Movroydis has a blast at Milwaukee’s fantasy camp

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October 14, 2009

He says he’ll cherish memories forever

By GENE F. CONARD The Kokomo Tribune Wed Oct 14, 2009, 11:41 PM EDT

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.

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