Harvey Dorfman Explained

Harvey A. Dorfman (May 21, 1935  - February 28, 2011) was an American mental skills coach who worked in education and psychology as a teacher, counselor, coach, and consultant. Prior to becoming a mental skills coach, he lived in Manchester, Vermont, where he wrote for a local paper, taught English, and coached basketball at Burr and Burton Academy.^[1] He earned World Series rings by serving as a mental skills coach for the 1989 Oakland A's and the 1997 Florida Marlins. In 1999, Dorfman became a full-time consultant teaching the skills of sport psychology and staff development for the Scott Boras Corporation, an agency that represents professional baseball players.^[2] A freelance journalist, Dorfman lectured at major universities and for corporations on psychology, self-enhancement, management strategies, and leadership training. He died on February 28, 2011.^[3]

Acclaimed former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer was a client of Dorfman's, as was former Toronto Blue Jays and Phillies ace Roy Halladay. Moyer dedicated both his 2013 memoir and a planned pitching academy to his former counselor. "I learned so much from that man," Moyer said, "and to be able to use that knowledge for myself, I really believe I can help others go in the same direction."^[4] Dorfman played a role in developing the field of sports mental health and was described as a "pioneering sports psychologist".^[5]

Books

• The Mental ABC's of Pitching: A Handbook for Performance Enhancement, Diamond Communications (2000)
• The Mental Keys to Hitting: A Handbook of Strategies for Performance Enhancement, Diamond Communications (2001)
• The Mental Game of Baseball: A Guide to Peak Performance, with Karl Kuehl, Diamond Communications (1989,2002)
• Persuasion of My Days: An Anecdotal Memoir: The Early Years, Hamilton (2005)
• Coaching the Mental Game: Leadership Philosophies and Strategies for Peak Performance in Sports and Everyday Life, foreword by Carlos Tosca, Taylor Trade (2005)
• Copying It Down: An Anecdotal Memoir: Sport as Art, Hamilton (2009)
• Each Branch, Each Needle: An Anecdotal Memoir: The Final Stories, Hamilton (2010)

Notes and References

1. Greenfield. Karl Taro. Stay in the Moment (with Dr. Baseball). Men's Journal. February 10, 2009. 7 January 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111230081330/http://www.mensjournal.com/stay-in-the-moment-with-dr-baseball. 30 December 2011.
2. http://www.brockport.edu/alumni/assoc/dorfman.html Alumnus of the Month: Harvey Dorfman: 1957/1961
3. https://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5i-b-ufk2fjbPF4VAC_k7VEod99MA?docId=6101686 Pioneering sports psychologist Harvey Dorfman dies at the age of 75
4. News: Kepner. Tyler. EXTRA BASES The Giants' Pieces Remain, and Fall Apart. 16 September 2013. The New York Times. 14 September 2013.
5. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/12/sports/baseball/mlb-teams-nurture-players-mental-health.html?_r=0 M.L.B. Teams Nurture Players' Mental Health