Jays from the glory days shared their knowledge with youngsters at a Blue Jays Academy camp here.
The three-day camp May 9 to 11 at the Royal Distributing Athletic Performance Centre provided young ballplayers a chance to learn fundamentals of the game from two members of the World Series teams of 1992 and 1993, second baseman Roberto Alomar and centre fielder Devon White, as well as slugging outfielder George Bell and Lloyd (The Shaker) Moseby from the playoff squad of the late 1980s. Sandy Alomar Sr., Roberto’s father and a fellow All-Star who enjoyed a 15-year career in the majors, also helped out with the instructional duties.
T. J. Burton, coordinator of amateur baseball for the Blue Jays, said the camps are about generating interest in baseball among Canadian youth.
“We want to try to grow the game of amateur baseball across Canada. We get to every province with these camps,” he said, noting the 26 camps planned this year is a record for the organization.
“It’ a great opportunity for our alumni to come back and spread their knowledge and we’ve got some qualified academy coaches here as well.”
Burton said the organization has no trouble finding Jay’s alumni to volunteer for the camps. “Whenever you mention kids around these guys they are always willing to come and help out. They love giving back. It’s a lot of fun for them to catch up as well and to get back to Canada.”
The Blue Jays have held one-day instructional camps at the Marden facility in the past, but Burton says this is the first three-day “super camp” featuring former players.
“The facility is beautiful and the people running it have been great,” Burton said, adding, “It’s a group effort by a bunch of different people, but when it all comes together it’s pretty special for the kids.”
While it’s been over 20 years since playoff fever gripped these parts, Burton says thanks to the internet, today’s youngsters are familiar with the stars of that era.
“It’s a lot of fun for them and it’s great to see them go back and look at the past. There were some pretty special times here in ‘92 and ‘93.”
