphy ran it by the owner and president of baseball operations before presenting it to Yelich.
The Brew Crew's skipper said Yelich consented—but under one condition.
“He had one request that we ask Robin Yount before we do such a thing, and Robin agreed wholeheartedly,” Murphy said. “Because in Yeli’s mind, Robin is the first captain.”
That says a ton about Yelich's leadership style to me.
A captain is recognized by teammates—by peers—for much more than talent. They are respected for what they do in the clubhouse, how they treat others, and the way they carry themselves when no one is watching. And, as we see with Yelich, they do all of it with a respect for those who have paved the way and with a certain humility in mind. I love it.
But the truth of the matter is, I found a great answer to my captain question—*What is a captain for? What should they do?*—from one of my favorite shows: Ted Lasso. Thank you, Roy Kent!
In Episode 7, “Yes & Baby,” Roy Kent is talking with a short-term love interest, Dr. Erin Beaumont. Although he was open to dating, his heart was still with Keeley. Dr. Beaumont knows the end is near. Before she bows out and bids farewell, she summons some gumption and asks:
“Look. There is one question. Why? Why did this happen?”
Roy responds, “What? Us?”
He admits that Keeley wanted him to date other women so that he could learn to fully see someone and let them fully see him.
Dr. Beaumont asks, “So I was just part of some experiment then?”
“No,” Roy tells her. “You were not part of my plan.”
Then, after she asks whether she simply wasn't enough, Roy gives her one of my favorite answers in the entire series:
“Are you kidding me? You’re a f***ing captain.”
She looks confused. “Is that an insult?”
“No! Alright, look. On a football team, captain has three jobs:
1. Make sure everyone’s heading toward the same goal.
2. Stand up for what’s right.
3. Put the well-being of others before yourself.
And you have to be able to hold the center. The way you are with your patients, the way you are with your friends, the way you’ve been with me… You’re a captain. I see you.”
She looks at him and says, “I see you too.”
And there it is. I think that is what captains are for: not simply to wear a “C.” Not simply to speak for the team, take the coin toss, or rally everyone before a game. And certainly not because they are necessarily the best player.
Captains are there to help a team remember where it is going, to stand up for what is right, and to care about the people alongside them. They hold the center when things get messy. They notice people. They make sure no one gets left behind.
And maybe the most important thing a captain can do is to see their teammates—and to help their teammates see themselves.
That, to me, is leadership worth putting a “C” on a jersey for. Go Brewers!
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