As Frontier airlines flight 2375 touched down in Tampa Florida it was time to
experience the sights, sounds, and smells of the the big leagues. Day 1 starts with a
welcome reception at the beautiful Clearwater Marriot hotel filled with welcome bags,
personalized luggage tags, and the feeling that you finally made it. (Not to the MLB
but that feeling that your room is ready and it’s before 4pm). Opening day is your
chance to board the Academy bus outside the hotel and take a trip down to Spectrum
field for Rookie workouts. What happens here? Baseball fundamentals 101. A few hours
at the facilities to take warm up’s, stretch, field ground balls, shag a few in the
outfield, and finally get some swings in the cages. You are working out so the
veterans and coaches can scout you and place you on your respective teams. I have to
say the workouts where fun and gives you the opportunity to size up the competition
(in a friendly way of course) ages range from 30 all the way up to the mid 80’s. The
rookie workouts are over and now back to the hotel to shower and get ready for the
welcome dinner upstairs in the ballroom. One of the coolest experiences of Phillies
Phantasy Camp is all the people from all walks of life that you meet and become close
friends with in only a few short days of knowing each other. Another benefit is the
access to Phillies Legends your entire trip. It’s not a meet and greet, it’s
conversations with the legends from eating breakfast and dinner together, them
coaching you during all your games, and even telling you stories from their glory
days as if they knew you their entire lives. (Super Cool). Shout out to my Legends
John Kruk and Dave Hollins. Could we have been any luckier? During the next three
days you play two 6 inning games per day. Each day starts with a breakfast at the
hotel followed by bus transportation to Spectrum Field. Let me just saw the welcome
on day 1 at the field was spectacular (The Locker Room Introduction). As you walk
into the Phillies official locker room you are greeted but the Phantasy Camp legends
clapping and smiling as you look for your name on that beautiful, clean, crisp pin
strip jersey with your name stitched on the upper back. (If you remember that scene
from Titanic where Jack is waiting for Rose at the very end on the spiraling
staircase. Died and went to heaven came to mind). Day after day you play one game and
then break for catered lunch upstairs on the concourse. Once lunch is over it’s back
to the locker room to get changed and play another grueling (for some) 6 inning game.
The games are fun and competitive and the weather we were blessed with this past
January of 2020 was perfect. Everyday Sunny and in the 70’s! Everyday gamer awards
are given out to players who make a spectacular play ( Not to brag but I received
one HEHE). In addition their is a star in each game who gets interviewed by the
Phillies own Greg murphy just like the real deal. Greg Murphy was fantastic as the
emcee the entire camp and again (Not to brag but Pops and I were interviewed by Murph
on the same day). Phillies Phantasy Camp is about Baseball, Friends, and memories. In
part 3 I will speak about the odds and ends that go on, Kangaroo Court and the
success of Phillies Phantasy Camp and the amazing job done by ESF.