Local businessman and Town of Shawangunk Councilman Brian Amthor got the thrill of a lifetime in early November when he participated in the week-long New York Yankees’ Fantasy Camp at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, FL.

Amthor’s wife Trisha and his parents Butch and Alice decided a trip to the fantasy camp would be the perfect gift for his 43rd birthday in June. Amthor has been a lifelong Yankees fan who has season tickets for the storied New York franchise and for the Hudson Valley Renegades, the team’s High A minor league club in Dutchess County.

“I have to tell you I teared up when I got it,” said Amthor, who is Executive Vice President of Amthor International with offices in Gardiner and Gretna, VA. “It was such an amazing gift.”

Amthor was elated to be wearing a uniform with the same number (23) as his favorite Yankee – Don Mattingly.

“Just being able to put the uniform on and being able to experience the same things as if I was a real Yankee was fantastic,” Amthor said. “Being in the locker room, playing on the same field, having the announcer introduce your name and having your picture on the scoreboard was something I’ll never forget.”

The Yankees did everything possible to make the experience seem like the campers were playing in the major leagues, Amthor said. Amthor signed a contract to play in the camp, which was also signed by Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner.

The first day of the camp was November 7 and Amthor met a number of retired Yankees, including Mickey Rivers, Jeff Nelson, Charlie Hayes, Scott Proctor, Mike Gallego and Shane Spencer.

Amthor was selected to play first base and right field for one of the teams. His team was called the Pinstripes and his coaches were former Yankees pitcher Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez and Proctor. Hernandez pitched for New York from 1998 through 2004, winning three World Series championships in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

Amthor said all the former Yankees couldn’t have been nicer and did all they could to help the players do well and enjoy the experience at the franchise’s minor league complex.

“They want you to have fun, but it’s a learning experience, too,” Amthor said.

Although he didn’t play baseball in high school, Amthor has participated in softball leagues for years.

“I wasn’t good enough to play varsity baseball, but I’ve done really well playing softball the last 20 to 25 years,” he said. “The biggest transition going from softball to baseball was throwing the ball. The ball is a lot bigger in softball, so being able to release the baseball and get back to throwing it like when I was 15 or 16 was probably my biggest challenge.”

In preparation for the camp, the Yankees gave Amthor a two-month workout schedule to get ready for the rigors of the week of practice and games.
“I went to batting cages to hit so when I got there I was ready,” he said.

The campers played eight intersquad games, which were shortened to six innings due to Hurricane Nicole that cost the campers a couple of days of on-field action.

Amthor said he was pleased that he was able to hit a bases-loaded single to drive in a run in his team’s first win.

The campers finished by playing a game vs. ex-Yankees, and he was admittedly nervous.

“We played the legends which was super nerve-racking because the pitchers of the group don’t hold back,” he said. “I was able to make solid contact with a line drive just foul and then I popped out. I was OK with that because in my head I was able to make contact with a major league pitcher.”

Out of 100 campers, Amthor was one of nine selected as an All-Star. “That was such an amazing honor with so many amazing guys, and even more that my family was there to share it with me,” he said.

Amthor said the highlight of the fantasy camp was seeing his wife and son William in the stands holding a sign that read, “Amthor fan today (No. 23), tomorrow, forever.”

He said that capped off a perfect week.

“Being able to look in the stands and seeing my family holding a sign and cheering me on made my heart swell up,” Amthor said.