It is America’s No. 1 game, the national pastime. And it is Rick Movroydis’ passion — has been for most of his 55 years.
A Milwaukee native and Chrysler quality assurance supervisor, Movroydis, wife Ellen and sons Niko and Ari, moved to Kokomo in 1998. Recently, he lived his dream while walking in the footsteps of former Braves Warren Spahn, Johnny Sain, Lew Burdette, Eddie Mathews, Hank Aaron, Del Crandall, Bill Bruton, Johnny Logan, Wes Covington, Red Schoendienst, Joe Adcock, Paul Molitor, Robin Yount, Phil Niekro and Damien Miller.
Little did Movroydis realize during his “scrub” days at Milwaukee Hamilton High School (1969-73) and his backyard stints with his father, George, who “threw me knucklers and curveballs,” that he would step on Brewer turf as one of 68 performers in Milwaukee’s fantasy camp. His experience did come to pass in an unusual way.
“My mother, father and one of my best friends passed away within a few months and it was very stressful,” he began. “My sisters, Toni and Marianne, said I needed to get away. Another friend, Mike Walczak, won a trip to the camp, but I’d never been. I called the Brewer office, and they sent me a packet giving me things to work on. I spent a lot of time running, throwing and playing racquetball to get in shape. It was real pricey [$4.000], but I had to do it. We supplied our own cleats and gloves, but they provided the uniforms.
“We flew to the Brewers’ training facility in Phoenix, Ariz., had a tryout and player draft and went through very strenuous conditioning, hitting and baserunning sessions on which Brewer coaches graded us. They were fabulous, told a lot of stories and gave us nicknames.
“We played doubleheaders every day, and I pitched against several former Braves,” Movroydis said. “They called me ‘Rocket Rick.’ We attended a Brewer-Cardinals game and received the real major league treatment — gave us our own baseball cards, took us out on the field and announced us and put our names on the scoreboard, a fascinating experience. The following day we played in Miller Park. Aaron and Logan were at the camp, and I was so pumped up when I heard that fan noise.”
Movroydis, who played in an upper-level amateur league until he was 33 and then umpired with his father for many years, proved he hadn’t lost his eye at the plate. He finished with 11 hits in 24 at-bats, including two doubles and a game-winning hit or, as he put it, “my claim to fame.”
He also pitched several innings and gave up just five hits in a winning role in his first of several stints. “They didn’t clock us, but I did have a bad curveball,” he said with a laugh.
“Some people say baseball is dead, but it’s very much alive and still America’s game,” Movroydis said. “It’s also a grind,” referring to the 162-game schedule. “This was the experience of my life, more than I thought it’d be. I wasn’t sure I could do it, but I pitched 15 innings overall, had cleats on for eight hours and got sore feet and blisters. I wish I’d planned and prepared earlier, but I’m glad I did it. I could just feel my father when I pitched.
“Looking back I still have a smile on my face, and I’ll live and relive those memories forever,” he said, adding that the Brewer uniform, baseball cards will always have a special place in the Movroydis household.
Sports
Movroydis has a blast at Milwaukee’s fantasy camp
He says he’ll cherish memories forever
- Sports
-
-
Fritz, other friends help carry on Gabriel’s vision
Tony Gabriel was an easy pick for the Howard County Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. He was a four-sport standout at Taylor High School and later a seven-time state racquetball champion in singles and doubles.
-
Comets making progress
Much like any coach would expect in his first season leading a young team, Eastern baseball coach Nick Sale has helped his team deal with the growing pains that come with regime and philosophy changes.
-
Tipton survives M-G, savors softball sectional 3-peat
It looked like a blowout early and turned into a nail-biter late, but in the end, Friday’s Class 2A Eastern Sectional Softball final between Tipton and No. 3-ranked Madison-Grant turned out the same way as each of the previous two years.
-
Schubert wraps up standout collegiate track career
Megan Schubert could easily lament lost opportunities and think about ‘what if’ scenarios looking back at her track and field career at the University of Louisville.
-
Comets, Kats, Panthers sending athletes to state
After announcing his retirement late last week, Eastern boys track and field coach Paul Nicholson knew Thursday’s Kokomo Regional could be the final meet of his 43-year career. Senior Josiah Price and junior Grant Cole made sure it wasn’t.
-
New Western basketball coach is right at home
Bart Miller’s passion for Western basketball runs deep.
Miller, like his father and brother before him, played for the Panthers. He started and was the third-leading scorer on the Panthers’ 1990 Kokomo Sectional championship squad.
-
Tipton, Madison-Grant reach final of Eastern Sectional
Tipton’s softball team had enough to get past Elwood and into the championship of the Class 2A Eastern Sectional on Wednesday night. Friday night, the Blue Devils will need more to hoist the hardware.
-
Beeler, Hurst pitch Panthers into title game
Western softball pitchers Erika Beeler and Madi Hurst are getting their first meaningful postseason innings in the circle in this year’s Class 3A Twin Lakes Sectional, but unknowing spectators would never know.
-
Raiders hold off Wildkats
Kokomo and Harrison each had three hits after two innings of their Class 4A Lafayette Jeff Sectional game on Wednesday in Loeb Stadium.
Control problems for Kokomo starting pitcher Chase Hatfield allowed the Raiders to turn their three hits into four runs and they used those runs to earn a 6-5 win.
-
Benton C. turns back N’western
Northwestern’s baseball team saw an early lead disappear in a 7-5 loss to Benton Central in a Class 3A West Lafayette Sectional game Wednesday.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
