5 year Anniversary of Field of Dreams

 As we look forward this week to the Reds and Cubs playing at Field of Dreams In Dyersville Iowa, I'm taking a look back to 2017, when a bunch of campers went to the first ever Scott Green's Play at the Plate tourney at the Field Of Dreams site. As I wrote in an earlier post, one of the fringe benefits of RFC is playing with the same great friends you met at camp at these other tournaments. FOD is a very found memory. Playing the game I love with great friends, at the site of one of my all time favorite movies. What could be better? Here are some photos and videos of that great experience.

A True Play at the Plate!

The Dragons were well represented at FOD

My Traveling mates Steve, Gwen and Scott

The Dyersville Reds

Even Dottie Hinson made it to Iowa from Rockford!

Out of the Corn

Me and the Coach!

Dragons

PATP!

 

3rd Annual Baseball Heaven Alumni Association Golf Outing

 3rd Annual Baseball Heaven Alumni Association Golf Outing.

One of the great  events on The Reds Fantasy Camp calendar is the BHAA Golf outing. It was started 2 years ago for the charitable wing of RFC, the Baseball Heaven Alumni Association. The mission of the association  is to raise  funds,  to make grants to charitable organizations to further amateur baseball activities. Even with last year's rainout, the outing has raised thousands of dollars for a great cause. It was a great July afternoon at the Aston Oaks Golf Club. I want to thank the committee for organizing such a fun event. The dinner with raffles and silent auctions raised even more money for the cause. I won two silent auction items, a signed Ja'Marr Chase Bengals mini helmet and a nice Masters winner collage for Karen's office.

                                                                                

2022 Reunion Weekend Play Day

 As a veteran camper, one of the continued perks is playing in the Reunion weekend Play Day games. It's a great way to stay connected to the Fantasy Camp Fraternity. The Reds HOF started this a few years back. This years edition was played at the Blue Ash sports complex which has a great replica of Crosley Field. It's was a pretty great way to spend an incredible Saturday during Father's Day weekend.

It was a good excuse to break out the video camera too!

Me behind the Plate

The Dragons were well represented 

A true Baseball Couple Jim and Sherri Maples

Jim and Chuck Maples

Jeff Cox Strikes a Pose

Love the old time scoreboard

Your's Truly

The Comish's Plaque

My Buddy Steve Ritchie warming up

Conversation with Ed Reynolds

Can of Corn!

Johnny Bench Signing

 Not that this has anything to do with Fantasy Camp per se, but a few days before the camp signups I had a nice print signed by the GOAT of catchers and boyhood Reds Idol Johnny Bench. It makes a nice edition to the Man Cave/Office. Back during the 2016's camp Johnny was a surprise special guest.

2016 Camp

Finally I'm Going Back To Goodyear!

2014 Champs!!

 Well it's been a long time coming, but my camera and I are headed back to Goodyear next January. Since I've decided to go back I've been combing through this blog (I am glad I've kept it up.) and my Face Book posts on the RFC page. Early on I certainly was the eager beaver about going to Camp. Why not I say! It was an exciting and great experience both times I went. The best part are the friendships I've made by going. Some of my best friends I have today were made by going to RFC. Obviously a price can be put one the expense of going to camp. The experience and friendships made by going are truly priceless. I can't stress this enough. Since my last Fantasy Camp, what have I been doing? Playing baseball of course. Since 2016, I played in tournaments in Dyersville Iowa (Field of Dreams), Durham North Carolina (Bull Durham) and Cooperstown New York (Hall of Fame). Also been playing every summer with my fellow campmates for the Cincinnati Dragons 50's (2) Roy Hobbs Baseball team. I still get a kick out of putting on the uniform every game day. I tell people I still play ball. They assume softball. I guess that is natural. I reiterate I play BASEBALL and I catch.

    All the weekend tourneys, RFC union games and playing with the Dragons have been basically extensions of Camp in a way, since just about everyone I play with have been to camp themselves. So yeah it's been almost 7 years since since attending in Goodyear, but I never left the camp fraternity, and that is the best way to describe it a true fraternity.

    I've said this for years. If anyone told me when I was in my mid thirties I would be playing more baseball in my mid fifties than golf. I would have laughed out loud!! But it's certainly been true. Here are a few photos from the last few years.