Having been a Dodger fan my entire life – since 1953, I had long heard about an adult baseball camp held at the Dodgers legendary spring training facility in Vero Beach, Florida. At this adult baseball camp, or fantasy camp as it is more commonly called, former Dodger players and coaches would share their knowledge and experience with wanna-be baseball players for one full week in beautiful Central Florida. It was, in essence, a week-long spring training workout that included six full games for men and women 30 years of age and older and it was as close to the real deal as was humanly possible.

Beautiful Holman Stadium

The Dodger fantasy camps have always been administered by Los Angeles Dodgers Adult Baseball Camp (LADABC), a privately owned and operated limited liability company (LLC), and though it is not affiliated with Dodger organization, LADABC has always been welcomed at Dodgertown by the Dodgers since its inception in 1983. The camps have run flawlessly under the watchful eye of long-time Dodger scout Guy Wellman, whose very first Major League signee was none other than the big man himself, Frank Howard. Wellman went on to sign several other Dodger greats including ironman first baseman Steve Garvey.

In its heyday, LADABC was running two camps a year – one in the spring and one in the fall, and each camp drew upwards of 100 campers; enough to put as many as eight full teams onto the Dodgertown fields. And then in 2008 something unexpected happened; new Dodger owner Frank McCourt decided to move the Dodgers out of Vero Beach and into Glendale, Arizona for their spring training, thus leaving Dodgertown a virtual ghost town. Although Minor League Baseball would eventually move into the Vero Beach facility and change its name to The Vero Beach Sports Complex, it would never again be known as Dodgertown, as it had been since 1948. Unknown at the time, the final LADABC Dodger fantasy camp was held in the fall of 2008 … or so it seemed.

When the McCourt-led Dodgers began spring training operations at their beautiful new Camelback Ranch facility in Glendale, Arizona in 2009, plans to continue LADABC also began; the problem was, there was no on-site lodging or dining facilities at Camelback Ranch, which meant that fantasy campers would have to be housed off property in nearby hotels and then transported at least twice daily to and from the Ranch and to and from restaurants for breakfast and dinner. These logistical issues which had never been a concern at Dodgertown were now a huge hurdle for Wellman and camp organizer and long-time Dodgertown employee Nancy Gollnick; a hurdle that caused the first and second scheduled fantasy camps at Camelback Ranch to be postponed.

And then the bottom fell out – the McCourt divorce and subsequent Dodger bankruptcy reared its ugly head. In a heartbeat, LADABC went from being one of the most popular attractions for older Dodger fans to falling completely off the radar. In the big scheme of things, LADABC was clearly at the very bottom of importance on the Dodger totem pole. And so it seemed that the fall 2008 Dodger fantasy camp at Dodgertown was to be the last camp ever.

Ironically, it was the fall 2008 camp in Vero Beach that I had initially planned on attending as my first-ever camp, but my work schedule and finances forced me to cancel my plans. “What the heck,” I told myself. “I’ll just go to the first one at Camelback Back Ranch. It’s a lot closer and I’ll just drive over.” Well, Mr. and Mrs. McCourt saw to it that this would never happen (yet another reason for my disdain towards the miserable couple – as if I needed another reason).

With hopes of ever attending a Dodger fantasy camp now completely gone, a strange thing happened in March of 2011. I received a phone call from a dear friend of mine and a long-time Dodger fantasy camper named Dick Greenblatt who informed me that Mark Stone, another long-time camper, was attempting to resurrect one more Dodger fantasy camp at Dodgertown (sorry folks, The Vero Beach Sports Complex will always be known as Dodgertown to me). Dick added that it wasn’t a sure thing yet, but if enough guys showed early interest, it might just happen. At the time I had recently retired as a detective from the Burbank Police Department after thirty years of service, so I now had plenty of time to attend camp, and with this much notice, I felt that I could swing it financially, as well. And then in July, I received word from Mark Stone that he had reached an agreement with the New York Yankees fantasy camp program (affectionately call “Legends in Pin Stripes”) that they would be sending campers and former Yankee greats to join LADABC for camp, which was now set for November 6-12, 2011. It was a Done Deal and I was All In!

Once I paid my registration fees and booked my flight to Orlando, I began the task of getting my then soon-to-be 58 year old body into some sort of shape. I spoke with my good friend Juan Bustabad, the manager of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (the Dodgers High Single-A affiliate) and a long-time fantasy camp instructor and he recommended that I do a lot of stretching, throwing, and running. I did as he suggested and set up a strict running program of ten 100-yard wind sprints every other day at my neighborhood park. (I can only imagine how ridiculous I looked – but who cares, I was going to camp!).

About six weeks before camp, I ran into one of my former co-workers, Darin Ryburn, who is still on the job and I told him that I was going to Dodger fantasy camp. Like myself, Darin is a big time Dodger fan and he said that he had always thought about attending fantasy camp. When I told Darin that the upcoming camp might very well be the last one ever, he said “You know what? I’m going to treat myself to that camp for my fiftieth birthday present to myself.” Done Deal – Darin was also All In! In the days before camp, Darin and I were like kids on Christmas Eve. We would call each other two and three times a day – it was hilarious.

After arriving at Orlando airport, a shuttle bus transported Darin and me and seven other campers to Dodgertown. During the hour and a half ride, I learned that two of my fellow campers were from my home town! Are you kidding me? What are the chances that there would be three of us from Santa Clarita, California in camp, let alone on the same shuttle bus. Those two fellow campers also happen to be identical twins, Rob and Phil Cohen, and they were also attending their first camp with their 62-year old father Ray Cohen.

As our shuttle pulled into Dodgertown, we could feel the magic and excitement in the air (along with a few raindrops). We checked into our room and the first thing that I said to Darin was “I wonder if Duke Snider or Sandy Koufax stayed in this room? Or Gil Hodges? Or Don Drysdale? Or Pee Wee Reese?” We were pretty sure that Tommy Lasorda had not because it was too far away from the dining hall – haha! After unpacking, Darin and I walked to the famous Dodgertown Lounge, which we had heard a great deal about.

Imagine our thoughts as we walked past the Sandy Koufax and Walt Alston Conference Rooms and this intersection.

After a couple of cocktails and excited conversation with Rob, Phil, and Ray Cohen (and several other rookie campers), Darin and I started back to our room. As we did so, we walked past the locker room which had a big handwritten note on the door saying that the locker room would be open at 11:30 AM on Sunday morning (the next day). Just for the heck of it, Darin tried the door – IT WAS UNLOCKED! After making sure the coast was clear, Darin and I snuck inside and there, right before our eyes and right next to the door, were Darin’s and my lockers with our uniforms hanging there. Oh My God! – That Christmas Eve feeling again! After a couple of quick photos, we got the heck out of there before we got caught.

A couple of grown men acting like children.

After “officially” being allowed into the locker room on Sunday (we knew exactly where to go) and getting our gear, we had an optional afternoon workout, although nearly everyone attended. We were also permitted to get autographs from the many Dodger and Yankee greats on hand including Tommy Davis, Jeff Torborg, Jerry Reuss, Rick Monday, Steve Yeager, Ron Cey, Lenny Harris, Kenny Landreaux, Bill Russell, Don Zimmer, Frank Howard, Moose Skowron, Jake Gibbs, Tony Kubek, Don Larsen, Ron Guidry, Goose Gossage, Dennis Rasmussen, Ron Davis, Jim Leyritz, and Steve Whitaker. Talk about a who’s who of former Dodger and Yankee legends!

Darin and I in our home whites – Getting throttled by my manager Jerry Reuss and two-time NL batting champ Tommy Davis.

After a workout on Monday morning, the draft was held in which every camper was placed on a team. I was drafted by Team Rancho Cucamonga under the leadership of manager Jerry Reuss and coaches Kenny Landreaux and Travis Barbary. As luck would have, Rob, Phil, and Ray Cohen were also on my team, as were several long-time veteran campers. Darin was drafted by Team Chattanooga under the leadership of Co-managers Rick Monday and Steve Yeager and coach Marty Reed. I played first base, second base, and right field while Darin pitched and played third base.

Team Rancho Cucamonga

Over the course of the next five days, we played six games including double-headers on consecutive days. Needless to say, this old boy was tired, not to mention a little sore. That being said, I owe a serious debt of gratitude to Juan Bustabad for his earlier advice to stretch, throw, and run, as I was able to avoid the very crowded trainer’s room (except to grab an occasional cold and much needed beer at day’s end).

Although my camp stats were on the weak side (3 for 16 = .188), Darin Ryburn had an outstanding camp. He ended up winning the Don Drysdale Award for being the outstanding right-handed pitcher. My teammate Phil Cohen won the Sandy Koufax Award for being the outstanding left-handed pitcher.

When we returned to the locker room for lunch after our Thursday morning games there was an electricity and buzz about the place, but I couldn’t figure out why – and then I did; HE was there, the “Ghost” himself. Vero Beach resident and the greatest Dodger left-hander of all time Sandy Koufax had stopped by to visit with his former teammates Tommy Davis, Frank Howard, and Jeff Torborg (who caught his perfect game). The excitement was overwhelming. But as quickly as it started, it subsided when we were told that Sandy would not be visiting with campers nor signing autographs. I was heartbroken. All my life I had sought to get a baseball personally autographed by Sandy Koufax – the Holy Grail of autographed baseballs. Not gonna happen.

But then there was a little divine intervention. One of my fellow campers, 60-year old Stan Kunin of Calabasas, California who is completely deaf, told one of the coaches that he had met Sandy when he was 12 years old at a bar mitzvah and that he had a photograph taken with Sandy at that bar mitzvah. Stan asked the coach if he would please show the photograph to Sandy. The coach took the photograph into the trainer’s room (behind its closed door) and a few minutes later came back out and told Stan (who reads lips perfectly) that Sandy would like to see him. A very excited Stan Kunin went into the trainer’s room and came out a few minutes later with his 48-year old photograph personally autographed by the great Sandy Koufax. As you might imagine, Stan had tears in his eyes.

Also in the trainer’s room with Sandy were Tommy Davis, Frank Howard, and Jeff Torborg was Tommy’s personal PR guy Jack DeLance, whom I had also become good friends with. At Jack’s urging, Tommy asked Sandy that if it were done in an orderly manner and one at a time, would he be willing to sign autographs for the other campers? (Apparently on a previous trip to camp several years earlier, Sandy had been swarmed by campers and it was an ugly scene, after which Sandy said that he would never again sign for campers – funny how it only takes a few to ruin it for everyone). After assurances from Jack and Mark Stone, Sandy agreed to meet with and sign for EVERY camper who wished, including one of his all-time biggest fans – ME! After thanking Sandy profusely for taking the time to meet with campers and sign for us, I thanked him for all of the great Dodger memories he gave to all of us. In true, humble Koufax style, he merely smiled and said “You’re welcome.” To say that I was overwhelmed would be a gross understatement. I had just met, shook hands with, been photographed with, and got a baseball autographed by one of the greatest baseball legends of all time. I was numb.

I was in absolute awe to finally meet my childhood idol. It truly was a life-long dream come true

The Thursday afternoon game, which started an hour later than scheduled to allow for everyone to meet with Sandy, was the campers vs. coaches game; and say what you will, these former players and coaches are still very good! They flat out kick our asses. While we may have had our fantasies, they clearly still had their talent. Regardless, it was a fun but very long game, as each of the seven teams played two innings on defense and every player batted once. Gary “Chicken” Ingram struck me out on a filthy cut fastball, which he later apologized to me for throwing – haha!

The week passed in the blink of an eye and before I knew it camp was over. After an outstanding final dinner and awards ceremony, it was time to pack-up and say goodbye to this group of guys (and one lady camper) whom I had grown so very close to in such a short period of time.

Although the baseball experience was absolutely incredible and something that I will think back on often, it is the friendships and the legacy and magic of Dodgertown that made fantasy camp one of the greatest memories of my entire life; memories that I shall cherish forever. It was truly a fantasy come true… and then some.

(Note: This article was originally posted in November 2011)