Coming off two successful Fantasy Camps in Jupiter, Fla., the St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they will be returning to Cooperstown, N.Y. in 2018 to host a Fantasy Camp at Doubleday Field from June 21-24, the second time they have hosted a camp at the historic baseball field near the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
Presented by Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Company, the four-day camp gives fans the opportunity to play alongside former Cardinals players Rick Ankiel and Ray Lankford, be drafted and managed by Cardinals Alumni Tom Pagnozzi and John Tudor, and interact with Cardinals legends Tim McCarver, Ozzie Smith and Bruce Sutter. The regular season Fantasy Camp has proven to be a popular addition to the yearly Cardinals Fantasy Camps held at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla., which date back to 2001.
“We are the only club in all of baseball that offers this type of experience in Cooperstown, N.Y.,” said Joe Pfeiffer, Cardinals Fantasy Camp Director. “To play baseball at Doubleday Field with and against Cardinals Alumni is the ultimate experience for any Cardinals fan.”
Throughout the four-day camp, up to 48 campers and eight bench coaches will receive instruction from some of the best in baseball and play four games under the management of a former Cardinals player. All four team rosters, managed by Dave LaPoint, Pagnozzi, John Stuper and Tudor, will be determined by a draft, with the former Cardinals/team managers selecting their players. Two former Cardinals will also be drafted onto each roster and will play alongside the rest of the team. Former Cardinals scheduled to play alongside the campers include Ankiel, Tyler Greene, Brian Jordan, Lankford, Jason Marquis, Kyle McClellan, Brad Thompson and Woody Williams. Cardinals players are subject to change.
All campers will receive two authentic, customized St. Louis Cardinals jerseys—a road grey and a Saturday alternate jersey—and will play their games on historic Doubleday Field during the round-robin tournament. At the end of the weekend, one team will be crowned Cardinals Fantasy Camp Champions and receive Fantasy Camp championship rings.
Fantasy Camp registration includes a one-year Family Membership to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, as well as the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum. Additional perks include a private reception in the Hall of Fame Plaque Gallery and a private team dinner and night out in Cooperstown. Scott Terry will lead the camp as Fantasy Camp Commissioner.
A portion of the net proceeds from Cardinals Fantasy Camps benefit the Cardinals Kids Cancer Center at Mercy Hospital. To register for camp, or for more information, fans can visit cardinals.com/fantasycamp or email fantasycamp@cardinals.com. Campers must be 27 years of age or older. Dates for the 2019 Jupiter Cardinals Fantasy Camp at Roger Dean Stadium will be announced later this season.