Spencer’s Wishes and the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association joined forces with the Salt Lake Bees and Major League Baseball for the “Play Ball” youth clinic this past Saturday at Smith’s Ball Park in Salt Lake City.
Over 500 kids from various parts of the state, including the Castle Country, participated in a number of baseball and softball drills led by former MLB and current Salt Lake Bees players, as well as college and high school student athletes.
“The big deal is participation. We really want to be sure we have a lot of kids out here playing and that they can have a good time,” said Marc Amicone, Vice president and General Manager of the Salt Lake Bees “It doesn’t matter if you’re good or not, you still get your turn and you just have a great time.”
The MLB “Play Ball Initiative”, is referred to as the sport’s largest collective effort to encourage young people to participate in baseball or softball activities. It highlights the many ways baseball can be played, including outside of traditionally organized leagues and tournaments.
Once again Spencer’s Wishes provided the free experience for over 100 kids in the local area. The non-profit children’s charitable organization, which was founded in 2001, has turned the Salt Lake baseball clinic into a tradition.
“The kids really just eat it up and they love to get to know the players,” said Phil Roundy, Vice President of Spencer’s Wishes. “If you are an adult and you have children who enjoy baseball or softball, this is the place to bring them.”
Others in attendance included former Anaheim Angels general manager and current MLB Vice President of Youth Programs Tony Reagins, Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski, former MLB catcher and Taylorsville High School legend John Buck, and 1960 Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Vern Law.
Buck, who recently retired in 2015 after an 11 year career, views the Play Ball Initiative as a much needed avenue to attract youth to one of the most popular sports in the country.
“Technology brings a lot more distraction to kids today, where we used to distract ourselves years ago,” he said. “I think organized, structured baseball sometimes takes it too far as well. We take the fun out the game so early, so we need events like this to where the kids come out and just have fun and play ball.”
While the clinic was an outstanding success for the first of its kind, Amicone says the Bees plan on hosting one each summer in the future. “We are spoiled as players and people who get to work in baseball. If we don’t spread some of that goodness on the people that we interact with, then we are not doing what we need to do.”
For more information on Spencer’s Wishes and future events surrounding the charity visit spencerswishes.org.
*Picture features John Buck and Phil Roundy