Yes it's expensive, but if you love baseball, good at it or not. It's something you should do before you can't.  You will have the time of your life. One week of being a "Major Leaguer."  Not to mention hanging out with the guys you watched play for the Green and Gold.

This Sunday, my wife and I embark for Phoenix, and the A's spring training complex for a week of playing baseball. I first went four years ago, and was not expecting much; was I ever wrong. Upon arrival, they take you to Papago sports complex where the A's hold spring training. You walk into the locker room and find your locker. I set my stuff in mine, and look to see who is around me. Hmmm next to my locker is Dave Henderson's, behind me is Blue Moon Odom's, around to the side Is Campy's, Carny Lansford. WOW, how cool is this.

After a day of station to station drills we are drafted onto teams, I had Blue Moon, and Mike Davis my first year, we stunk, lost every game, but who cared it was a blast. My second year, I had to go back, I had Dave Henderson and Blue Moon as managers, we were better, but failed to win more than two. That year my wife decided to join me, she never played baseball before, and the staff of A's players helped her so much by the end of camp she was doing great. I won the camp Cy Young award in my second year, but no MLB contract, bummer.

  So I keep going back, last year was the best. Campy and Shooty Babbit were our managers. I started by K in my first three AB's. After two years of .638 and .524 avgs I was stumped, until Campy, pulls me out of the dugout and changes my stance. How do you listen to a legend and pay attention? It worked, next AB Double, Campy, in the third base coach's box claps and smiles at me, wow. I finished with a .486 avg thanks to him. We went on to the championship game at Phoenix Muni, and we won a nail biter. After winning, I could see why the A's of the early 70's won, Campy wanted to win, knew how to win, and he had that fire in his eyes.

After the championship game, we play the pros, I got to pitch my only inning of the camp, I faced Dave Henderson, (pop up), Tony D, and Mike Moore, I struck him out. After the game at the awards dinner, the pros had out their autographed game jerseys to campers that they felt did a good job. Campy gave me his, that was probably the highlight of my baseball carrer. My favorite A's player growing up, said I was good. 

Every evening we meet at the players lounge and get to hear stories from the players that you will never read in the sports. They are the nicest group of guys, but I have to watch Blue Moon, I think he likes my wife. He gave her his jersey the first year she played. He always sits next to her at those functions!! How can I compete. We always spend the evening having drinks with them and get to know them on a personal level. I just can't wait, we packed a week ago. You can check our photos on the web site, they post  new photos every day.

http://www.hendersonbaseball.com/athletics/athletics.html

Look in the left margin for photos and type Hoffmann, or Hoffman they often mispell our last name.