A time not to be forgotten

To Jim Blueberg, playing Cactus League baseball in March was a thrill he will never forget.

Blueberg, who grew up in the Washoe Valley and now lives in Carson City, spent seven seasons with the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees organizations between 1986 and 1992.

Blueberg spent time in the Phoenix area last week, watching spring training games from the stands with his family and friends. It ranks right up there as one of his biggest thrills.

"Every stage has been fun. When I was playing, I saw what a great atmosphere spring training is and I tried to figure out how to get my friends down to see it all," Blueberg said. "The fans are so close to the game, the players are more accessible than they are during the season, you have the batting practices and you have all these games you can go see that are all within 15, 20 minutes driving time of each other. We've got a place to stay that's maybe 100 yards from the Angels' Tempe Diablo Stadium. It's the ultimate vacation if you're into baseball."

More than 30 fans made the trip together, mostly friends who grew up together in the Washoe Valley and still live in the area.

"We've been doing this the last three or four years and each year the group gets a little bit bigger," Blueberg said. "Most of us grew up together and now we're coaching against each other. The great part was having 16 kids along, anywhere from 8 to 14 years of age. They all had a blast and so did all the parents."

Blueberg is involved with the Carson City American Little League program, and coached the league's 9- and 10-year-old all-stars to a third-place finish at the District 1 Tournament last year. His friend, Brett Bates, now lives in South Reno and coaches in the Washoe Little League. They now have businesses together in Mound House - Blueberg's Blue Mountain Steel and Bates' Champions Fleetwood Home Center. Last week, they got to play some golf and watch baseball together.

"It was a family thing. We did a little golf, the wives got to go shopping, the kids got to play in the pool, and we saw some ball games," Bates said. "It was a blast, especially for the kids. They got some good autographs and they got some foul balls. They never wanted the games to end. They'd have stayed and watched 10 games in a row if they could."

Blueberg's 8-year-old son, Chase, returned home with his glove autographed by former Yankees bullpen star, Rich "Goose" Gossage.

"I still know some of the players and people down there, so that helps," Blueberg said.

Interestingly enough, Blueberg played football and wrestled at Wooster High School before he graduated in 1982, but only took up baseball after moving on to Yuba College in the Sacramento area.

"I was a late bloomer ... after I got to Yuba, I found out I could pitch," he said.

Blueberg was a second-round draft pick of the Mariners in 1986 and worked his way up to Triple-A before he was sent to the Yankees as part of a deal that brought slugging third baseman Mike Blowers to Seattle on May 17, 1991. His playing career was ended a year later by a shoulder injury.

"I was throwing a no-hitter in the eighth inning when I got hurt," Blueberg said. "I could have gone through rehab and tried to come back. Orel Hershiser had just had his surgery, but there were no guarantees at that time. By then, I was married and had a family, so I decided it was time to get on with my life."

While playing with San Bernardino in the California, Blueberg was part of a pitching staff that included eventual major leaguers as Dave Burba, Jeff Nelson, Rich DeLucia and Bill Swift. And during his playing days, he had an opportunity to see a list of Northern Nevada players who eventually worked their way into the majors, including Tom Newell, Shawn Boskie, Charley Kerfeld, Bob Ayrault and Matt Williams.

"I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever. I wouldn't trade anything that's happened for the world," Blueberg said.

That was evident by all the fun he had last week.

"It's such a kick to go down there because I love baseball so much," Blueberg said, "and it's great just seeing the kids get turned on to the game."

Dave Price is a sports writer for the Nevada Appeal