Today I will chronicle the events leading up to my one day of fame. Celebrity Status, hardly. With that being said, I was a professional ball player. Here we go.
July 21st. I am working when I get a phone call from our bookkeeper. Greg needs to talk to you ASAP. Who is Greg? What is this phone number. I am at the Canadian Border at the time, I'll call when I return to So. Burlington. At SecurShred, I find a message on voice mail. Greg again, saying, you are going to sign a one day contract to play with the Vermont Lake Monsters, Single A affiliate for the Washington Nationals. I'll call him back ASAP.
Subway - Lake Monster Player for a day
I mentioned to this to a couple of friends. One being my assistant coach for our son's spring baseball team, SB NL Cubs. Mr. Knudsen decided to become my agent and sent this letter to the General Manager of the Vermont Lake Monsters.
CJ,
I just wanted to let you know that I have been retained as Mr. Trombley's agent to represent him in his contract negotiations. As an outstanding coach and player, we expect that the Lake Monsters' will be offering him a significant signing bonus. You may not be aware of Mark's background, but it is an amazing success story and I'm sure that the Lake Monsters would profit from sharing it with the general public in connection with the press release of his signing. Although you might not know it from his appearance, Mark was born and spent his younger years as a poor child in the Dominican Republic. Like many of his countrymen, he dreamed of one day playing in the big leagues. His talent was obvious to the many scouts watching him play on the litter-strewn vacant lots that pass for ballfields in the Dominican. One day, a scout offered to take Mark to the States to showcase him and his family readily accepted. This scout was part of the Montreal Expos system and thought Vermont would be the ideal place to get him noticed since it has a relatively small pool of youth baseball talent. Mark quickly made an impact by leading the little league in nearly every offensive category as well as being untouchable on the mound with a fastball in the 80's. On his 14th birthday, he was called up for a personal workout to Olympic stadium in front of the Montreal front office. This is where the story takes an unfortunate turn. Since confidence was high and the workout was not until the afternoon, the scout saw no harm in showing Mark some of the sights of Montreal, which included a tour of several establishments on St. Catherine's Street. A female entertainer in one of these establishments mistakenly identified Mark as a patron who violated certain club contact rules and he was physically tossed out by the giant bouncer, landing on his right arm. It turns out that he separated his shoulder. The surgeon did his best, but Mark's arm was never the same and his dreams of a major league career were dashed. Mark returned to Vermont and over time and with a great deal of hard work, he became a lefty and a very able baseball player. Since his big league dreams did not come true, Mark decided to devote his time to helping younger kids realize their baseball dreams by becoming a youth baseball coach. His teams have been very successful and he has developed a deserved reputation as one of Vermont's finest coaches. And now, after so many years, Mark's dream of being a professional ball player is going to come true. This is one of those feel good American stories that brings a tear to your eye. As an aside, we are in negotiations with several Hollywood studios over the movie rights (it is rumored that Kevin Costner wants the lead role).
Please keep all of this in mind in preparing your initial offer. It would be a disappointment if the bonus was not at least something in the range of the high double figures. I am available for a lunch or dinner meeting to conduct negotiations at your convenience.
Regards,
Eric
Eric M. Knudsen, Esq.
Needless to say, there was no response. But, I survived the trading deadline I will sign for whatever they offer me.
August 15th. Game time is for 7:05 vs. Staten College. Be at practice for 3:00. Check into team hotel for 2:00. Good to go.
1:57 - Arrive at the team Hotel. There is a note for me. Practice is now at 2:00. Garber wants to see you right when you arrive. WTF! How about a phone call! Finish checking in, drop off tickets to Beaver and now off to Centennial Field. Historic Centennial Field. Traffic was decent and I am at the ball field for 2:20.
Find Nate and a Lake Monsterette bombshell and we meet Coach Garber.
Garb seems great right from the start, tells me to get into a group to continue the stations, get dressed and that I am late and fined $25.
Knowing that I am late, I watch the end of the hitting station and jump in at the next turn. Nate and Lady Monster hang with me for a while which was cool for a comfort level. I hit off the tee, get some pics taken and am ready to move on.
3:00 - Team meeting. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Pretty much about the ballfield. However, it is team meeting time and Garb is talking about Team focus. Being mentally tough. Genius. My last team meeting with the All-Stars was exactly that. At the end, I am introduced to the team, introduced as an All-Star coach and here to learn and practice. Let's go. Also reminded that clubhouse fees($15.00) are due. Including me, one day or one week, all the same. Also, announced, my fine to the entire team for being late. Good times are beginning.
I jump in with Coach Paul Sanagorski, who is another great individual. He was a head coach at Kansas Newman for 20+ years and was with the Marlins Organization for a while as well. A Member of the coaching staff for the 2003 World Series Champions. We carry a bag of balls to the Outfield for our workout. Scenario is no one on and single to you, routine throw in. Next, another ball dancing on the grass with runners on. Six of us in the Outfield doing this over and over. JR Higley and Hood and the Class Clowns of OF. Normal pop-ups, side to side pop-ups. It is not that much different than Little League. Except for this one, In the Sun. Paul would hit these high fly balls directly into the Sun. By the way, it is 90 degrees with no clouds in the sky. I am happy to say that this drill sucked, but, caught them all. Anytime you miss a fly ball, it is your turn again. Hoody took three attempts in a row at one time. Ha. To the wall, which was like a QB drill. WR goes and you are running with the wall. Sometimes it hits the wall, sometimes it is short. Needless to say, my first attempt had me crashing into the wall with a small cheer of approval. Why, well I did catch the ball.
Next we run in and meet up with the conditioning coach. He makes us stretch, job, etc. This poor guy, I have never heard so many insults. The weather did not make this any more fun for the players and they let him know it. I asked him about thick skin, it is still in the development phase and he was short with me. Do what you need to do.
Back to OF. This time to Center field where we just took turns catching fly balls. The contest was from the players, to have coach hit it to you without moving. Need to keep it interesting and contests were made to see how far or few steps you needed to take. Destin Hood was lovin this. Couple of times, no steps and he was very pleased with Paul.
4:30, Batting Practice. I go to the OF to shag these Line drives preached by Garb. No Ding-Dongs, just line drives. I camped around CF. Not to many players out in the area so I was on my horse, a lot. Caught a few, misjudged a few. I was amazed on how big the OF was but at the same time, so unlevel. The opposing team comes out and starts to warm up during batting practice. Normally, BP starts at 4:15. With the late start, yours truly got his turn skipped. That is alright because it made a great joke later. Evan Bronson and I meet for the first time. We chit-chat for about five minutes and this guy is cool.
State College now gets the field for BP. An hour to do whatever you wish. Bunch of guys go to the Kampus Kitchen. Guys in the clubhouse cooling off. Coaches sitting and coming out with a game plan. Music blaring, people yelling. I am not sure what to do. So, I get a dog and a soda. Only $2.00, half price for all players. The gates open up and I walk back to the locker room. It feels odd being in the locker room sitting with the players. I found myself in the training room. Paul comes in with his Kampus Kitchen sandwich. We talked for the next thirty minutes about signs, careers, and coaching. This man is pure genius. It was cool and destiny that the training room also happens to be the coaches lunchroom.
6:30 and time to suit up. Same shirt, borrow pants. No socks. No Belt. This is Single A. Feeling ridiculous, I steal a pair of socks. Sadly, the socks I stole was a still tad short. Plus, Phil,the locker room attendant, then walks in. Gives me the nod and I head out to the field. Awaiting are the boys of SB, 9-10 All Stars.
Socializing with the kids and watching some pre-game ceremonies, it is time to take the field. Hanging out again Evan Bronson. Garb starts chirping in from the dug out. Bronson says Hike up the socks or you'll be fined.
Lake Monster rule, players have socks to knees, coaches to the cleats. Garb gives me grief, out of uniformed your fined! Great, now I owe them money. With that it is time to talk to the crowd. I get interviewed, sign my one day contract, given a gi-normous check for $33.33. Ham it up with the crowd, plus I was on. As much as I could be during an interview process. It was like a 10 seconds of last comic standing. No Material but people laughed. Anyways . . .
After a few pictures taken, it is time to head out to the pictures mound. The much anticipated first pitch! Do I go to the mound, off the rubber? Do I throw super heat? Do I lob it in and risk a Ba-Ba-Booey First Pitch? Walk to the mound, right to the rubber, Rich Haskill announces my name and that this pitch is coming from a SouthPaw announced on the PA. Wind-up, leg kick, boom. Outside corner, Champ calls it a strike. Crowd Cheers. Haskill approves.
The next guy who throws out the second pitch bounces it, Only professionals throw the strikes.
Lake Monsters take the field, All-Stars follow. National Anthem time.
Top of the first, in the dug out. Sitting behind Garb and the other two coaches. He turns around and asks me, "Where is my belt?" No excuse is good enough, $10.00 fine. "Are you ready to play? Where are you cleats? Another $10.00 fine."
Look, I said, I'm not wearing my cleats because you didn't let me take BP! I didn't think you were going to let me play!Smiles across the dug out, I am stepping up to the plate and given the smack back.
Dan Killian runs to the clubhouse and gets me a belt. I journey and put on the cleats. I spent the next inning in the bullpen. Clayton Dill and Gary Amato were awesome. Bazooka Joe anyone? It was like I was part of the team. Went back to the dug out reluctantly. I really like the bullpen, but the dug out is what it is all about.
Lake Monsters are not playing on of their best games. Down 3-0 going into the bottom of Ninth, the Lake Monsters have only amassed two hits. JR Higley leads off and gets hit by a pitch. Passed by, single, 3-1. Another single, runners on first and second. Controversy hit by that ends up being a triple. Score is tied 3-3. College coach gets tossed. Intentional walk for the next two batters, bases loaded. Ramriez hits a fly ball to centerfield. There will be a throw. It's a little high, Lake Monsters win. Lake Monsters win. Fireworks in centerfield. Team is going crazy at the pitchers mound. Two lines form, congratulatory handshake. I get in line and high five the entire team. Heading to the clubhouse, some of the All-Star are lined up. Paul gives me a bat and Levite wants a signature. No other kid wants an auto as a majority of Lake Monsters stay to sign. Which is nice. In the clubhouse, change those sexy pants. Find #8 and get him back his belt. Pants go to the washer. Find and Thank Garb, he shakes my hand. Good stuff. I walk outside, find Jake and the game is over.
