Players Need A Home

by: Josh Marks

While Blair Field is a place for Long Beach Armada baseball players to pursue their dream of making it to the major leagues, finding housing for four months can be a nightmare.

That is why the Armada is actively seeking host families who are willing to open their home to a ballplayer in exchange for exclusive benefits.

“Basically, anybody with an extra room in their house can host one of our players for the duration of our season,” said Darren Zinser, Director of Operations for the Armada. “In return they receive season tickets for their family, all the benefits of a season ticket holder and the privilege of having a professional baseball player spend the summer with their family.”

It isn’t easy making a living as a minor league baseball player. Most players make an average of a thousand dollars a month. A few players around the league, such as the San Diego Surf Dawgs’ Ricky Henderson, pull in $2,000. While about half the team is local, the other half stay in a hotel room (Seaport Marina) for the summer because temporary housing is expensive and hard to find.

“It’s tough on the player. They are sharing a room, a little tiny hotel room, and they check in when they get back from a road trip and check out when they go on a road trip,” said Zinser.

One family participated last year and two more have signed up this year. However, the team is looking to get close to fifteen host families before the season starts in mid-May.

Janis Nagy and her 16-year-old son Dash hosted Armada second baseman Jeremy Hernandez last year and are doing it again this season. They had been introduced to the host-family concept through the Breakers, the previous minor league baseball team in Long Beach, but were unable to participate at the time. So when they saw a copy of the team schedule at the grocery store and then looked them up on the website, they knew this was going to be a great experience for everyone involved.

“Dash is a huge baseball fan. Having Jeremy with us last summer was like a dream come true for him,” said Nagy. “He was at every single home game and made many friends among the Armada team, fans and families.”

Armada Booster Club President Shawn Kloth and his wife Theresa, who will be hosting a player this year, saw a real change in their nephew Justin, 11, when he became a batboy for the team last year. He went from being introverted to talking and smiling and even doing better in school.

“His whole life has changed just from being a part of the Armada.” said Kloth.

Apparently the Armada liked him as well, they won 18 out of 20 games he was a batboy during the regular season and manager Darrell Evans personally requested him as a batboy for the playoffs.

“He’s a big good luck charm and the team’s noticing this and it’s like wow!” said Kloth with a laugh.

As to why other families should consider hosting a ballplayer, Long Beach teacher Janie Knowles, who is hosting this year along with her husband and fellow teacher, Curt, and their three kids, says her family has hosted people before and it is a great experience.

“I would hope the community will see how simple hosting is, how helpful it is for the players and hopefully how it will help keep a minor league team in Long Beach,” said Knowles.

For more information about hosting an Armada player this year call Darren Zinser at (562) 597-9787 or go to www.longbeacharmada.com.