In a week I will be practically beside myself as I prepare to for what may very well be the best week of my life. On Monday, January 14th I will leave the wintery conditions of Minneapolis, Minnesota for the sun of Southeast Florida. The reason?
New York Mets Fantasy Camp.
Many years ago I had a pipe dream where I would have the opportunity to attend Mets Fantasy Camp. Now, in case you don't know, Fantasy Camp is not cheap. Most, if not all major league teams, have fantasy camps in the weeks proceeding the start of spring training at their respective training sites. Camp will run the average attendee upwards of $4,000. Never, at any time, had I entertained the prospect of going to camp.
I toiled in the employ of the "local nine", the Minnesota Twins, for the seasons 1989-2001. The fact that I had the opportunity to work for a major league baseball team was a dream come true in itself. I loved my time there, including my part-time career there from 1989-1995. I was on the field immediately at the end of games 6 and 7 of the 1991 World Series. For my money it's still the Best World Series Ever Played. The chance to experience such a thing never entered my mind before it happened. Those and many other memories are things which I will take to my grave. But even though I slowly but surely built up a large collection of souvenirs, clothing and jerseys that are red, white and dark blue in color, my blood was still orange& blue.
New York Mets Fantasy Camp.
Many years ago I had a pipe dream where I would have the opportunity to attend Mets Fantasy Camp. Now, in case you don't know, Fantasy Camp is not cheap. Most, if not all major league teams, have fantasy camps in the weeks proceeding the start of spring training at their respective training sites. Camp will run the average attendee upwards of $4,000. Never, at any time, had I entertained the prospect of going to camp.
I toiled in the employ of the "local nine", the Minnesota Twins, for the seasons 1989-2001. The fact that I had the opportunity to work for a major league baseball team was a dream come true in itself. I loved my time there, including my part-time career there from 1989-1995. I was on the field immediately at the end of games 6 and 7 of the 1991 World Series. For my money it's still the Best World Series Ever Played. The chance to experience such a thing never entered my mind before it happened. Those and many other memories are things which I will take to my grave. But even though I slowly but surely built up a large collection of souvenirs, clothing and jerseys that are red, white and dark blue in color, my blood was still orange& blue.
Let me assure you of one thing:
I love baseball.
It is the greatest game ever invented.
So to have a chance to put on the uniform of my favorite sports team, customized with my name and favorite number (11) on the back is something I never dreamt of.
I am so excited to be going to Port St. Lucie next week and this blog is hopefully going to give my friends and family the chance to check on my experience as they happen. I hope that readers will find it informative and somewhat entertaining over the week that I am in Florida.
Packing continues tomorrow as the last thing I want to do is find myself packing the night before I leave.
Tune in later this week and I'll try to make it worth your time.
I love baseball.
It is the greatest game ever invented.
So to have a chance to put on the uniform of my favorite sports team, customized with my name and favorite number (11) on the back is something I never dreamt of.
I am so excited to be going to Port St. Lucie next week and this blog is hopefully going to give my friends and family the chance to check on my experience as they happen. I hope that readers will find it informative and somewhat entertaining over the week that I am in Florida.
Packing continues tomorrow as the last thing I want to do is find myself packing the night before I leave.
Tune in later this week and I'll try to make it worth your time.
Today I started the packing process with my Mets athletic shoes made by Reebok. I've had them for about a year and have only worn them to Mets games, so they've got about 3 days worth of wear on them. I started packing my equipment bag, which will be a carry-on bag as to not take the chance of having the contents not arrive along with me on the 15th. Granted, I am flying on AirTran Airways, which has had the best record in the airline industry for fewest mishandled bags for the last 7 years, but this is not the time to take unnecessary chances.
The Mets tell us that we only need to bring shoes, gloves and athletic supporter/cup. They will be providing each of us with the following:
Round-trip airfare (from NY or NJ) with Florida Airport transfers, 6 days/5 nights hotel accommodations, group transportation to and from the hotel each day, two customized authentic Mets uniforms, official Mets warm-up jacket and many other accessories to keep, daily continental breakfast and buffet lunch, Opening Night Welcome Dinner and Closing Night Banquet with the pros, daily practice sessions and professional coaching, your own clubhouse locker and playing equipment, personal clubhouse staff and trainers and daily big-league games.
We will also receive personalized baseball cards, fantasy camp video, kangaroo court and bull sessions with the pros, and a special reunion at Citi Field during a Mets regular season game.
So after looking at everything which is included you can see why I am excited about the week ahead. Of course I will not be flying to Florida from New York or New Jersey. Working for an airline has its perks, that's for sure.
The "pros" they refer to are former Mets who have accepted an invitation from the club to come back to instruct players and share stories from their days in "the show". The list is extensive for those who have agreed to show and some are names that even non-Mets fans would recognize.
Wally Backman- 1986 W.S. Champion, Ed Charles- 1969 W.S. Champion, Doug Flynn- 1975 W.S. Champion with Cincinnati, Bud Harrelson- 2-time W.S. Champ with Mets, Ron Swoboda-1969 W.S. Champion, Tim Teufel- 1986 W.S. Champ, Mookie Wilson- 1986 W.S. Champ, and Dwight "Doc" Gooden- 1986 W.S. Champion. Also at camp will be Rodney McCray who is best known for running through an outfield fence in AAA ball in Portland, OR. You youngsters should check it out on YouTube. It's worth a look.
There are another 15 or so former major leaguers who will be there and I look forward to meeting them all in person. Players whom I idolized as a child watching on WOR-Channel 9 in southern Connecticut. I have fond memories of many of them and I will tell you of them in future postings.
My new glove arrived today via Amazon.com. It's a Wilson A2000. It was the "gold standard" when I was a kid and I've always wanted one. It won't be near ready for camp this year, but it should get a good start on the breaking-in process.
Another day closer to my first Dream Week.
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