MLB Legends visit Brooksville
On Sunday young boys and girls put on their “broken-in” gloves, wore their favorite MLB team shirts and waited to step on the field with former Major League Baseball players.
Walking along the fence of Tom Varn Park baseball field here in Brooksville, conversations of baseball techniques, games and plays filled the air.
Since 2006 the City of Brooksville Park and Recreation Department along with Hernando County Mining Association, has offered this free event at Tom Varn Park. In 2008, CEMEX took over the sponsorship.
Legend for Youth Clinic is made possible by Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association as well as being sponsored by CEMEX.
“The youth is one of the most important things that we have in our county: academics and or sports,” James Morris said. Morris is the Regional Environmental Manager for CEMEX as well as the President of Hernando County Mining Association. “The youth of our county is our most valuable asset.”
Mike Walker is not only the Director of Parks/Facilities and Recreation for Brooksville, as well as a Hernando High graduate; he is also a former Major League Baseball player. Walker pitched for the Cleveland Indians, Cubs and Tigers.
“Our community, the City of Brooksville and Hernando County did the same thing for myself as a child as far as giving me those opportunities, so now it’s my turn to give that back,” Walker said.
With Hernando High celebrating their 100th baseball season this year, the county has some amazing talent as well as untapped talent waiting to be discovered. “We have some talent come through the local area, a lot of these kids come here are not only from Tampa but the Orlando area. Those kids [that] come love the game, so it’s something we need to do,” Walker said.
This event was not only for the kids but for the parents as well. “We need to teach our parents more so than our kids,” Walker said. “So if we can educate the parents at the same time that can help their child.”
The field was set up for stations from infield to outfield positions. The Alumni players reviewed the kids’ techniques and shared with them their own personal training mechanics as well as the do’s and dont’s.
The Legend baseball players in attendance include Richie Scheinblum: Kansas City Royals, John Frascatore: Saint Louis Cardinals, Desi Relaford: New York Mets, Andy McGaffigan: Kansas City Royals, Mike Heath: New York Yankees, Butch Benton: New York Mets, and Rick Reichardt: California Angels.
“It’s fundamentals of baseball that is one of the greatest [things] about this event. You got these retired major league players that are teaching kids the fundamentals and if you can help the parents with the fundamentals to work with their kids… this is a great learning tool for parents and child,” Morris said.
Sharing stories about their career within the MLB organization is what makes them legends. For Rick Reichardt it was the first home run. “I hit the first home run in Anaheim Stadium off of Tommy John, it was sort of cool because Walt Disney was there, Ronald Reagan who was then Governor and a bunch of movie stars.” Those were the days of Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle. Reichardt is originally from Wisconsin and is one of the original board members of the MLB Alumni. He was also part of the first clinic which was about thirty years ago.
With the combination of years on the field as well as individual techniques and skills, the kids learn something new from each station as well as life skills. As in any sport, at any age, there is not only the talent that lies within these future athletes but also what life drives them. And with these great athletes they have been there and done that.
“Adversity builds character. In baseball you are going to fail more than you succeed. Don’t get caught in the adversity and don’t let that overwhelm you. Character is going to get you through life,” Butch Benton said.
“Tenacity, hard work. We all made it to big league, we got there because of our talent but we got there because we worked hard. We just didn’t quit. A lot of the kids we grew up with they just gave up the game. I wanted to keep playing. You got to have desire to be the very best at what you do, and to be willing to put in the time and energy as well as the sacrifice to get there. It doesn’t happen overnight,” Andy McGaffigan explained.
Robert Battista, Vice Mayor for the City of Brooksville was also present at this event. “I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that Mike Walker is responsible for bringing this event to the city and has for eight consecutive years. This is very big for our community. This is a great opportunity for them to see folks who made it to the major leagues.”
As the kids dust off their pants and pack away their bats and gloves another successful event for the City of Brooksville closes, until next year friends.
Take a look at the Legends MLB history:
Butch Benton: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bentobu01.shtml
John Frascatore: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/frascjo01.shtml
Mike Heath: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/heathmi02.shtml
Andy McGaffigan: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcgafan01.shtml
Rick Reichardt: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/reichri01.shtml
Desi Relaford: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/relafde01.shtml
Richie Scheinblum: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/scheiri01.shtml
Mike Walker: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/walkemi01.shtml
For more information about Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association visit:
http://mlbpaa.mlb.com/mlbpaa/
City of Brooksville Parks and Recreation information: http://www.ci.brooksville.fl.us/