Fans have chance to go yard at Comerica Park By Christian Davis Editor’s note: This is the second story in a series that will look at some of the summer adventures available to our readers in metro Detroit. Next, we’ll be talking to athletes training for biathlons and triathlons. For other stories in this series follow the Summer Happenings link. Jim Foster remembers digging into the batter’s box and getting ready for his first swing. On the mound stood former Detroit Tigers’ pitcher Dave Rozema. Rozema delivered the pitch, and Foster said he sent a shot to the warning track in Comerica Park. “I didn’t hit it out, but I took Dave Rozema pretty deep,” Foster, a Grosse Pointe resident, said of that June day in 2007. Foster didn’t clear the wall during that batting practice session, but he did have the time of his life participating in one of the Detroit Tigers Fantasy Camps. “I’ve loved baseball my entire life, and to be able to go out there and stand where some of these incredible players have stood, it’s just a great experience,” Foster, 42, said. Foster enjoyed it so much, he attended the session again this past June. Jerry Lewis, the director of Detroit Tigers Fantasy Camps and a West Bloomfield resident, has been running the programs for the past 26 years and said he gets to see firsthand how much it means to the campers. “The people that get to go on the field and play, they tell their neighbors, their wives … ‘I’m going to play on that field!’ They hug me, they kiss me, it’s an incredible thing for me to run,” Lewis said. “They’ll come dressed in a Tigers uniform. They’ll bring their favorite bat. … One out of 20 people make sure I know they’re hitting one out. Occasionally, someone will get a hold of one and will really hit it.” Much like Foster’s warning-track shot. Foster said despite not seeing live pitching in 15 years, everything kind of fell into place after that first swing. “It was the first pitch, and I swear I didn’t touch the ground for the rest of the day. I was fielding balls I never fielded before and judging fly balls better than I had ever judged,” Foster said. “I was working on some kind of adrenaline that day.” Rozema said he too has to rely on adrenaline for the weekend, where he can throw up to 5,000 pitches. “I’m pretty good at batting practice,” Rozema said. “I throw it down the pipe and put some mustard on it, and they get a kick out of it. I like to see the enjoyment on their faces after they hit it.” Lewis said everyone who participates gets the chance to feel like a major-leaguer. “I think it’s a fabulous thing, simply because as little kids we all wanted to be baseball players, but we didn’t get the strength or the size or the ability,” he said. “Here we are on that same field that they are on, hitting at the same home plate … running to the same base that they ran to. It’s truly a fantasy.” Baseball fans looking for something to liven up their summer can take a crack at some live batting practice from 1-4:30 p.m. Sept. 20. The cost is $199 and space is limited. Participants have to be at least 18 years old. Lewis said each person gets 12 swings, and then they take the field while the others take their swings. Playing with greats For $3,450, campers 21 and over can play a seven-inning game every morning and afternoon at the Tigers’ spring training facility. Campers will also have the chance to hang out and play with many of the 1984 World Series champions as part of their 25th anniversary. The cost also includes roundtrip airfare, room and board for the eight days and seven nights, authentic home and away jerseys, and much more. Those interested can register up until the dates of the camps, but space is limited and going fast. For more information or to register for either fantasy camp, call (313) 471-2550 or visit www.detroittigersfantasycamp.com. You can reach Sports Writer Christian Davis at cdavis@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1062. |
