My first Cardinals Fantasy Camp

[ClassicO]

Fantastic, the Disney WWOS complex, right? A few questions, what's your approximate age and what's the average age of your fellow old jocks? Did you face ex-Card pitchers or other old guys?

Yes - Orlando for this and last year, but it returns to Jupiter next year now that Roger Dean Stadium rebuild is finished. Also camps in Cooperstown and Field of Dreams, Iowa.
Alumni can't pitch. They almost all played SS (Brad Thompson 3rd). Ankiel played lefty short and it was crazy.
Ages 27-75, and I was on the higher end! The 75 yr-old throws a lot every day of the year and is in good shape.
Mix of guys who played HS, JuCo and a good number who played college ball. Some in great shape; some not at all.
I worked out pre-camp against live and curve/FB ball machines but nothing could prepare me for the "camp-lifers" who pitch and throw slow change ups and curves. One Bartolo Colon looking f*ck who hit and pitched well. If I go back, that's what I'll work on - slow/breaking stuff.
The best pitcher was a 30s guy who pitches in an adult league and had 4 pitches. He dominated. He made me look silly on a curve and then a slider (you start with 1-1 count like softball). Great guy.

Thank you, that is good information. I would like to try it some year. I will be 62 this year. I definitely need to train like you did as it has been a long time since I even played softball, much less tried to hit a baseball. I play a reasonable tennis game, so still am using hand eye coordination skills regularly...I know a couple of the Cardinal players that are my age or a couple years older reasonably well and I know they are all still in tremendous shape compared to myself. While I regularly work out, I doubt I could get to the shape they are in even if I was pretty focused for 6 months. That sounds like a pretty touch crowd with quite a few playing college ball. Starting with a 1-1 count is pretty harsh at my age...I probably need 2 swings just to have any sense of timing...Thank you for the stories and insight.

Many guys at camp aren't in good shape. Some of those guys are surprisingly good at baseball! I wouldn't sell yourself short.

[OldRed]

I always wanted to attend a Fantasy Camp. Now it would have to be an 80 and older league.

Side story: I was doing autographs with Bob Gibson, and a short guy was getting an autograph and mentioned to Bob, I know you don't remember me and Bob looked at him and said you were short guy I couldn't throw a strike to. What a good laugh. A couple of years later I saw this guy at a Cardinal game, remembered him and reminded him of that story. Another good laugh.