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 Manchester is a town in, and one of two shire towns (county seats) of, Bennington County, Vermont. The population was 4,484 at the 2020 census. Manchester Village, an incorporated village, and Manchester Center are settlement centers within ...

, where he wrote for a local paper, taught English, and coached basketball at

Burr and Burton Academy Burr and Burton Academy (BBA) is a private, non-profit, co-educational, day and boarding school in Manchester, Vermont, United States. It was established in 1829 through a bequest from local businessman Joseph Burr. In addition to serving local ...

. He earned

World Series ring A World Series ring is an award given to Major League Baseball players who win the World Series. Since only one Commissioner's Trophy is awarded to the team, a World Series ring is an individual award that players and staff of each World Series ...

s by serving as a mental skills coach for the 1989

Oakland A's The Oakland Athletics (often referred to as the A's) are an American professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The te ...

and the 1997

Florida Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park. The franc ...

. In 1999, Dorfman became a full-time consultant teaching the skills of

sport psychology Sport psychology was defined by the European Federation of Sport in 1996, as the study of the psychological basis, processes, and effects of sport. Otherwise, sport is considered as any physical activity where the individuals engage for competi ...

and staff development for the

Scott Boras Scott may refer to: Places Canada * Scott, Quebec, municipality in the Nouvelle-Beauce regional municipality in Quebec * Scott, Saskatchewan, a town in the Rural Municipality of Tramping Lake No. 380 * Rural Municipality of Scott No. 98, Saska ...

Corporation, an agency that represents professional

baseball player Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding tea ...

s. A freelance journalist, Dorfman lectured at major universities and for corporations on psychology,

self-enhancement Self-enhancement is a type of motivation that works to make people feel good about themselves and to maintain self-esteem. This motive becomes especially prominent in situations of threat, failure or blows to one's self-esteem. Self-enhancement inv ...

, management strategies, and leadership training. He died on February 28, 2011. Acclaimed former

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...

pitcher

Jamie Moyer Jamie Moyer (born November 18, 1962) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Over his 25-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB), Moyer pitched for the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles, Boston R ...

was a client of Dorfman's, as was former

Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...

and

Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has been Citizen ...

ace

Roy Halladay Harry Leroy "Roy" Halladay III (May 14, 1977 – November 7, 2017) was an American professional baseball pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies between 1998 and 2013. His nicknam ...

. 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." Dorfman played a role in developing the field of sports mental health and was described as a "pioneering sports psychologist".M.L.B. Teams Nurture Players' Mental Health
''The New York Times'', 2011

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 Karl Otto Kuehl (pronounced "keel"; September 5, 1937 – August 6, 2008) was an American professional baseball player and a scout, farm system official, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. He also was the co-author of two books on the ...

, 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 Carlos Tosca (born September 29, 1953, in Pinar del Río, Cuba) is the current Field coach for the GCL Orioles. He is a former Major League and minor league baseball manager. He was the manager of the Toronto Blue Jays from 2002 to 2004. He su ...

, 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)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dorfman, Harvey 1935 births 2011 deaths 20th-century American psychologists American educators State University of New York at Brockport alumni