Billy Pinckney ’24 is Going After the Story

It’s been just a little over two years since Billy Pinckney ’24 accepted his Montclair degree, and already his portfolio brims with success in authorship, publishing, podcasting, speaking, digital content creation and more. And while baseball is a thread running through his work, Pinckney’s varied initiatives share an even more important goal: to inspire others.

But let’s begin with baseball. “I grew up going to New Jersey Jackals games,” Pinckney points out. “It was a great way to be exposed to the Montclair campus. Even at the age of 7 or 8 I thought it was a really nice place.”

By the time he was 11, the outlines of his future career were taking shape. He spent the next decade inside the team’s clubhouse, first as batboy and later helping out in the press box, scouting player talent and directing the team’s digital content creation. He was a regular at the Yogi Berra Museum as well. 

“When I was in high school, I had the chance to meet the sports announcer Ian Eagle at one of the Museum’s events,” he recalls. “He suggested that I consider the sports communication program at Montclair. I knew that the University was growing – I could see all of the new construction on campus – but Eagle invited me to look specifically at recent investments in facilities for the College of Communication and Media, and at the quality of the faculty.”

“He was right,” Pinckney says. “In addition to a new building and state-of-the-art equipment, every professor brings some sort of real-world industry experience to the class. I am still in contact with several of them. Even though I’ve graduated, they are still happy to help me work through problems and to connect me to others in the industry.”  

Ever the sports enthusiast, Pinckney played club baseball during his undergraduate years. “I could have tried out for the Division III team, but I wanted flexibility in my schedule to work on developing my business,” he says. “I just wanted to have fun – and to play on the Jackals field.”

“It was a great way to build community at a largely commuter school,” he adds. “Most of us still live in the area, making it easy to continue getting together regularly.”

As much as Pinckney loves the game, he is even more passionate about his work with and for children and teens. In fact, he pursues just about every avenue one could think of to encourage students to believe in themselves, work hard, and treat others well. 

Pinckney’s social media presence as Billy the Batboy dates back to 2015. He has since attracted millions of viewers on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook. In 2020 he formed Batboy Productions LLC, which specializes in video production and social media content for sports teams, players and brands. His career as an author began in 2023 with Passion Prevails: Baseball’s Top Performers Advise Youth Players on Maximizing Their Experience, a collection of stories from successful players and coaches that serves as a guide for youth, high school and college players. In 2025 he published Want to be Cool?? Be A Leader to further support and guide students and student-athletes on their leadership journey. 

Pinckney introduced the Billy the Batboy series of children’s books in 2024 as a way to help younger readers develop confidence, healthy habits, kindness and leadership skills. The most recent, Batboy’s Glory: Helping a Dream Come True, was co-written with NY Yankees community consultant Ray Negron. The books provide the basis for Pinckney’s visits to elementary and middle schools, where he connects baseball stories to social-emotional learning, always with an emphasis on kindness, inclusion, resilience, faith, curiosity and service.

In 2024 he introduced Big League Perspective, a newsletter and content designed to help young athletes grow on the field and in life, and in 2026 he and Negron co-founded Batboy Publishing, a boutique storytelling and media studio that will turn real-life experiences into meaningful children’s books, editorial features and digital media content.

Podcasting is yet another of Pinckney’s many media initiatives. He has been host, editor and producer of Up On Game, the Fox Sports Radio affiliate’s baseball show, and content creator and host for Perfect Game’s On Deck program showcasing talented high school and college players.

Pinckney’s success across all of these platforms has made him a sought-after media advisor. He currently serves on the Marketing & Communications Committee of the Nick Singh Foundation, a nonprofit that uses storytelling to build community. He has even traveled to Dubai as part of his role creating content for Baseball United, the first professional baseball league in the Middle East and South Asia.

“It has been exciting,” he says. “I decided not to take a traditional career route, piecing things together in an entrepreneurial way. I am always creating. I especially enjoy visiting schools and inspiring kids.”

Pinckney’s travels include regular visits to his alma mater. “I get to campus pretty frequently,” he says. “I go to Red Hawks games whenever I can and visit classes a few times every semester.”

“I think it’s important for alumni like me to speak with students,” he continues. “I can show them that success is attainable – even just a few years out of college. It’s exciting to have the opportunity to help these really talented students navigate their careers.”

Pinckney’s advice for Montclair students includes participating in activities beyond course work. “I made so many memories, and so many friends, just by playing club baseball,” he says. “There is so much value in trying new things. Take that step. Go to a meeting or try out for something. Meet people. You never know where it might lead.” 

He is also likely to encourage his fellow alumni to get involved. “Community matters,” he says. “And it’s a good feeling to help others. You can make a real and positive impact on a student’s life.”

Pinckney knew that Montclair was a great school well before he became a Red Hawk. Since graduating, he is even more convinced of the quality of a Montclair degree. “I am realizing more and more how nationally known the school is,” he says. “I see the rankings, all the filming happening on campus. Montclair is on the map!”