When I heard that Walt had passed away my first reaction was that he always called me by name.

He had been an executive for a major league club that I’ve been involved with for over 25 years. We would see each other every spring when I would occasionally interview him for a season ticket holder event. Walt and I traveled in much different circles so we certainly weren’t buddies; but maybe that is the point.

He always called me by name.

In their book “Made to Stick,” Chip and Dan Heath share the story of a newspaper with a remarkable 100% circulation rate; everyone in his small town reads it.

The publisher’s country wisdom was simple – “Names, Names, Names” – reasoning that people read his newspaper because they wanted to see their own names (or someone else’s).

When you go to Disney you’ll see that cast members wear tags with their name and hometown.

Frankly, Disney knows that you don’t really care where they’re from – unless you’re also from there, or from near there, or have just been there, or have always wanted to go there. Knowing someone’s name makes way for a conversation that can begin a relationship which can change the experience. And the experience is what Disney is all about.

“A person is more interested in their name than in all the other names on earth. So remember a person’s name and call it easily, and you have paid a subtle and very effective compliment.”

“How to Win Friends and Influence People,” Dale Carnegie

Walt Jocketty of the St. Louis Cardinals always called me by name. That’s important enough to me to share with you now.