Ex-Dodgers Go to Bat in Support of Families

Sunday’s gathering of five former Los Angeles Dodgers and several dozen young ballplayers seemed to be strictly about baseball.

But organizers of the free clinic at Agoura High School, including longtime relief pitcher Jim Gott, stressed a broader theme than fielding bunts and catching pop flies.

“The craziness of our world is that families have forgotten to be families,” said Gott, a board member of Children’s Wonderland, an Agoura-based day-care company that sponsored the clinic.

“Here, the numbers are perfect for us. We wanted not to have the masses but to be able to work closely with the kids and allow the parents to be right there.”

On Sunday, parents pushed strollers across the lush infield grass and lingered at the edges of rings of youngsters gathered around the former big-leaguers.

Children’s Wonderland erected a tent along the first-base line to promote sports and adventure camps that are longer, costlier versions of Sunday’s clinic. But CEO Debby Bitticks said this event was intended as a community service.

“Kids grow up very competitive, to the point that they lose their values,” she said.

“We’re trying to provide ways for them to enjoy athletics but build moral character.”

While perhaps aware of the weightier issues, children Sunday focused on the opportunity to get tips from Gott, catcher and 1981 World Series co-MVP Steve Yeager, utility player Lee Lacy, outfielder Chris Gwynn and two-time National League batting champion Tommy Davis.

They giggled when Gwynn teased batters hitting off a tee: “We’ve got a lot of Frank Thomases out here.”

Pawing the ground nervously with shin-high sneakers, they swung their arms around to get ready to throw strikes to Gott.

They paid close attention when Lacy, an Agoura High coach and member of three Dodger World Series teams, delivered encouraging words behind second base.

“You don’t need a whole lot of talent to play baseball,” he said. “What you need is a lot of good, basic fundamentals.”