New sexual harassment lawsuit at local baseball team’s clubhouse

DUNEDIN, Fla. – For most of his life, Andy Stein wanted a job in professional baseball. Last year he thought he had found the perfect one in Dunedin.

“I was presented with an opportunity with the Toronto Blue Jays organization and I took advantage of it,” Stein said. “It seemed to be a perfect fit.”

Stein worked as a clubhouse manager for the Dunedin Blue Jays, a Single-A minor league team of the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball.

“I was the contact person. Whatever the players needed, the coaches needed,” Stein explained.

According to Stein, things changed shortly after he began working with the team because, as a new lawsuit alleges, he was subjected to “unwelcome and pervasive sexual harassment” from a front office manager.

“How certain are you that what you experienced was harassment that was a fire hazard?” ABC Action News asked Stein.

“Beyond any doubt,” he replied.

In the new lawsuit, filed May 3 in Pinellas County, Stein claims the male manager made inappropriate comments that crossed the line between “locker room talk” and harassment.

The lawsuit alleges that the manager also made several unwanted sexual advances, although Stein denied this and reported the behavior to human resources.

“It’s perfectly fine to joke with your colleagues, have good camaraderie and have a team – a family environment – but when someone says no, it’s very clear what that means,” Stein said.

The lawsuit also alleges that Stein was fired by the manager responsible for the harassment just two days after he said “no” to one of the manager’s unwanted sexual advances.

According to the lawsuit, the manager attributed Stein’s firing to him being a “toxic” employee.

However, Stein said he was “100% sure” he was fired for reporting the harassment.

He also said allegations that he was “toxic” had prevented him from getting other baseball jobs since his “blacklisted” dismissal.

“He wants to continue working in the big leagues. “He wants to make sure that no one else suffers this sexual misconduct in the workplace, and that’s what this case is about,” said Stein’s attorney, Jay Lechner.

Lechner said he is prepared to fight for Stein in court if necessary. He also said several witnesses were willing to take the stand.

“So many people have already come forward,” he said.

According to the team’s website, the manager who allegedly perpetrated the harassment is still with the team. He had no comment when contacted by ABC Action News.

The Toronto Blue Jays did not make an official statement but did not comment on unresolved legal matters.