Where diamond dreams come true

At the start of every Major League Baseball spring training, the three-time World Series champion San Francisco Giants hold their annual Fantasy Camp for earnest fans who want to compete with and against former and current pros in the Arizona desert sunshine.

At San Francisco’s recent Fantasy Camp, Sonoma’s Hal Nickle, at 71 the second oldest person in camp, made the most of his experience playing with the Giants both on the mound and with a bat, and turned his diamond efforts into being named the Most Valuable Player of his camp team.

Nickle, who played college ball at the University of San Francisco and is the father of former major league pitcher Doug Nickle – a Sonoma Valley High School and University of California standout – was determined to make the most of the experience and honed his skills working out with four other campers for eight months. 

Held in late January, the Fantasy Camp was comprised of 114 ballplayers, including six women, and 18 former Giants’ players, and began with morning tryouts, where coaches walked around with clipboards rating players on hitting, fielding, throwing, running and arm strength for the late afternoon draft. 

At the draft, eight teams were formed, each consisting of 14 players ages 25 years and older – every team had individuals in their 20s 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and a sprinkling of 70-year-olds – with seven-inning games, including some double-headers, being held. Everybody hit, whether they were on the field or not.

The pro coaches, all former Giants, included Rich Aurilia, Jim Barr, Vida Blue, Mark Davis, Shawn Estes, Mike Felder, Scott Garrelts, Jim Gott, Ed Halicki, Hobie Landrith, Bill Laskey, Mike McCormick, Rich Murray, John Patterson, Mike Remlinger, Steve Scarsone, Trevor Wilson and Joel Youngblood.

“We walked into the Giants’ Spring Training facility and there was our name on a locker with all of our baseball equipment in it, along with  authentic home and away uniforms containing our names and selected numbers on the back, along with belts, socks, shoes, and long-sleeve undershirts with the Giants’ logo,” said Nickle. “Everyone had a big smile on their face. The Giants trainers were there for us to use during the entire week, and were they kept busy!”

Each day started at 5:30 a.m. and ran until 6 p.m., with batting practice, for those who wanted it, taking place from 7 to 8:30. At 9 a.m. the players headed to a big room where Bill Laskey led discussions with all the former Giants, which included highlights and stories of their careers, before the games began.

“My coaches were former pitcher Jim Gott, who was very easy going and fun, and outfielder Joel Youngblood, who was ‘Mr. Intense.’ Everyone wants to win, but not nearly as much as Joel, currently a batting instructor with the Arizona Diamondbacks,” Nickle stated. “Joel was a good guy, but he put us through the paces as if we were a major league team he was managing or coaching.

“I thoroughly enjoyed both coaches in the evenings – eating dinner and sitting around talking. All of the coaches went out to dinner with us, and being able to socialize with all of the former Giant players and hearing their stories and experiences was amazing. That was a fun part of the camp.”

Each team played two games at the Giants’ Major League Stadium in Scottsdale and four others were held at the Minor League facilities, with the talent level being good, and pitchers throwing mostly in the high 60s to 78 mph, and some reached the 80s. 

“My team ended up 5-1 and in third place, though we should have won the whole thing, but we lost the semifinal game 3-2, though I did have a memorable, and funny, moment,” Nickle said. “I had come in to relieve in the semifinal and pitched five innings to finish the game, afterwhich Shawn Estes and Rich Aurilia came out to the mound to shake my hand. Shawn then commented with ‘Nice game; I thought I was watching Stu Miller on the mound.’ For those who might not know Stu Miller, he was a Giant whose pitch speed was probably timed with an hour glass.”

Nickle went on to win his team’s MVP award after pitching 11 innings in four games and not yielding a run, while hitting .444, with one of his highlights being his walk-off hit up the right-field alley to knock in the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to keep his team’s record at 4-0. He was given the game ball by coach Youngblood.

“It was a great experience, a fun time, especially since I got to share that experience with my son Doug, who captured my Fantasy Camp on film, which was the reversal of what I did when he was in high school, college, and the major leagues,” said Nickle. “I think he felt that he would enjoy the time and get back at me for all those years I coached him – I may have yelled once or twice. I am not sure if I went back next year I could top my performance or the whole experience. But for now, it’s one more thing off my bucket list.”