ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker made his Major League Baseball debut as a 19-year-old on Sept. 7, 1968, for an Atlanta Braves team stacked with great players like Joe Torre, Felipe Alou and Hank Aaron.
Less than a year later, Baker debuted for another organization when he pinned on the eagle, globe and anchor as a United States Marine at Parris Island, South Carolina. Baker's military experience, as well as his family's background — both his father and uncle were in the Navy — made the first annual Naval Academy Classic especially personal.
"It was outstanding for me," he said. "I would have loved to be in a setting like this as a young man. I had been here last summer. I had my son with me. I wanted him to experience it. A lot of America's leaders come from this group of people here. I'd advise a lot of kids to come take in this experience."
The day began with breakfast in the massive King Hall, the dining facility for the entire brigade, and was attended by 50-60 midshipmen joined by Nationals and Red Sox players and staff.
After breakfast, players were split up into two groups to explore parts of the Academy. Cmdr. David R. McKinney, public affairs officer at the Naval Academy, led one of the groups.
"We were able to give them a tour to see some of the things that are important at the Academy," said McKinney. "We saw Memorial Hall where we pay tribute to those graduates who have died in combat. Players then got to see a static display of some Humvees and interact with the Marines, as well as the yard patrol craft to see some of the training the midshipmen do in their time here."
Players were instructed on starting up the Humvees or operating the gun turrets, one of which was equipped with a mounted .50 caliber machine gun and the other a MK19 automatic grenade launcher.
"We were all giddy when we got to go in the Humvee and see the gun on there," said Nationals ace and 2016 National League Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer. "We were all big smiles."
"It'd be a lot of fun to get to shoot these things," added Nationals reliever Koda Glover.
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer, right, throws to Boston Red Sox's Andrew Benintendi in the first inning of an exhibition baseball game at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., Saturday, April 1, 2017.
Photo Credit: Patrick Semansky/AP
As players mingled and tried out equipment, Dusty Baker familiarized himself with the various baseball allegiances of the midshipmen.
"These kids are from all parts of the country, some of them Yankee fans, some of them Red Sox fans, quite a few of them,
now
, are, you know, Cubs fans," he joked.
After Baker graduated from Parris Island, he'd go on to spend six years in the Marine Corps Reserve, a time his players recognize shaped his approach to coaching and leadership.
"He's big on camaraderie," said Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth. "One of his best attributes is bringing people together. He talks about his experiences and draws from that former life. He's done so many things in his life as a competitor and his military background definitely has something to do with it."
After the tour, there was still a baseball game to be played.
Players and coaches were shuttled over to Max Bishop Stadium, a field with a capacity of about 40,000 fewer seats than the players are used to playing in front of. Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper donned a Navy hoodie as he and other players stretched and took batting practice.
2016 American League Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello of the Boston Red Sox even played catch with one lucky midshipman before the game.
"Having the chance to come out and spend time with them and see how everything operates in Annapolis is something you're not going to get anywhere else," he said. "This is exciting for us."
"It's great to understand their day-to-day lives and how they differ from ours," said Porcello's teammate, outfielder Chris Young. "It's also a comparison of our day-to-day lives, the teamwork and working together and being a unit."
Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper is seen past Midshipmen as he jumps in the outfield in the second inning of an exhibition baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., Saturday, April 1, 2017.
Photo Credit: Patrick Semansky/AP
Players and midshipmen stood together on the foul lines during the National Anthem as four H-60 Sea Hawks thundered over the announced crowd of 1,030. Acting Secretary of the Navy Sean J. Stackley threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Dozens of midshipmen manned the rails of the fence along the right field line. When asked who they were looking forward to meeting most, it was almost unanimous. "Everyone wants to meet Bryce."
Bryce Harper won the 2015 National League Most Valuable Player and has been one of the most polarizing figures in the sport since debuting as a 19-year-old in 2012. Playing in this environment, he said after the game, was humbling.
"It puts everything in perspective for us," said Harper. "Hearing them tell their stories and what they're going to do and how they're going to do it, whether that's on a boat or in the air, that's real sacrifice. That's real life."
"They don't get a lot of time off. I know they're busy, so it's nice to give them a chance to get away and watch some baseball," added Nationals shortstop Trea Turner. "It's fun to interact with people who sacrifice so much and give up so much so we can play a game."
The intimate setting of a small crowd and stadium produced a vastly different feeling for the unfamiliar players.
"Brock Holt fouled a ball off of his foot and I started hearing [midshipmen] yell 'Don't rub it' or 'Walk it off' which would usually get on my nerves," laughed Nationals catcher Matt Wieters, "but these guys sacrifice enough to at least say that much."
"It was cool to see them in their element," said long-time National Ryan Zimmerman, who joked that the discipline of the midshipmen may have restrained the excitement a bit. "It was quiet. It was almost like they were too polite."
Even though the game ended in an anticlimactic 4-4 tie, the events of the day had already left a lasting impression.
"It's hard for us to even imagine making a commitment like that," said Adam Eaton, one of the newest members of the Nationals. "To be able to spend some time with them and look into their lives was special for me."
"It's a unique day," added Scherzer.
Teams eventually shuttled back to the locker rooms at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, staff began cleaning up the stadium and midshipmen went back to their routines. This day in particular, though, belonged to the mids.
"They didn't have to come out here," said one beaming midshipman. "It shows that they care about us."
J.D. Simkins is the executive editor of Military Times and Defense News, and a Marine Corps veteran of the Iraq War.
