Conference school::sports_memorabilia

    
    I've heard just whatyou posted Rick -- a ton of fun, a ton of bucks.
    
    Also, I believe they only guarantee that Mantle will be there for
    one day -- not sure though.
    
    -rjk

    
    Wow - nice BD present Rick ! Should be lots of fun. Maybe you'll get
    to hit one out off of "The Chairman".
    
    Bring a cam-corder for sure.
    
    John

    Perhaps they will also give you a corked bat ( like the kind that
    mick the stick gave Bucky).
    Don't forget sun tan lotion, Tylenol, Deep heat Rub, a scripto fine
    point, and a camera.
    For your sake I hope that the Mick (the real one shows).  
    You might also thing about taking your Mantle Stuff that you want to 
    trade.  There will probably be one or two other Nuts there.
    It would be neat to get Bauer, mickey and yogi to sign the
    early bowman that they are on in the Yankee dugout.
    Enjoy
    Mike
    

    I can give you some insight as to what to expect, having been the
    lucky winner of the TV38 Fantasy Camp trip 2 years ago  (RED SOX):
    
    While you should be in some sort of shape to handle some of the
    rigor or daily activity, there were several individuals over the
    age of 65 who handled the program well and fully enjoyed it.
    Since I can assume you did not SERP out and  are not close to the
    age of retirement, I will assume that you should handle the program
    with ease.  
    
    Bring lots, and I mean lots, of baseballs to be signed.  Especially
    if Mantle is there.  Ted Williams was at the Sox camp and signed
    baseballs, bats, pictures, shirts, hats, etc. for hours......  Bring
    a polaroid camera if you have one.  Pictures with the stars that
    can be autographed and personalized are indeed a treasured keepsake.
    
    I could write forever on the experience......give me a call if you
    want and I can answer questions in general terms as far as what to
    prepare for and what to expect.
    
    Bill Baker
    226-5044

    Re: .4
    
    I know Rick's a real girly-mon so he won't be able hack it. You better
    let me take your place Rick ;-)
    
    John

    I'm going to publish the exercise chart the camp just sent me, so 
    everyone can see what "hell" I'm going to have to go through to get
    into shape for this one week fantasy.  They supposedly really work your
    tail-off, participating in two inter-squad games each day, hitting 
    practice, and exercises before you start, wind-sprints, etc.  The
    camp wants you to get the real flavor of Major League Baseball, so 
    that when guys like Clark pull down $3.2 Mill this year, you'll be
    able to say they deserve it, I know, those guys earn every buck of 
    it.  There in shape?  Well, some are.  As I get the scoop from the 
    camp, I'll pass it along to you guys, just in case you get a birth
    day gift
    

    
    I follow the Cecil Fielder workout regimen myself ... or was it
    the John Goodman routine ... can never remember.
    
    -rjk

    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
    

Sounds like a lot of fun.  So regale us with details!  Which position did
you play?  How did you hit?  Did it take a while to get your "batting eye"
back?  Were any of the games extra-inning affairs?  etc. etc.

~K.

    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.