CAMP TURNS FANTASY TO REALITY: TEN LOCAL MEN WILL TEST THEIR METTAL AGAINST CARDINAL GREATS

About every American boy who has stood in a sandlot, tightly gripping a bat and viciously kicking at the dirt, has had the dream -- hitting a home run off of his favorite professional pitcher.

For Cape Girardeau pharmacist Bob Pritchard, well past his sandlot days, the pitcher is Bob Gibson. And he might make his dream a reality when he and nine other Cape Girardeau residents attend a St. Louis Cardinals Legends camp this week in Jupiter, Fla.

"I was a Yankee fan until the '64 World Series, then I fell in love with the Cardinals, and I've been in love with them ever since," Pritchard said.

All the Legends players are former Cardinals. Baseball greats including Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Al Hrabrosky and Tom Pagnozzi will serve as coaches and mingle with campers throughout the week.

When the men arrive Wednesday, they'll receive the royal treatment. They get their own lockers, uniforms and baseball cards. In the locker room, a fantasy camper might find his locker is two down from Todd Worrell.

Campers will head to the park for draft picks Thursday. And once they hit the practice field, campers will be coached by the former Cardinals.

"That's part of the big deal, it's the whole experience of being a big league ballplayer," said Judy Egelhoff, director of the camp and a special projects director for the Health Careers Foundation.

"It's really not about being good, but about the experience of being with the guys and being treated like a ballplayer," Egelhoff said.

The foundation was established a decade ago by a group of health care executives concerned about a shortage of medical workers. Led by Earl Norman, board chairman and president of Cape Girardeau-based Health Services Corporation of America, the executives formed the Health Careers Foundation, which offers a joint loan and scholarship program to men and women interested in pursuing health-care careers.

About 90 people will attend the Legends camp sponsored by the foundation. This is the first year the foundation has organized the camp, al-though nearly every ballclub has such an operation.

The Legends camp, which costs about $3,500 per person, is one of many fund-raising activities that support the foundation. The campers represent a cross-section of ages. The youngest camper is 30, and the oldest will be 75 in a few weeks, Egelhoff said.

Area campers range in age from mid-30s to 71. Most haven't touched a baseball in years.

"I still jog some and I'm pretty active, but I haven't thrown a baseball really in probably 30 years, so that's made a difference," said Jim Maurer, co-owner of Rhodes 101 stores.

Most of the campers have spent the past six weeks working on conditioning and game skills with Mark Hogan, head baseball coach at Southeast Missouri State University.

Hogan said the players have been faithful and hardy despite the variance in their abilities. His collegiate players were surprised and impressed with the campers' willingness to arrive early and practice long hours.

"It's been some of the most fun I've had," Hogan said. "I know why these guys are out here. It's because they absolutely enjoy the game."

But even with Hogan's assistance, players said they are hoping not to be placed in the outfield, where substantial throwing and running would be required.

"I think all the people over 45 will want to be first- or second-basemen," said Pritchard. "Since my arm is about shot, I'm hoping to play second base."

A Web site will provide daily updates about the camp, and players will end their training Sunday with a game against their coaches.

When the players leave, they'll come back with team pictures, baseball cards and a videotape of their week at camp. But the fulfillment of childhood dreams is something that can't be recorded in a keepsake, they said.

"I think it'll give me a little more insight into how much they work, how they're treated, and just to see how people who have such fame are to be around in person," said Jerry Sanders, an assistant administrator at Southeast Missouri Hospital. "Who wouldn't want to go to something like this?"