By Kelly O'Brien ‘15
When Wrigley Field unveiled its massive video board at the beginning of the baseball season, the new view captivated Chicago Cubs fans. As they stared at the screen, Lee Pikelny ’14 pointed a camera from high above first base, searching for the next shot that would appear before 35,000 pairs of eyes. As a rotational camera operator for the Cubs, Pikelny is part of the crew that controls the historic ballpark’s big screen.
“This has basically been my major league call-up,” he said. “I’m essentially a utility player. Wherever they need me, I’m ready to take over. It’s been a dream of mine to play professional baseball, but my playing talent disappeared long ago. I guess I made up for it with camera skills.”
Pikelny made his Cubs debut behind the lens on MLB opening night. As the Cubs and Cardinals kicked off the 2015 season, Pikelny threw the first pitch of his professional career.
“Experiencing the buzz and being right in the middle of it is something I won’t forget,” he said. “There were some times I was just thinking, ‘Wow, I’m a part of this.’”
Before landing in the pros, Pikelny spent a season in the minors on the production staff at Peoria Chiefs games. He secured a spot on the video board roster after four years of announcing and operating cameras for Bradley athletics. The combination of internships, jobs and the sports communication program prepared him for the big leagues.
“Bradley has the perfect mix of classes, real life experiences and resources to help get your foot in the door,” he said. “It’s amazing how large Bradley’s network really is. Not just Bradley, but Peoria. The people I’ve met are the reason I’ve been able to get so many opportunities. I will always wear Bradley red with pride.”
Now sporting Cubs blue on the job, Pikelny is proud to be on a professional video board team.
“I’m incredibly excited and honored to be a part of it,” he said. “I’m just one piece of a really big picture—literally.”
