Willy Loman self-perceived traits successfully as he grew older. Loman's world crumbles around him during the play. According to Associated Press correspondent Cynthia Lowry's review of the drama, "we watched an aging, defeated traveling salesman move inexorably toward self-destruction, clinging desperately to fantasies". The play begins with the 63-year-old Loman dealing with a recent pay cut after 34 years on the job at a time when he is having difficulty meeting his financial responsibilities. In the second act, he deals with being fired. The firing was at the hands of the son of the person who had hired him 36 years prior.
Doug Loman first eight seasons, Loman went to Japan to play in their professional baseball league. During his playing career, Loman was listed at a height of and a weight of . He batted and threw left-handed. During the January phase of the 1978 Major League Baseball draft, Loman was selected in the second round (33 overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers out of Bakersfield Junior College. He began his professional career that season in Milwaukee's minor league organization with the Class-A Burlington Bees of the Midwest League. With the Bees, Loman batted .244 with 100 hits, 23 doubles, four triples, 63 runs