2/8/1987 Dream Game '87, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, Phoenix, AZ


 34 years ago today...

February 8, 1987 - Phoenix, AZ

Retired baseball players from the Dodgers and Giants recreated the 1962 playoff for the National League pennant in "Dream Game '87," an old timers fundraiser for Phoenix Memorial Hospital at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

This would be the first of nine of these annual Dream Game fundraisers that I was privileged to be part of.  The idea was to create a years-later "dream matchup" from a historically significant baseball series, bring those players in for an old timers game, and enhance the weekend with a golf tournament, dinner banquet and memorabilia auction.  

Phoenix Memorial Hospital was the beneficiary.  Western Savings & Loan, my client at the time, owned Superstition Springs Golf Club and donated the course for a day each year to Dream Game for a tournament, leading to some terrific opportunities and memories for me with this cool event.

While teams from 1962 didn't really resonate with me, particularly with Koufax, Drysdale, Mays and McCovey sitting out this first-year event, subsequent Dream Games were much more appealing with matchups from years when I was playing and loving the game:
'88:  '72 A's vs Reds
'89:  '68 Tigers vs Cardinals
'90:  '69 Cubs vs Orioles (foiled by the Amazing Mets)
'92:  '76 Yankees vs Royals
'93: '71 A's vs Pirates
'95, '96. '97: AL vs NL

A unique commemorative poster was created for every Dream Game.  Framed versions autographed by all the participating players became a prized and popular item in the auctions and as sponsor gifts and I made sure to get one each year.  The Dream Game '95 poster, my favorite, is signed by seven Hall of Famers: Catfish Hunter, Ron Santo, Joe Garagiola, Yogi Berra, Rollie Fingers, Fergie Jenkins and Lou Brock.

The annual golf tournament was an annual highlight for me, playing along side one of the players in a scramble format.

Dream Games were a terrific charity event back when the market hosted spring training, but had no MLB franchise, only a AAA team.   After a successful 12-year run, the event was discontinued coincidentally at the same time as the Diamondbacks debut.  Now Diamondbacks Charities contributes millions annually to area causes.





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