Caribbean (Bonaire) Clinic
One of my favorite memories in baseball will always be my baseball camps instructing several dozen youth and young men of the Caribbean island of Bonaire, and surrounding islands of Curacoa and Aruba. Despite ballfields without a blade of grass, and using ‘game’ baseballs that aren’t always free of marks, or wear, they have an unquenchable thirst for everything baseball. I had the honor and pleasure of putting on baseball clinics on the mechanics of hitting…
Conducting clinics in hitting, pitching and fielding for the ball players of the Caribbean island of Bonaire, and surrounding residents of Curacoa, and Aruba, I had one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. The main baseball complex was filled with several dozen ballplayers for each clinic ranging in age roughly from 9 – 21 years. At the start I promised to limit each clinic to 90 minutes. Between my adrenaline and passion for the game, combined with the overwhelming enthusiasm to learn, and appreciation for my time, as I went 3 hours with each clinic.
Somewhere among the young players attending ‘The Swing Doctor’ clinics in Bonaire was a 12 or 13 year-old boy who had a dream to play one day in the major leagues. That player is Xander Bogaerts, of the Boston Red Sox. In 2015 Xander had the fourth highest batting average in the American League, and the highest batting avg. for the shortstop position. He was awarded the Louisville Slugger Silver Bat award for his magnificent accomplishment.
Besides the multiple clinics I donated, over four thousand pounds of new or gently used baseball gear was donated and delivered with the help of Metro-Athletic, General Sports of Edina, Glen Lake Mighty Mites Baseball, the University of Minnesota and Coach John Anderson, and Federal Express.
With the help and generosity of Metro Athletic, General Sports of Edina, The Glen Lake Mighty Mites, the University of Minnesota, and local Bonaire Remax realtor Bob Bartikoski, I was able to raise nearly 4,000 pounds of donated new and gently used baseball equipment. With the help of Fed Ex I was able to save a great deal of money on shipping as well.