The M&T team getting ready for action in the dugout.
Talk about a perk.
A team of bankers and some of their clients got to play hooky last week and don baseball uniforms, caps and mitts in place of their usual suits and briefcases.
It was all part of a baseball fantasy camp put on Friday by M&T Bank for some of its employees and customers at the Diamond, culminating with a three-inning game on the Richmond Flying Squirrels’ home turf.
Participants got the full baseball experience: They had their own lockers in the Flying Squirrels locker room, uniforms and even a draft to choose teams Thursday evening.
They warmed up with batting practice, taking pitches from former major leaguer and VCU slinger Cla Meredith. They chased fly balls and grounders. And there was just a bit of trash talk if someone swung and missed.
Also on hand for pointers were former major leaguers Ross Grimsley and Chris Ray. Grimsley, a lefthander who pitched for several teams, including the Baltimore Orioles, is now the Flying Squirrels’ pitching coach. Ray, who won a World Series as a reliever with the San Francisco Giants, is co-owner of Center of the Universe Brewing in Ashland.
An M&T employee taking some big cuts during batting practice.
The M&T team getting ready for action in the dugout.
Talk about a perk.
A team of bankers and some of their clients got to play hooky last week and don baseball uniforms, caps and mitts in place of their usual suits and briefcases.
It was all part of a baseball fantasy camp put on Friday by M&T Bank for some of its employees and customers at the Diamond, culminating with a three-inning game on the Richmond Flying Squirrels’ home turf.
Participants got the full baseball experience: They had their own lockers in the Flying Squirrels locker room, uniforms and even a draft to choose teams Thursday evening.
They warmed up with batting practice, taking pitches from former major leaguer and VCU slinger Cla Meredith. They chased fly balls and grounders. And there was just a bit of trash talk if someone swung and missed.
Also on hand for pointers were former major leaguers Ross Grimsley and Chris Ray. Grimsley, a lefthander who pitched for several teams, including the Baltimore Orioles, is now the Flying Squirrels’ pitching coach. Ray, who won a World Series as a reliever with the San Francisco Giants, is co-owner of Center of the Universe Brewing in Ashland.
An M&T employee taking some big cuts during batting practice.