There’s something about baseball that goes beyond the game itself. It’s the rhythm, camaraderie, shared language, and at the New York Mets Fantasy Camp, baseball becomes something even bigger. It serves as a bridge between generations, a source of healing, and a powerful way to support veterans and military families through Hope For The Warriors.
In the January episode of the Hope For The Warriors Podcast, I sat down with two-time World Series Champion Doug Flynn and Doug Dickey, Head of Fantasy Camp and Events for the New York Mets, to talk about friendship, service, and the unexpected impact of bringing veterans into America’s pastime.
What unfolded was a story about connection, generosity, and the unique power of sports to bring people together.
Two Dougs, One Brotherhood
Before we even got into baseball, we had to clear something up: how exactly do you tell two Doug’s apart?
“It’s either Doug One, Doug Two…or Old Doug and Young Doug,” Flynn joked.
That humor sets the tone for their relationship. It’s easy, respectful, and built over more than a decade of working together at Mets Fantasy Camp. “We both know where our hearts are,” Dickey said. “Everything we do is about making this the best experience possible. Not for us, but for the people who come.”
What Is Mets Fantasy Camp?
Held annually in Port St. Lucie, Florida, Mets Fantasy Camp gives fans the chance to live out a lifelong dream: suiting up, taking the field, and playing alongside former Major League Baseball players.
It’s a full week of games, coaching, locker room banter, and unforgettable memories.
“For a lot of people, it starts as a bucket list item,” Flynn explained. “Then it becomes the gift that keeps on giving. They come back year after year.”
Campers play eight games throughout the week, and by midweek, the aches and pains are real, but so are the smiles. “They’re limping around,” Flynn laughed, “but it’s the best pain they’ll ever have.”
When the Locker Room Becomes Sacred Space
One of the most meaningful aspects of Fantasy Camp happens off the field.
“They don’t meet us as pro baseball players,” Flynn said. “They meet us as people.”
In the locker room, stories are shared about careers, life after baseball, and the moments fans once questioned from the stands.
“It’s a sacred place,” Flynn added. “Doug Dickey has done a great job of keeping it that way.”
That same sacred space becomes even more powerful when veterans are part of the experience.
Kangaroo Court: Laughter With a Purpose
A beloved (and hilarious) tradition at camp is Kangaroo Court, a playful baseball ritual where players are “fined” for small mistakes like upside-down shin guards or uniform mishaps.
But at Mets Fantasy Camp, those fines serve a much bigger purpose.
“All for one reason,” Dickey said. “And that’s to raise money for Hope For The Warriors.”
What started years ago as a few thousand dollars has grown into significant fundraising, thanks to the generosity of campers.
“These folks are unbelievably patriotic,” Flynn shared. “When it comes to supporting our men and women who serve, they give, and they give big.”
Bringing Veterans Into the Game
In recent years, Mets Fantasy Camp has welcomed Hope For The Warriors veterans to participate fully in camp.
“It puts a face to what you’re doing,” Flynn said.
One veteran, Cliff, left a lasting impact during this year’s camp. “He knocked it out of the park,” Flynn said of Cliff’s three-minute testimony. “You could feel the room change.”
Dickey echoed that sentiment. “Watching him go from nervous on day one to confident by the end of the week, that was special,” he said.
Healing Happens Here
For many veterans, the transition out of the military comes with a loss of identity and community. Fantasy Camp helps fill that gap.
“After a day or two, they’re just another player,” Flynn said. “They fit right in.”
Hope For The Warriors Celebrity Program Manager Erin Thompson, who attended camp, saw that transformation firsthand. “You could see his confidence grow,” Thompson shared. “The campers made him part of the family.”
The Impact Extends Beyond the Field
The partnership also opens the eyes of former players and campers to the realities military families face especially through initiatives like Fueling Families, Hope For The Warriors food distribution program.
“It blows my mind that it takes a nonprofit to take care of the folks who take care of America,” Flynn said.
Why Campers Keep Coming Back
With a 95% retention rate, Mets Fantasy Camp is more than an event; it’s a family.
“Eric Hillman calls it Mets Family Camp,” Dickey said. “That really stuck with me.”
Campers support one another through life’s highs and lows, celebrating milestones and rallying in difficult moments.
“It’s a fraternity,” Dickey said. “But more than that, it’s a family.”
Giving Back Without Wearing the Uniform
Not everyone who supports veterans has served, and that’s okay. “There are a lot of ways to give back,” Flynn said. “This is one of them.”
Through baseball, entertainment, and shared experience, Mets Fantasy Camp creates meaningful impact without pressure, guilt, or obligation. “If it’s on your heart,” Flynn said, “be part of the puzzle.”
Learn More About Mets Fantasy Camp
If you’re interested in attending Mets Fantasy Camp or learning more, visit:
Details on main camps, mini camps, and special events are available online.
A Final Thought
As Flynn put it best:
“Baseball has given us a venue to bring people together from different walks of life, and we’re all healing in some way because of it.”
That’s the heart of this partnership. Baseball. Brotherhood. And a shared commitment to supporting those who serve. Because hope isn’t just a word, it’s something we build together.
