Field of dreams: be a team player for your baseball idol at the Hall of Fame's Fantasy Camp.While it's common business-speak for top executives to boast that a member of their management team "stepped up to the plate and hit a home run," few, if any, actually know what it's really like to crank a major league fastball out of a ballpark. But that might change for some of the 48 middle-age "campers" who sign up to attend the inaugural Baseball Hall of Fame Fantasy Camp, which will be held in Cooperstown, N.Y., October 5-9. Instead of dealing with campfire horror stories and the threat of wedgies, the main attraction for these campers will be five days of live pitching and real game situations--in uniform--under the tutelage TUTELAGE. State of guardianship; the condition of one who is subject to the control of a guardian. of bona fide [Latin, In good faith.] Honest; genuine; actual; authentic; acting without the intention of defrauding. A bona fide purchaser is one who purchases property for a valuable consideration that is inducement for entering into a contract and without suspicion of being superstars from the past. Campers will be drafted onto one of four teams managed by Hall of Fame counselor-cum-coaches George Brett, Lou Brock A native of Blaine, Ohio, Niekro attended Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Ohio, and was a boyhood friend of future and Duke Snider The grounds have been used for baseball since 1920, on what was Elihu Phinney's farm. (the same stadium on which greats like Babe Ruth, Ted Williams and Henry Aaron appeared during their playing careers). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Each baseball legend, along with a staff of six assistants handpicked from the ranks of former major leaguers, will manage a 12-player roster, providing tips and strategy to players of all skill levels. That was all Bill Habeger, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of San-Diego-based insurer B.H. Gold, needed to hear before he signed up. "It should be a lot of fun. There'll be some real players, and guys like me with occasional signs--very occasional signs--of the past," he says. "For a 61-year-old guy, I'm still pretty good. I can run and catch, and I'll hit it if they throw about 60 mph." Whether he "goes yard" depends, of course, on how much dance is left in hurler Phil Niekro's vintage knuckleball. The nature of the camp inherently dictates that most attendees will be hardball hard·ball n. 1. Baseball. 2. Informal The use of any means, however ruthless, to attain an objective. hardball Noun US & Canad 1. aficionados in their 40s and 50s, some of whom can still play somewhat competitively and others who haven't in years. But that's not what it's all about, says Hall of Fame President Dale Petroskey Dale Petroskey is the President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. He became Hall President in 1999. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1978, and worked in the White House from 1985-1987 under then-United States President Ronald Reagan. . "It's all about putting on a uniform, doing a little hitting and fielding, and playing the best you can for a couple days. There won't be any superstars out there." Unlike typical jock fantasy camps where it's "all sports all the time," attendees will have plenty of opportunities to socialize so·cial·ize v. so·cial·ized, so·cial·iz·ing, so·cial·iz·es v.tr. 1. To place under government or group ownership or control. 2. To make fit for companionship with others; make sociable. with the baseball greats off the field. For starters, campers and counselors will reside at the luxurious Otesaga Resort Hotel, where they'll enjoy gourmet meals and daily rounds of world-class golf on Leather-stocking Golf Course. There will also be a behind-the-scenes tour of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum “Baseball Hall of Fame” redirects here. For the similarly styled institution of Japanese baseball, see Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and a private candlelight dinner in the Hall of Fame Gallery before everyone sits down to watch baseball's televised postseason games in the company of the immortals. "It's a chance to reward a great employee, someone who's valuable on your team, or to come with another CEO, or an important business partner," says Petroskey. "It could be a way to bring a valued client, someone who's important to your business, but it's ultimately just a cool thing to do and a great way to get away from the stress of work and become a little kid again." (Spouses are welcome and can share rooms and services for an extra fee.) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Petroskey, the legendary players are CEOs in their own right because they made it to the top of their field, and hearing them talk about it might influence the perspective of real CEOs. "They were successful as players, so it's interesting to hear their stories and the challenges they overcame. And you never know--you could develop a relationship with a player who might end up being a spokesperson for your company." Enrollment, which includes ground transportation to and from Albany or Syracuse International Airports, costs $7,995 (register online at baseballhalloffame.org or via phone at 607-547-0327). All proceeds benefit the Hall of Fame's nonprofit educational programs, which teach more than 20 million school children a year through onsite and distance learning--yet another good reason to swing for the fences. RELATED ARTICLE The Soul of Leadership october 5-7 Kellogg on Branding: Building, Leveraging, and Rejuvenating Your Brand october 9-12 Reinventing Leadership: A Breakthrough Approach october 9-14 Managing New Product Development for Strategic Competitive Advantage october 9-12 Finance for Executives october 16-21 Competitive Strategy october 23-26 Accelerating Sales Force Performance october 30-november 3 Women's Director Development Program november 2-4 |
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