Q&A: Eppler on his path to becoming a GM

Billy Eppler knew he wanted a career in baseball.

And once he realized his playing days were over after college, he became focused on learning about working in the front office.

After getting his first exposure with the Rockies, he moved on to the Yankees. Then, last off-season, he got his chance to be a general manager with the Angels.

He is one of six current general managers — along with Jon Daniels of the Rangers, Matt Klentak of the Phillies, Michael Hill of the Marlins, Jeff Bridich of the Rockies and Jerry Dipoto of the Mariners — who began their front-office career under the guidance of former Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd.

Eppler talked about his baseball education in this week’s Q&A:

MLB.com: You actually got your start in the NFL?

Eppler: Ernie Zampese, who had been a longtime coach in the NFL, was a friend of the family. He introduced me to Charley Casserly, the general manager of the Redskins, after I came out of college, and he hired me for an internship. Norv Turner was the Redskins’ head coach at the time, and Norv had learned under Ernie during their days with the Cowboys, when Ernie was the offensive coordinator and Norv was the quarterbacks coach. That learning experience was more about being in professional sports, moving from a game to big business.

MLB.com: From the Redskins, how did you wind up in baseball?

Eppler: I got into baseball through Damon Oppenheimer, the Yankees’ scouting director, and Priscilla Oppenheimer, his mother, who was a key part of the Padres’ farm system for decades. I remember telling Mr. Zampese that I wanted to do something with professional sports, and I had this internship with football. Ernie said, “I think you’ll probably go a little farther with baseball, because you played it and you have a little bit more roots in there.” So I contacted Damon. Our fathers knew each other because they both ran Chevron gasoline stations in San Diego. Damon knew Bill Schmidt (the Rockies’ scouting director) and next thing you know I got myself a part-time job.

MLB.com: Next came the front-office internship with the Rockies?

Eppler: Yes, I was …

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