MLB Players Alumni Association Hold Clinic For Kids
By: Jake DiPippo
BOCA RATON– On an absolutely beautiful spring afternoon, former professional baseball players gathered at Lynn University for a great cause. It was a perfect Sunday at the ballpark, as kids of all ages participated in a wide variety of drills and games ran by the former players. Parents from surrounding counties were able to watch their children go station to station from the bleachers. From the hundreds of happy faces, to the once-in-a-lifetime lessons being taught, the positive energy in the air was so strong it could be felt.
Rene Vizcarra, the director for this event and special events coordinator for the Major League Baseball Alumni Association, has been helping run these clinics for several years now. “Part of our mission statement is to keep the alumni actively involved in the communities, raise money for charities, and also promote the game of baseball,” Vizcarra said. “By putting on these free youth clinics, we feel we are achieving all three of those.”
The clinic lasted two hours, and by the amount of fun the kids were having, it probably felt like two minutes to them. They were first introduced to all twelve former players. Every “coach” shared a brief statement about who they are, what teams they played for, and emphasized the overall passion and love for the game they all share. From there each alumni dispersed to their respected stations. Each drill had two former players running them. Former Texas Ranger outfielder Oddibe McDowell was at home plate teaching the basic fundamentals of laying down the perfect bunt, while former Detroit Tiger’s pitcher Rusty Meacham and Ex Florida Marlin pitcher Antonio Alfonseca taught basic pitching and fielding skills.
Steve Whitaker, a former New York Yankees player and Chicago White Sox coach, who has been involved with baseball for over forty-five years, was present on Sunday. “I’ve had a lot of opportunities to work with kids that have gone on to play in the big leagues,” said Whitaker. “And that’s my passion…that’s what I enjoy. All these guys, big leaguers like myself, have all got a story to tell, and we get to tell it to them (the kids), and we get to give them a few secrets of the game.” Seeing the former players having just as much fun as the children involved was a beautiful site to see.
John Meany, a middle school student and baseball player himself, helps run the clinic with his father, Neil Meany, who is a Palm Beach County group director. John was able to reminisce to the years when he participated in these events. When asked what he learned as a kid, he remembered one lesson in particular. “Theres a part at the end, called the ‘life skills,’ and I learned to always have respect for my coaches. I learned that you should never disrespect your coaches, and you should always be polite while playing baseball…when you’re playing baseball, you’re not just representing your self, you’re representing your team, and your school as well.” Very wise words from such a young man.
Baseball is not just a fun and competitive sport to play. Baseball is an art. It has a culture to it that only those who play can truly understand. The wide-eyed, eager to learn kids experienced an extremely rare and unique moment on Sunday, taking with them lessons and skills they will now have for a lifetime.
Jorge Julio, Jim Lyttle, Brad Pennington, Wallace Johnson, Jeff Schattinger, Carlos Castillo, Andy McGaffigan, Antonio Alfonseca and Scott Winchester complete the list of the former players who participated Sunday.
