While today’s major leaguers spend the summer traveling from ballpark to ballpark, a group of former professional baseball players brought their experience to Uniondale Avenue Park for a day of instruction, mentorship and fun.
The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association’s Legends for Youth program, a nationwide initiative that offers free clinics for children ages 6 to 16, visited Uniondale Little League to share the fundamentals of baseball while emphasizing sportsmanship, teamwork and life lessons both on and off the field.
The Little Leaguers stepped into the batter’s box last Saturday to face pitches from former New York Mets hurler Kevin Baez, and rotated through stations focused on hitting, fielding, pitching, catching and base running. Before the games started, the former pros offered instruction. By the end, they were sharing stories from their playing careers and posing for photos, and youngsters picked up signed baseballs and gave the former players high-fives.
For former Mets outfielder Art Shamsky, 84, a member of the 1969 World Series champion Miracle Mets, the clinic was an opportunity to share lessons that extend far beyond baseball. He explained how failure can teach valuable lessons, using baseball as an apt example. If a player swings 10 times and gets three hits, he said, that means he also made seven outs. What matters is how players recover from those setbacks.
“Baseball is a great sport to teach teamwork, humility, and how to deal with failure,” Shamsky said.
The game, he added, helps young athletes learn how to handle adversity, work toward goals and build relationships that often last long after their playing days are over.
“I always ask one question to kids when I meet them: ‘Do you love the game?’” Shamsky said. “They raise their hands, then you know you’ve got somebody that’s going to listen to you — whether they get any better or not,” he joked.
“It’s very, very important and very special to me,” he added of the association’s work. “I love showing my World Series ring to these kids — I’ll let them try it on if they want.”
Andy Parton, vice president of the association, said that its mission is to use baseball as a tool to help young athletes develop both on and off the field. “The alumni association has been one of the main missions of promoting the game — it’s just one of the things they do,” Parton said. “And it gets kids interested, gives them some baseball skills as well as life skills, too. If they’re interested in baseball, they want to just keep feeding that passion.”
Founded in 1982, the association’s mission is not only to promote the game with the help of its alumni, but also to raise money for charity. Its clinics impact more than 19,000 children each year, giving them a unique opportunity to interact with players who may have left a lasting impression on them through games they’ve watched or stories they’ve heard. The organization reaches children across the United States and internationally, including in Italy, China, the Dominican Republic, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Fred Cambria, 78, said the clinics stress the importance of mastering the fundamentals of baseball while fostering a love for the game.
“We do all the fundamentals, which is so important,” Cambria said. “It’s a great fundamental tool to teach these young men and ladies to enjoy the game. And that’s the most important part.”
The lessons resonated with many of the players in attendance. Eleven-year-old first baseman Rhylan Bailey, who has played Little League ball for six years, said the clinic reinforced the game’s fundamentals and the importance of teamwork and communication.
“Teamwork is the most important thing,” he said.
The player Rhylan connected with most was former Oakland Athletics outfielder Pat Lennon, who spoke about confidence, achieving goals and striving for greatness.
Ten-year-old Cameri Coke said he was inspired by stories about the hard work and commitment required to reach the major leagues — particularly those shared by Lennon. John Doherty, who pitched for the Detroit Tigers, also spoke about discipline.
“I liked his speech. He said if you want results, you have to put in the work,” Cameri said of Lennon. “He said he practiced 2,000 swings a day in the mirror before he [went] to sleep. I think you need to be dedicated.”
Clinic organizers said the goal isn’t necessarily to produce future major leaguers, but rather to help young athletes gain confidence, learn to work with others and develop a lifelong appreciation for the sport.
The former players stressed the importance of hard work, teamwork, discipline and character — lessons that participants like Cameri Coke said they would carry with them long after the final pitch.
For more information on how to find a local clinic, visit tinyurl.com/FindALeagueClinic. Those interested in bringing a clinic to their town can email clinics@mlbpaa.com.
