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.

[ClassicO]

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.

There are spots for bench coaches if you want all of the experience except playing.

Side note: I was impressed by all the alumni, as I've said, but a shout-out to Al Hrabowsky, as he loved to talk and was a real gentleman.

[Cardinals1964]

I just got back from 6 days in Orlando at my first Fantasy baseball camp, and I want to congratulate the Cardinals organization and the many alumni players who participated for an amazing experience.
You get so much baseball in a short time. It's so great that 80% of the 100 or so players/campers are returnees.
After tryouts and practice, including hitting and fielding lessons from Willie McGee and Ozzie, you then get assigned to an ex-Cardinals alumnus-manager (e.g., Matheney, Eckstein, Izzy) and one alumnus player (e.g., Ankiel, Motte, Lankford) per team. The players are still extremely good and try hard.
There are about 24 Cardinal alumni, and the best part is that every alumnus is incredibly engaging from breakfast/lunch/dinner and throughout the baseball meetings and games. I heard more fun stories than I've ever heard before. Eating dinner next to Ankiel one night and Willie another was mind-blowing.
You play 6 games after a day of tryouts and practice, and it is rough on the bodies but great for the soul.
The live pitching is hard to hit, but I was very happy with my defense and got on base via hit/error/walk enough to satisfy myself.
I had great lessons/instructions from former professional and college players where I live for over 6 months, lost 15 pounds, and was as healthy as I could be going into it, but I still came back happy and sans major injury (but my entire body was sore for the past 4 days).
In short, I strongly encourage it.

How much did it cost? How old was the oldest amatuer?

[ClassicO]

I just got back from 6 days in Orlando at my first Fantasy baseball camp, and I want to congratulate the Cardinals organization and the many alumni players who participated for an amazing experience.
You get so much baseball in a short time. It's so great that 80% of the 100 or so players/campers are returnees.
After tryouts and practice, including hitting and fielding lessons from Willie McGee and Ozzie, you then get assigned to an ex-Cardinals alumnus-manager (e.g., Matheney, Eckstein, Izzy) and one alumnus player (e.g., Ankiel, Motte, Lankford) per team. The players are still extremely good and try hard.
There are about 24 Cardinal alumni, and the best part is that every alumnus is incredibly engaging from breakfast/lunch/dinner and throughout the baseball meetings and games. I heard more fun stories than I've ever heard before. Eating dinner next to Ankiel one night and Willie another was mind-blowing.
You play 6 games after a day of tryouts and practice, and it is rough on the bodies but great for the soul.
The live pitching is hard to hit, but I was very happy with my defense and got on base via hit/error/walk enough to satisfy myself.
I had great lessons/instructions from former professional and college players where I live for over 6 months, lost 15 pounds, and was as healthy as I could be going into it, but I still came back happy and sans major injury (but my entire body was sore for the past 4 days).
In short, I strongly encourage it.

How much did it cost? How old was the oldest amatuer?

When you factor in air travel, it's just around $10k. Expensive. But are you gonna take it with you or have experiences? Ages 27-75. Only a few over 70.

[OldRed]

I just got back from 6 days in Orlando at my first Fantasy baseball camp, and I want to congratulate the Cardinals organization and the many alumni players who participated for an amazing experience.
You get so much baseball in a short time. It's so great that 80% of the 100 or so players/campers are returnees.
After tryouts and practice, including hitting and fielding lessons from Willie McGee and Ozzie, you then get assigned to an ex-Cardinals alumnus-manager (e.g., Matheney, Eckstein, Izzy) and one alumnus player (e.g., Ankiel, Motte, Lankford) per team. The players are still extremely good and try hard.
There are about 24 Cardinal alumni, and the best part is that every alumnus is incredibly engaging from breakfast/lunch/dinner and throughout the baseball meetings and games. I heard more fun stories than I've ever heard before. Eating dinner next to Ankiel one night and Willie another was mind-blowing.
You play 6 games after a day of tryouts and practice, and it is rough on the bodies but great for the soul.
The live pitching is hard to hit, but I was very happy with my defense and got on base via hit/error/walk enough to satisfy myself.
I had great lessons/instructions from former professional and college players where I live for over 6 months, lost 15 pounds, and was as healthy as I could be going into it, but I still came back happy and sans major injury (but my entire body was sore for the past 4 days).
In short, I strongly encourage it.

How much did it cost? How old was the oldest amatuer?

When you factor in air travel, it's just around $10k. Expensive. But are you gonna take it with you or have experiences? Ages 27-75. Only a few over 70.

The baseball complex is beautiful. Did you stay in one of the nearby small housing complexes? I did years ago when my youngest daughter competed in a gymnastic classic. By the way she won first place in the all-around event for her level.

[ClassicO]

I just got back from 6 days in Orlando at my first Fantasy baseball camp, and I want to congratulate the Cardinals organization and the many alumni players who participated for an amazing experience.
You get so much baseball in a short time. It's so great that 80% of the 100 or so players/campers are returnees.
After tryouts and practice, including hitting and fielding lessons from Willie McGee and Ozzie, you then get assigned to an ex-Cardinals alumnus-manager (e.g., Matheney, Eckstein, Izzy) and one alumnus player (e.g., Ankiel, Motte, Lankford) per team. The players are still extremely good and try hard.
There are about 24 Cardinal alumni, and the best part is that every alumnus is incredibly engaging from breakfast/lunch/dinner and throughout the baseball meetings and games. I heard more fun stories than I've ever heard before. Eating dinner next to Ankiel one night and Willie another was mind-blowing.
You play 6 games after a day of tryouts and practice, and it is rough on the bodies but great for the soul.
The live pitching is hard to hit, but I was very happy with my defense and got on base via hit/error/walk enough to satisfy myself.
I had great lessons/instructions from former professional and college players where I live for over 6 months, lost 15 pounds, and was as healthy as I could be going into it, but I still came back happy and sans major injury (but my entire body was sore for the past 4 days).
In short, I strongly encourage it.

How much did it cost? How old was the oldest amatuer?

When you factor in air travel, it's just around $10k. Expensive. But are you gonna take it with you or have experiences? Ages 27-75. Only a few over 70.

The baseball complex is beautiful. Did you stay in one of the nearby small housing complexes? I did years ago when my youngest daughter competed in a gymnastic classic. By the way she won first place in the all-around event for her level.

Olando Disney sports complex is indeed is beautiful and huge - multi-sports going on every day. But they will move back to Jupiter (campers like that and it should be much better after the upgrades). Congrats on your youngest -- I saw hundreds of young girls competing in various sports.

[rockondlouie]

Thx for sharing!

We went to a STing game at that Disney complex one year, it's a great stadium.