Gym Cracks By Jim February 10, 2004 CUBS CAMP A HIT Lifelong dream realized in Chicago Cubs camp base hit... By Jim (Babe) Berryman MissingNebraska.com The batter watched the ball as it skied towards right-center field. The second baseman started backpedaling and then turned his back to the infield and attempted to locate the ball. The hitter said to himself, "Please let it fall, please let it fall." The name Dernier appeared on the back of the retreating second baseman's uniform. The ball fell beyond Dernier's reach and in front of the two outfielders--Pepitone and Cardenal. In a state of euphoria, the baserunner heard first baseman Leon "Bull" Durham say something like, "Nice poke, guy." A pinch runner was summoned and as the player started on his major league trot to the third base dugout, his giddiness overruled baseball decorum as he detoured to the pitcher's mound, momentarily startling pitcher Ed Lynch. The hitter's request--"The ball please." To the approval of the crowd, Lynch surrendered the souvenir ball to the hitter as he continued his jog to the dugout. The hitter couldn't have scripted this scene any better. A life-long Cub fan had, not only played in a Cub game, but had a base hit. No, the game was not played in Wrigley Field with Cub players as his teammates. HoHoKam Park in Mesa, Arizona, the Cubs spring training site, was the location. Campers in Randy Hundley's Cubs Fantasy Baseball Camp were his teammates. The hitter started following the Cubs fortunes as a youngster in his home town of Greeley, Nebraska. Growing to adolescence in one-radio home, he occasionally had to journey to a radio shop in town to listen to the Cub gmes in the late 40s and early 50s as Bert Wilson eloquently broadcasted the Cubs fortunes, or lack of. Old Gold cigarettes with their slogan, "For a Treat Instead of a Treatment, Smoke Old Gold Cigarettes" was one sponsor. The Cubs have been a source of frustration and, of course, some joy over the years. So when retirement beckoned, a decision was reached to attend this baseball camp. The camp was a week-long event. Retired Cubs, who served as managers/coaches, were introduced at a Sunday evening social event. The above-mentioned hitter, Jim "Babe" Berryman, was assigned to the Bob Dernier/Willie Wilson squad. There were eight teams with 12-13 players on each team. The bus left the hotel at 8:00 a.m. Campers (players) were to be in full Cub uniforms by 9:00 a.m. in the large squad room. Two teams were assigned to each of four dressing rooms. In our dressing room, ex-Cubs Jim Marshall, Jose Cardenal, Rick Reuschel, and Bob Oliver dressed with the campers. It is true they put their pants on one leg at a time. The 9:00 a.m. meeting included the highlights of the day before, special instructions for the day, and a kangaroo court which levied fines for almost anything. In turn, the fines were appropriated to the Ron Santo Juvenile Diabetes Fund. I was fined $10.00 for "doctoring" the ball (applying a foreign substance-spit) while pitching. The judges, Jose Cardenal and Willie Wilson, in their black robes and white British wigs, asked if I wanted to appeal the fine. I did and was immediately fined an additional $10.00 for taking up the court's time for a frivolous appeal. Two games were played each day against fellow campers. The games were split by a noon-catered lunch. Saturday was the "big game." Each of the eight teams were allowed to play one inning against the retired Cubs in HoHoKam Park. Every camper was guaranteed one at-bat against the major leaguers. Pitchers for the Cubs included Ferguson Jenkins, Lee Smith, Ron Davis, Rick Reuschel, and Ed Lynch, a most formidable staff when in their prime. Saturday night's closing banquet included a third appearance at this camp by Ron Santo. Marcia and I sat at the table next to him. What a strong individual! He's undergone surgery to amputate both legs and a kidney, and has had bypass surgery--all in the last four years. In Babe's Dugout at their home in Grand Island, the following items are located, Bob Dernier's batting gloves (Coach gave me a pair of his), Babe Berryman baseball cards, a video of the week's happening (which shows the base hit), a complete Cub uniform, a ball signed by all the camp coaches, a Louisville Slugger bat with name engraved and most importantly, a scuffed ball--the ball that was hit to right-center field for a hit off Ed Lynch, a ball I will treasure for the remainder of my life. This camp was a dream come true. It had taken 67-years of existence on this earth to realize my greatest sports thrill. Feedback PREVIOUS GYM CRACKS: Click Here