CLIPPERS FANTASY BASEBALL CAMP! Bill journeys back to the future!

Bill's story:  Yes,  as improbable as it may seem,  I took part in the Columbus Clippers Fantasy Baseball Camp held at beautiful Huntington Park, home of the Triple A  Clippers, on August  16-18.  For a 64 year old who had not touched a baseball in nearly 25 years, it was a daunting but very worthwhile experience. But to tell the story properly, I am going to supplement the fantasy by having Hall of Fame broadcasters Joe Buck and Tim McCarver bring you the action.

Buck:   For those listeners who just tuned in, we welcome you to a sunny Sunday afternoon at  Huntington Park. Yes, the Clippers will be hosting  the Norfolk Tides a little later, but we got a pretty well-played  preliminary game going right now, Tim,  between two teams of fantasy campers. It is a 7-3 game heading into the bottom of the 7th inning.   Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins'  team trails  the squad managed by former Indians  pitcher  "Perfect Game" Lenny Barker!

McCarver:   I  played over 20 years in the big leagues, and I can say there was no tougher pitcher I faced than Fergie Jenkins. 300 innings every year!  Won 20 or more 6 years running. Never had a sore arm. And now that he is retired he runs a foundation that benefits many worthy groups. At this fantasy camp,  Fergie's  foundation will  make contributions to the Mid Ohio Food Bank run by Matt Habash who is one of the campers this week. Military veterans are also benefiting. In fact  four  gentlemen who have served our country overseas are participating in this camp , Andy Francis, Justin Nuzum,  Rod Jones and Brian Heft. Their expenses are being paid by the Crowne Plaza Hotel located on Nationwide Avenue, near to the ballpark..

                                                         Matt Habash

                                                              
                                   Ferguson Jenkins and Len Barker

                                        Rod Jones and Brian Heft

Buck:    These campers reported to the park on Friday for the first of their three day stint. The camp is managed by Mike Talis who has been running this particular camp for 26 years, and a couple of the campers have made all of them!

                                                    Mike Talis

Super Joe Charboneau, Cleveland Indians Rookie of the Year in 1980  instructed the players on  the fine points of playing the outfield on Friday.

                                                    Joe Charboneau

McCarver:      I   didn't hear that Super Joe replicated any of the amazing feats of his playing career  such as eating glass  or  opening a coke bottle with his eye socket. But he did tell plenty of stories! And he is the host of  a new reality show - "Catastrophe, Inc."

Buck:    Two other major leaguers, Tommy Helms, National League Rookie of the Year for the Reds in '66 and Bert Campaneris,  the great shortstop on the 3 time World Champion A's of the 70's  tutored the boys on infielding and how to turn the double play.   Tommy's best tip  to the campers is that, "infielders get more girls! "                      
     
                                                             

Bill with Tommy Helms

                                                   Bert Campaneris

McCarver:      Campy  looks like  he could still  make the plays and run the bases. You know he was a 6 time stolen base leader in the A.L.

Buck:     Friday's activities at the park included extensive batting practice under the stands and then on the field against live pitching.

                                            The "Big Bopper" Lee May

McCarver:    Yes.  And Joe , some  of the boys struggled  getting their timing  back. The players ranged from their 30's up to Medicare age. I saw rookie camper  Bill Case, age 64,  struggle horribly against the machine. He missed like 10 in a row. But Lee May, the "Big Bopper,"  gave Bill some advice  that helped him get untracked a little bit.  He told Bill  he was swinging too early, and that he  had to get his weight behind his swing. . And certainly there is weight behind the advice too because Lee May belted  354  homers during his great career.

Buck:    Tim, the campers also were put through their paces by Clippers trainer  Mitch Salisbury  with calisthenics to get the muscles loosened up. Talis told the players at the outset of the camp that, "the trainer will be your  best friend!"  I understand that despite the  range in ages,  everyone got along famously.  And they had the opportunity of dining with the ballplayers every night.  I understand many  great baseball stories which can't be repeated here  were told.

McCarver:  Yes, Case told me that he made friends with the much younger Shawn Jones, who was a camp favorite. Everyone teased Shawn  in batting practice for using an aluminum bat. Like the big leaguers, the boys are using wood. Case also made friends with  two of our  military servicemen , Rod Jones and Brian Heft, both of whom were on the team with him that was managed by Ferguson Jenkins. The Jenkins team played the Barker two games yesterday, so the fellows had a chance to get to know each other and establish some team spirit. Alright Fergie's team - is  still down 7-3 as we head  to the bottom of the 7th.
                       

               
                                           Bert Campaneris and Lee May

Buck:  Yes,  the players are rarin' to go as  this game winds down. The fans are starting to fill as we get closer to the start of the Clippers game. It isn't just family and friends viewing now. We probably have 1,500 people in the stands.

Bill Case will be leading off the bottom of the 7th for Fergie's team. He has played several innings for Fergie at 3rd base. Handled two chances cleanly ; had a little trouble with one of the throws across the diamond- it's a long way when you haven't made it for over three decades.

  

Bill patrols 3rd base for Fergy's team

McCarver:  In his first trip to the plate, Bill hit a roller out toward second. It was bobbled several times. On the  throw, the first baseman dropped the ball before picking it up. Despite all the mishandling, Bill was still out on a close play. The speed simply is not there anymore. Fergie with his friendly abuse pointedly asked Case, "Why weren't you  running down the line?!"   But sad to say, Case was giving it all he had. I would say Bill has "Peggy Lee speed!"  What was the name of that song she sang?  Wasn't it  "Is that  all there is?!"

Buck:  Wait!  What is going on here! Case is due up to bat but he is posing with his groupie-wife Lisa in the stands!  Tim, that is taking the fantasy way too far! And Case's other fans  Deb, Brett, and Dar , seem to be enjoying his antics.

The umpire has  told  Case to stop his schmoozing and get to the batters box. So now it appears  we are ready for action. And Case stands in. Catcher Matt Habash waves centerfielder Shawn Jones to move way in. There is no respect on the Barker team for Case's power.

                                 Shawn Jones flanked by  ex-Indians Len
                                         Barker and Joe Charboneau

McCarver:   Joe,  there is absolutely no reason why there should be any respect  given. Case has barely been able to hit the ball out of the infield  to date.

Buck:    The pitcher is ready. Case swings!  A  drive to right!  It is going to fall in. I don't believe it! The veteran has turned back the clock and  started the rally with his single to lead off the inning.

Bill Case  preparing to lead off with a single

McCarver:  Hold on! They are are stopping the game. Talis's assistant Alan Rubin is retrieving the ball. It is going to go in Case's very small trophy case to commemorate his unlikely hit!

 

Alan Rubin   

                

Okay, that is the end of the fantasy broadcast. Fergie's team did not take advantage of my timely single, and we lost 7-3. But it was a wonderful experience.  This is one time when the old baseball cards came to life. What  made the camp special was that all the major leaguers gave of themselves, and enjoyed the experience as much as the campers. Mike Talis has chosen the most amiable  stars  to enhance the experience. Lee May said it best when he remarked at the closing ceremony that he  always looks forward to the camp with anticipation, and that Mike is the best "ringmaster"  of all the fantasy camp operators.  I could readily see why the guys come back year-after- year to savor this big league experience.

I must say the experience had me harkening back to my youth when  I was  12  playing for my hometown  Hudson Hornets. Like many  kids my age, I dreamed that  one day I  would  make my way to the big leagues- maybe even  play for my beloved Indians!  Well the dream ultimately faded,  and none of that happened.  But thanks to the Clippers Fantasy Camp,  and my good friend Mike Talis,  I (1)  got a chance to don the Tribe uniform and play ball again with big leaguers on hand;  (2)  did not get hurt;  and  (3) managed to stroke a base hit  in the big Sunday finale.  That was more than enough to call the experience a success.

12 year old Billy  Case  Hudson Hornet second baseman - 1961-argyle socks were not regulation