June 2003

What child doesn't love play-acting as his or her favorite baseball player? Winding up to pitch in the All Star game, or choking up on the bat during the World Series? But while most kids share this fantasy, only a lucky few have the opportunity to learn how to do it the right way. Luckily, Mets team captain John Franco makes this fantasy a reality in Staten Island each summer with the John Franco All-Star Baseball Camp.

Franco's first foray into youth baseball camps was in Cincinnati in 1986 when he pitched for the Reds. He discontinued that venture when he became a Met in 1989, but brought to New York his knowledge and experience that he gained about teaching baseball to the next generation.

After a couple of years off from running a camp, Franco decided that the time was right to start a camp in his native city. Along with his brother, Jim Franco, and friend Bobby Nappo, in 1994 the John Franco All-Star Baseball Camp came to Brooklyn. Starting the camp in Brooklyn was special for the Francos and Nappo because the three men grew up in the area and all played baseball for Lafayette High School.

This summer the camp will begin its tenth season, but it has changed significantly from its Brooklyn beginnings. For starters, it is now located at the Great Kills Little League in Staten Island. There are several reasons for this move. One is that Staten Island has a great deal of youngsters who are excited about playing baseball, as is evidenced by the large number of major Little Leagues that are hosted by the borough. Another is a matter of simple convenience -- John Franco lives about five minute away from the Great Kills location, and most of the other staffers are Staten Island residents as well. John Franco elaborates, "Being back in the old neighborhood was fun, but it's not the same as when I was a kid. It seems to me that now that we're in Staten Island, everyone takes their sports really seriously, like when I was in Brooklyn when I was young."

Another major change in the program is the number of opportunities kids have to participate. What started out as a one week camp has blossomed into five -- four weeks of teaching baseball, and this year, for the first time, there will be one week exclusively devoted to girls softball.

The partnership between John Franco, Jim Franco and Bobby Nappo works because they each have clearly delineated duties and responsibilities. Jim Franco is in charge of camp administration. Nappo, who is also the head baseball coach of Brooklyn's Canarsie High School, programs and coordinates the camp and its daily itinerary. Nappo's staff is comprised of coaches from various high schools and colleges, while the counselors are either current or former players on the high school or college levels.

As for John Franco, he provides the motivation and inspiration to the campers. Whenever his schedule permits it, John visits the camp during the week to spend time with the ballplayers of tomorrow. "In my opinion, there needs to be camps like ours to teach kids the game of baseball," says John. "There's so much to distract a kid today, and baseball is such a part of life. When I talk to the kids, I always preach family to them, and I always make them understand they should never doubt their ability." But he goes on to explain that they never lose sight of the fact that their campers are, primarily, impressionable kids. "We don't pressure anyone. We want them to leave at week's end knowing they learned something they can keep the rest of their lives."

Towards that goal, the camp works the kids hard, but also rewards them for their efforts. The mornings are devoted to instruction, and in the afternoons the kids play five or six inning games. Contests are held, giving the campers a chance to try out and show off their newly acquired skills. At the end of the week, all campers are given report cards with feedback about their progress. Each camper is also given a hat, a camp shirt and a certificate. There is also the fun stuff -- each camper receives something to bring home, be it an item donated by the Mets, something given to the camp by Major League Baseball, or something purchased by the camp specifically to be given to the kids. But, as Jim Franco explains, "The highlight of most weeks is when John shows up. He speaks to the kids, signs autographs, and takes pictures with the kids."

And the kids are really what this is all about. John Franco feels that, "kids today are the same as they were back then [when I was young]. The only difference is that we didn't have as much, which is why baseball was a twenty-four hour thing for my brother and me. Now it's the same for my son, who eats and sleeps sports -- baseball and basketball are his thing now." The Franco family's ability to remember what it was like to love baseball while growing up and to share that love with the next generation are a major reason that the John Franco All-Star Baseball Camp is such a meaningful experience for the children who attend.

Meanwhile, as Mets fans are aware, John Franco has another priority these days. He is on the road to recovery after undergoing Tommy John surgery last May. When asked about how he is doing with his rehabilitation, the Captain replied, "So far, so good. I don't want to circle any dates, but there's no doubt I'll be back."

The John Franco All-Star Baseball Camp is open to boys and girls age 6-13. The baseball sessions will take place July 21-25, July 28-August 1, August 11-15 and August 18-22. The girls softball camp will be taught August 4-8. Kids who either cannot attend the summer camp or who would like to supplement their summer experiences may attend one of the camp's winter clinics -- the location and dates of these sessions will be finalized at a later date. Anybody interested in a brochure or more information about enrolling children in the camp may call 718-333-2752, e-mail JFBaseballCamp@aol.com, or write to the following address:

John Franco All-Star Baseball Camp

c/o Jim Franco, Camp Director

119 Bay 40th Street

Brooklyn, NY 11214