Joe Siddall (BHK ’07) stands at Rogers Centre in Toronto, where he now shares expert analysis as a Sportsnet broadcaster. The former catcher and UWindsor grad brings decades of on-field experience to the broadcast booth, offering fans insight into the strategy and skill behind every play. (HANDOUT/University of Windsor)
By Sara Meikle
On any given night inside Rogers Centre, while cameras follow every pitch and fans hold their breath, there is another team at work. They’re less visible, but just as vital to the magic of Toronto Blue Jays baseball.
They’re in the broadcast booth, in boardrooms, negotiating partnerships, navigating legal details, and shaping the moments that bring fans together.
For three UWindsor alumni, the path to the World Series began here, at the University of Windsor.
We brought them together to reflect on where they started, how far they’ve come, and the thread that ties them back to UWindsor.
Mark Ditmars, VP, Corporate Partnerships, Toronto Blue Jays (BA political science ’87)
Joe Siddall, Sportsnet Analyst (Bachelor of human kinetics ’07)
Michael Alvaro, Senior Legal Counsel, Toronto Blue Jays (dual Juris Doctor ’14)
What follows is a conversation about ambition, collaboration, careers—and a bit of baseball magic.
Q: When you think back to your time at the University of Windsor, what stands out most about how it shaped your path?
Mark: For me, it really comes down to the people and relationships. My coaches and professors mentored me and pushed me to be better. I still remember one professor who challenged me to pull up my socks and buckle down. That conversation was a turning point, and one I’ll never forget.
Joe: I finished my degree later in life, after my playing career, when I had kids. It was important for me to set an example and show them that education matters. Funny story—my nephew was in one of my first classes. It was a running joke in my family: I sat up front, and he was in the back. Finishing my degree always felt like unfinished business. I always say it took me 25 years to get my degree, but I did it, and I’m proud of that.
Michael: I always knew I wanted to work in sports, so law school was part of that plan. The classes I took and the extracurriculars I chose were always with an eye to working in sports and entertainment. While I was at UWindsor, I co-founded the Hockey Arbitration Competition of Canada, which is still going strong today. UWindsor Law was a critical step on my path to where I am now.
Q: You each work in different areas of the game—partnerships, broadcasting, and legal operations. What does your work look like day to day?
Mark: My role is about creating connections and bringing value to the fan experience. Partnerships aren’t just advertising—they’re about helping brands build authentic connections with fans. And the great thing about the Blue Jays is we’re the only baseball team in Canada, so seeing the passion from coast to coast has been remarkable. It makes me happy to know we’ve made the entire country happy and proud, and we’re giving them something to cheer about.
Joe: In broadcasting, my job is to bring people into the game and provide commentary on what happened and why. Baseball is full of nuance—pitch sequencing, defensive placement, strategy. Being a former catcher helps because I lived inside those details. Now I get to translate that for fans at home. Honestly, it feels like playing again. I love it.
Michael: I get to touch almost every part of what we do here. That can mean drafting partnership agreements, aligning policy, advising on operations, or supporting baseball analytics on software and equipment contracts. I also worked on the major stadium renovation project. It’s law, but it’s also helping create spaces where moments happen. Seeing fans enjoy those new areas around the ballpark is incredibly rewarding.
Q: Is there a connection you feel when you meet someone else from UWindsor?
Joe: Oh, instantly. There’s a bond.
Michael: You end up talking about your favourite pizza or Windsor’s great food scene pretty quickly.
Mark: Michael and I often joke about the secret UWindsor handshake—which, of course, doesn’t exist.
Joe: Anybody who has a Windsor connection always brings it up with me. It’s great!
Q: What does it mean to bring that shared Windsor foundation into a national baseball organization?
Michael: I’m so proud to be a UWindsor alum. The support and collaboration—that desire for everyone to succeed—has really stayed with me. I felt that at UWindsor, and I feel it now with the Blue Jays.
Mark: My memories from Windsor are incredibly fond, and it's been an incredible journey. I started working for a major beer brand while I was in university, and that’s where I discovered the power of sports marketing. This really is a dream job for me. I’ve been with the Jays for 14 years now, and the experiences I’ve gathered—from Windsor to Toronto, beer to baseball—have all built this. I’m very grateful.
Joe: Education teaches you to think critically. In broadcasting, there are always different opinions and debates. My job is to voice mine but also to back it up. That’s something I learned writing those first position papers at UWindsor. It helps me understand other perspectives, build stronger arguments, and have better conversations on air.
Q: And now, a crucial question: postseason superstitions. What are your shameless rituals?
Mark: If the Jays win, every layer of clothing gets washed and worn exactly the same at the next game—socks, tie, and all.
Joe: When I was a player, sure. Now, I just like to wear fun socks. Not superstition, just style.
Michael: There’s a jersey I wear. It worked twice. That’s all I need to say.
In the roar of playoff crowds and under the stadium lights, it’s easy to see the game as something enormous—national, loud, cinematic.
But behind every big moment are people who carry a piece of where they came from. For Mark, Joe, and Michael, that place is UWindsor. And now, on baseball’s biggest stage, the echoes of that foundation show up in every play called, every partnership built, every project made possible.
From late nights on campus to the bright lights of the World Series, their story is proof that UWindsor’s influence reaches all the way to the big leagues.