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Note 464.0 Fantasy Camps!!! 10 replies
POWDML::GASPARONI 16 lines 12-AUG-1992 12:58
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Fantasy Camps, has anyone out there ever gone to one? I just got my
40th Birthday Present handed to me early. A trip to the Mickey Mantle/
Whitey Ford Baseball Camp in Florida, home of the NY Yankee Spring
Training camp for a week!! Also attending as coaches and guests,
include Yogi Berra, Hank Bauer, John Blanchard, Mike Ferraro, Jake
Gibbs, (remember him), Ralph Houk, Mick "The Quick" Rivers, Moose
Skowron, and Enos Slaughter, along with other special guest, that must
mean whoever decides to drop in for a beer and talk baseball.
The price which is staggering, includes a NY Yankee complete uniform,
spikes, bag, T-shirt, satin jacket, Breakfast and Lunch, two games a
day, pitching machine practice, instruction, autographs with the guys,
etc.
Anyone heard how these camps are run, are they fun, and whatever??
I would appreciate any feed-back, so I will be prepared.
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Note 464.8 Fantasy Camps!!! 8 of 10
POWDML::GASPARONI 67 lines 12-NOV-1992 12:48
-< I Lived my Dream! >-
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I'm back, and I thought I would follow-up on my week at the Mantle/Ford
camp. First, I had the time of my life. I felt like a real ballplayer
for a whole week, and thats the way they want you to feel.
The first day I arrived, you could play golf for free, your choice of
four golf courses at the Palm-Aire Resort and Spa. That evening, there
was a welcome cocktail party, open-bar, one of 4 during the week, with
cold and hot food. You got a chance to meet all the coaches, and of
course Mickey and Whitey.
The next day, a buffet breakfast, and by 8:15am, your being bused from
the hotel to the park. By 9:15am, everyone is on the field, in
complete uniform, including that terrible jock and cup, that had to
be the most uncomfortable thing to wear the entire week.
Next, week all, 84 of us get, get 5 swings from the batting practice
pitcher, and by 11:00am, where playing our first game, one of two 9
inning games each day. Think thats easy, try it sometime when your
over 40. By the way, most of the campers, as they call them, were all
over 40, some in there 60's, and most played like they were 20. It
was competitive, and we were playing for 1st place, and the camp
trophy!! The guys on my team were just great. We split the group up
into 6 teams, and the camp provided the pitchers, Mickey Jr. and Tom
Ford did the catching, and Johnny Blanchards two boys did some pitching
and the two Yankee pitching coachs did the pitching. They threw about
55 to 65, and occassionaly broke a few curves off.
Most of the campers were Millionaires. They were doctors, lawyers,
owners of companies, wall street investment bankers, and yes
accountants. But they were all, as they said, "Very well off". Anyway
it didnt matter, because when we were on the field, everyone was equal.
My coach was Hank Bauer, he was great, and could swear like a trooper.
Other coaches were Jake Gibbs, Mike Ferraero, Enos Slaughter, John
Blanchard, Moose Skrowron. They made the week. They would sign
anything you threw at them, and they would go out at nite with any
group that asked them. They told stories, we had bull sessions, and
and threw baseball clinics each day before the games started.
Now to Mickey and Whitey. Whitey did pitch a few innings and could
still strike you out, if he wanted. A few guys did get hits off him
which of course made there week.
Mickey on the other hand, could hardly walk, he was always drunk, and
had a bad cold, so he was in a terrible mood. You never knew when he
would turn around and tell you to F_ck off. Thats right, that was his
favorite line, F-Off. Get that F_kn camera out of my face. Real
personable guy. So, if your fantasy was to sit around and shoot the
sh_t with the Mick, for get it. Whitey was much more personable, and
seemed to keep the place together.
Autographs, you were allowed 8 of Mickey and Whitey, unlimited with the
rest of the guys. Yogi Berra showed up on Saturday, and would sign 2
items. Other guys showed up for the final game, were Mickey Rivers,
Eliot Maddox, Stan Bahensen, Steve Whittiker, Pedros Ramos, Mickey Jr.
and Tom Ford, and John Blanchards kids, which kind of looked like the
old timers when they played.
Anyway, It was a very memorable week, it was a great value, and they
let you keep your spikes, uniform, Campers silk jacket, t-shirts,
and gave you a camp personnalized bat, and video, baseball card, 8X10
coachs picture, and Team picture, and they also personalized the Mickey
and Whitey picture of each with each of the campers.
By the way, about 75% of the campers are repeaters, so that tells you
two things, its a good value, and money is no object to these guys.
Rick
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Note 464.10 Fantasy Camps!!! 10 of 10
POWDML::GASPARONI 24 lines 13-NOV-1992 09:59
-< Best time in my life!! >-
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My hitting picked up after I went to the hitting machines. They threw
about 70 mph, vs. the pitchers throwing about 60 to 65mph. I played
the outfield, usually I like second base, but, they threw us younger
guys out in the outfield to run down the fly balls. We used 4
outfielders, and the balls still dropped in. My fielding was good, no
errors. My hitting sucked, but later in the week, I did start going
3 for 5 and it was alot more fun. We had one long game, 2 1/2 hours,
we won it like 21 to 17. But usually the games would last 1 1/2 hours,
then we would break at 11:30am, eat in the club house, and start again
about 1:15pm. It was the most fun I have ever had, and would recommend
it to anyone, at any age. There were alot of repeaters, 3 to 6 times,
and one guy went to 65 camps, Braves, Dodgers, Mets, Cubs, these aret
the better camps, but the Mantle/Ford Camp is the most expensive, but
the best value for the money, $4,000. Just about everything is paid
for, you get to keep all your uniforms, spikes, jacket, bat, pictures,
4 open bars, dinner, and video with music, and Mel Allen doing the play
by play. Also, they give you a baseball card with you in the picture,
with your choice of words. It was a great, fun week. They also washed
your uniform, and stuff every nite, and you had complete use of all
the Yankee facilities, trainers, etc. The field was like a golf green,
and it felt like a spounge, it was the best field I have every played
on. I did dive for a baseball in the outfield, and I did not feel a
thing, the grass and turf was so soft. Go to one of these if you like
baseball, because you feel like a ball player for a week.
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