The ask.

The Boys of Summer - Second Base, sequel to the award-winning first documentary, began principal photography on March 13, 2014. We need your help. Please visit our kickstarter page and share it with your friends and family.

 
The ask. This is the time in a fundraiser when many, including myself at times, turn the channel, click the off button or scurry off to do some laundry. It’s uncomfortable asking for money and it’s uncomfortable being asked. You’ve been warned.

And so I’m asking – boldly, brazenly and openly for your financial support of the documentary sequel to Boys of Summer. The original film proved our intent and worth. In the last ten years the story has grown in many ways, as my dad explains briefly in this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwAzpE4Qq9g).

We are less than two weeks away from the end of our campaign. We achieved the first leg of the trip during Spring Training in Phoenix earlier this month. My dad has been granted free treatment at an interesting and progressive health center in Las Vegas called Superior Health Solutions. He’s also been accepted to have a biopsy of his skin cells grown and developed by the New York Stem Cell Foundation. Both agencies have given me open access to document the process as part of the new film.

I’ve kept our costs as low as I can, accounting for flights, lodging, ground transportation and food in our travels to the six baseball parks that have been built since 2004 and a return to the Field of Dreams. This film is an important case study that demonstrates how one man has dealt with his disease, his life and his family against the backdrop of America's past time. He is an inspiration. Watching him you will laugh, think and cry; what more could you ask for?

Please donate and share this link (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/robertcochrane/boys-of-summer-second-base-reboot) with others so they might do the same.

Thank you,


Robert Cochrane
Director, Producer “Boys of Summer”

What is baseball?

What is baseball?

After watching (or, more accurately, re-waching) four baseball films and meditating on the sport through the lens of our proposed follow up documentary, something simple came to me: baseball is a vehicle, not the end game. Where it takes us is much more important that what it does. It serves as a support system, a spine of sorts, that allows us to fill in the details around. The four “baseball films” and their true intent seem to bear that truth out. 

The Final Season – It’s about saving a small town in Iowa

Eight Men Out – It’s about corruption

Field of Dreams – It’s about healing and fulfilling a dream

The Natural – It’s about redemption

It’s the same with Boys of Summer. Though it leans heavily upon baseball, it’s not about baseball. It’s about relationships – fathers and sons, fans and teams, indivduals and their bodies which are doing strange things.  

Baseball is a great sport. At the same time, it’s a bit of a dumb animal. It can’t, by itself, do anything. It can be played in a way that can move people to terrific heroics on one hand and murder on the other. In that sense, again, it is a conduit, a mirror and a vehicle.

Where do you want it to take you?

For players, it may be fame, fortune, the thrill of feeling what their bodies are capable of. For owners, it may be money, ancillary properties and the ability to build and maintain a public trust.

For fans it’s the thrill of taking part in a lucid, voyeuristic dream – one that makes the impossible seem possible. The slowness at which the game is played fuels that serenity. The daily grind itches at one’s soul, not allowing it to leave until it is scratched…only to itch again the next day.

I want baseball to take us all on the road - both literally and figuratively. I want to share this journey with those I’ve met before and those we’ll meet anew. I want to talk about dreams and fears, life and death. I want the latest and greatest minds on PD to share what has changed ten years later and where hope lies today. I want to experience the greatness of the people of America, the adventure of the road and a game of catch with my dad and my son at once. I want to help build a new generation and allow people’s stories to be heard by all.

Baseball is a vehicle. It sits by the side of the road, ready to take us wherever our dreams allow. It doesn’t ask for much beyond daily attention. While that may sound like a lot, the return is infinite.

The Boys of Summer - Second Base, sequel to the award-winning first documentary, began principal photography on March 13, 2014. We need your help. Please visit our kickstarter page and share it with your friends and family.

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #162

You can see the complete film "Boys of Summer" for free by clicking here. 

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

Feb. 20, 2007 - Paulette

Walnut Creek, CA

I’m looking back. There are things I wish I knew then what I know now so I could handle them differently. But I don’t blame myself. I would have been more encouraging. I think dad felt guilty. I wish he wouldn’t have -- that he could have gone with a freer heart. But it wasn’t so -- that’s just the way it was.

I’m thrilled with what the trip did for Bob’s and Dan’s relationship. Bob worked so darn hard -- I don’t know how much he enjoyed it.

They do have the memories. Jumping in the ocean, the Field of Dreams -- it was amazing. At the Auters, the Payzants, with Naiden -- all the opportunities and the people you met. You can’t put words to it. I am so grateful.

Had Christine said “mom I want to do this journey with you”, I’m sure I would have gone. I didn’t feel left out. If I wanted to go on the whole trip I could have. There were responsibilities at home.

Just to see the power of this film and the good that it has done and will do...it’s hope, it’s relationship. Yeah, dad’s got Parkinson’s Disease, but he isn’t Parkinson’s Disease, he’s a man who’s got Parkinson’s Disease. Like me, I’m a person who’s got bipolar but I live. I enjoy life. Before I was waiting for the next shoe to fall. I was feeling not in control in my life. I’m not saying I’ll never have an episode again. That happens -- life goes on, things happen. But right now things are good. I want to get ready for life -- living one day at a time. I can be prepared by working my program.

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #92

You can see the complete film "Boys of Summer" for free by clicking here. 

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

Interview with Pam Milton, 

Young Onset Parkinsoian 

at the YOPN, Minneapolis 2004

Pam Milton

RC:

Women are less-known to have Parkinson’s. Do you have any numbers or percentages on that?

PM:

I don’t know the percentage but you’re right. There are a lot more men than women. 

RC:

Do people act surprised when you tell them you have Parkinson’s?

PM:

Oh yeah. Very. I’ve had it for 19 years. 

RC:

And how did you come about knowing you had it?

PM:

When I was pregnant with my first son, I was 22, my right hand started shaking. I went to the neurologist and he said, I don’t know what’s wrong with you. And it took me 15 years to get a diagnosis. It wasn’t until Michael J Fox came out and said he had it. And some people said, y’all are exactly the same age, maybe you have it, too. And they tried me on sinemet and it worked. So I found out in 1999. 

RC:

And what was that feeling when you got the diagnosis?

PM:

I was elated at first because I thought, “I know what’s wrong with me”. I’m not crazy. It’s not all in my head. It’s not just nerves. But then it sunk in. What got me was that it’s not just physical. The cognitive stuff is what gets me. 

RC:

What have you experienced on the cognitive front?

PM:

The short-term memory loss. Inability to...numbers don’t work any more. Checkbook? Forget about it. Don’t do it. Not being able to find words. Not being able to remember -- oh, I was sitting at my laptop the other day and I couldn’t remember where the phone cord went. I was looking over the whole thing and it just wasn’t there. I had to have someone show me. Just stuff like that. 

RC:

So is that frustrating?

PM:

Yeah, it’s frustrating. Sometimes it makes me feel old. I don’t want to feel old. I’m only 42. I’m not ready to feel old yet. 

RC:

You said we were living your dream. What do you mean?

PM:

I’ve wanted to go to Yankee Stadium. I’ve wanted to go to Wrigley Field. I’ve wanted to go all over, just visiting different baseball fields. My dad thought I was going to be a boy, so I’ve been watching the Atlanta Braves since I was five years old -- or younger. And they finally got good. They’re finally worth watching which is fantastic. My oldest son played in high school. He played since he was four. And now he doesn’t play any more and I’m like, “I want baseball!” He was a pitcher and he was good. He had a curveball that could make a batter look stupid. 

RC:

You’re a proud mama.

PM:

Oh, just a little bit. We used to laugh -- he’d get up on the mound and I’d hide behind the pole because I couldn’t watch him. I’d hide and then I’d look and then I’d get out there and start yelling. He’d look over at me and go, “Shut up, mom!”

(She laughs)

I’ve always told my husband that I want to rent an RV, drive around the country and just go to all the baseball fields. 

RC:

Do you think you might do that?

PM:

I don’t know. I don’t know. Maybe one day. It would be awesome. But when I heard what y’all are doing I thought, “God! They’re living my dream! I want to do that so bad!”

RC:

What’s great about baseball?

PM:

The fans. The fans are fantastic. The Atlanta fans are great. I’ve watched different events happen for players -- milestones where the fans were so curteous and so appreciative of what they’re watching. I was listening to the radio when Hank Aaron hit 715. It was awesome. It was so cool. I was listening the year before, the last game when he didn’t hit it. You know? It was almost there and he just didn’t quite get it. 

It’s...it’s America. I love football. I love college football. Pro football -- eh. But baseball -- baseball is great. My grandmother’s 87 years old. She never misses a Braves game. I mean, we had a family reunion last weekend. She went downstairs. Forgot about everybody, went downstairs and watched the Braves. It’s just great. 

RC:

You said baseball is American. What does that mean?

PM:

Aw, come on. Okay, I’ve got some  friends here from England. And they’re going to the Twins game on Sunday. And we were talking about it and they said, “We don’t even know what it’s about. We don’t have baseball.”

RC:

Do you think the history of the game is important?

PM:

Oh yeah. I used to work in insurance and we had a customer that would come in and he was really, really old. And everybody would say, he’s older than the first day of baseball. It’s always been there. 

My dad used to sell sporting gear. He has a Hank Aaron jersey that Hank Aaron signed. It was going to be mine, until I had two brothers. I have a feeling they’ll get it. 

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #83.2

You can see the complete film "Boys of Summer" for free by clicking here. 

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

On the subway, going to see the Mets:

RC:
What is the best stadium you’ve seen so far and why?

DC:
Fenway, because it was so simple and natural.

RC:
What did you think about meeting those young ladies at the gas station last night?

DC:
It was like a dream. I’m still kind of blinking and wondering if it really happened. They were so full of life and so full of the journey they were on -- kind of a similar journey. It was remarkable.

RC:
You said the other day that there are too many coincidences.

DC:
There was another example of it. There have been a number of them along the way and I’m constantly surprised with how closely they align themselves with what we’re doing. And how compatible they are. It seems extraordinary.

RC:
So does that change any belief systems you had? Has this trip changed any of your belief systems about anything?

DC:
I think about compassion and...people are more compassionate than I would have expected. And when they’re allowed to be, they’re more thoughtful.

RC:
What do you mean “when they’re allowed to be”?

DC:
Well, it’s opening up to them. Inviting them into your world.

RC:
So this trip has forced you to open yourself up more?

DC:
Oh definitely. And it was interesting in Minneapolis meeting with the Parkinsonians, Jack said more than once that the disease tends to cause him to pull himself into his circle of comfort. And he was thankful we were having the event we were having because it was something he wouldn’t normally do. And of course we’re doing something that I wouldn’t normally do -- much larger than a trip to the ballpark. It’s a trip around the country. It’s a natural thing when your abilities are becoming less to find comfort in the familiar but it’s also...it’ll end up...maybe that’s what John Trudeau meant when he said “Don’t let the disease eat you.”

RC:
So are you still thinking about that a little bit?

DC:
Oh sure. That’s one of the ones that resonates. There’s less I can do about the physical part. There’s more I can do with the mental part. That’s to keep the thought process going and to take care of myself, but not limit myself.

RC:
Gary had some good takes -- our friend from the lake in Minnesota. His level of activity -- he’s almost hyperactive and he’s been diagnosed for 15 years and has some pretty serious dyskinesia and yet his creativity and how prolific he is are astounding.

DC:
I have a hard time imagining what he’d be like if he were not a Parkinsonian. He probably would have built a castle or something -- I don’t know.

RC:
He might anyway.

DC:
I don’t see how he could be any more active. That’s just very heartening.

RC:
What were your thoughts at the Field of Dreams when you walked in?

DC:
I was surprised at how unartificial it was. The corn got to me more than anything else. The house, the backstop, I couldn’t smell it, but it looked like it smelled right. It didn’t look like a set and of course it was a set and now it’s something else. I have an idea of a set being something that has a front side you photograph and a backside you don’t. You could photograph any side of this and it was very real.

RC:
Contrast your thoughts of when we first discussed the project to where the project is now -- in terms of your thought of it’s success.

DC:
It’s kind of like filling in a blank page. We started with an outline and now there’s lots of textures and colors. So there’s an awful lot more to it. The things that we’ve already discussed that I couldn't’ have anticipated and many more. And then the thing I’ve said before is the biggest surprise is the people. Baseball is -- we saw a great game last night for instance -- but the richness of the trip is coming from meeting, talking to the people of all kinds -- not just Parkinsonians. Those girls last night, for instance. And Paulette just so you know, we didn’t touch them.

RC:
Yeah Paulette and Annamaria. They touched us. But we couldn’t do anything about that. But we didn’t touch them.

Park Number 18 (of 30) 

Shea Stadium
Atlanta 4, New York Mets 3
 WP: M. Hampton (6-8)   LP: S. Trachsel (9-7)

Oak 9, Tex 2

Boys of Summer book Entry #79

The Boys of Summer roll along, but we need your help to complete this year's journey. Please see our site for the latest on how to contribute. Thank you!

July 21, 2004 - DAD
Madison, WI

I woke up at 7 a.m. to a beautiful sunrise. Our goal for the day is to find the "Field of Dreams" , the farmhouse location for the movie of the same name. 

We arrive about 3 p.m. We spend the next few hours playing ball, talking, taking pictures and film of the experience.  The Field of Dreams is a remarkable experience – one I will not forget soon.

After a wonderful day we head north. It must be close to midnight when we arrive. Bob goes to Kinko’s and I go to bed.

THE FIELD OF DREAMS 

We have arrived...

RC:
I’m completely overwhelmed. This, as I’ve said, many times is the inspiration for the trip. This is the Field of Dreams. This trip is all about dreams because, pragmatically speaking, this project shouldn’t be getting made but because of a great organization like NPF, because of the love and generosity of people we’ve met along the way and the great kindness and angels we’ve met along the way, here we are--

DC:
Not to mention your energy and force of will.

RC:
You’ve got to have a little bit of, what is it, inspiration and perspiration, right?

DC:
That’s right.

RC:
That’s what makes the dreams come true. And I’m overwhelmed. This is just beautiful. I’m thankful.

DC:
It’s built like a real ball field. The dimensions look correct. It doesn’t look like a movie set.

RC:
They built it right.

DC:
I can see them coming right out of that cornfield. Right there.

RC:
Yeah. It’s perfect.

DC:
If it’s a set, it’s as real as it could be.

RC:
Yeah. And Becky and Don Lansing, the owners, thank you very much. Two more angels. They get all sorts of opportunities to -- all the time people want to shoot out here. And they said to us, “No problem.”

DC:
“Just keep us posted. We’d like a copy.”

RC:
That’s the payment. That’s pretty fair payment for using this place.

Dan speaks to Field of Dreams owner, Don Lansing

DC:
So did they tell you how they decided to use your place?

DL:
Dubuque, Iowa found it for them. They were contacted by the Iowa Film company which told them what kind of setting they wanted. So they scouted around and they had a couple hundred they looked at. They were looking all the way from Tennessee to Canada.

DC:
Wow. That’s like hitting the lottery, isn’t it?

DL:
Well, you know, I’m very honored to have it. It’s an honor to have my farm chosen. To have them come out here and make a good movie. “Field of Dreams” is a classic. People think so much of the movie. It’s so great to be part of a good movie. It’s about baseball. (But) just because it’s about baseball, don’t mean it has to be a good movie. But it had a good story behind it. It was based on the book, “Shoeless Joe”. It’s just an honor to have (the Field) and people just thank me for keep on keepin’ it. They encourage me to keep on keepin’ it. I didn’t know people would come out here after the movie was over. I was going to keep it for three or four years so when family or friends would come over, we could have a game of baseball. But then tours started coming. The first year we had about 7,000. The next year it went to 15,000 and it’s grown all the way to 60,000 last year.

DC:
So did you used to farm?

DL:
Yes, I was born and raised here. I took over for my dad in 1980. My dad raised four kids on this farm. But now a day it seems you’ve got to deal with it being bigger. I’ve got 100 acres here.

DC:
So you still do farm?

DL:
Yeah. I rent the farm out and maintain the ball field. It’s getting to be about a full-time job.

DC:
I bet it is. A beautiful job you’re doing, too. It looks like the ballparks we’ve been visiting.

DL:
It’s a little different than growing corn, but you learn real fast how to manicure baselines, cut the grass. You meet people from all over the world: Japan, Australia...it’s just a good family sport and family-oriented movie. I come out and people really, really respect the place.

DC:
Your wife seems to enjoy it.

DL:
Yes she does. She talks to a lot of groups and helps me cut the grass. It’s more or less family run.

DC:
She seems to get a real kick out of it. Pretty well organized it seems like.

DL:
She is. I don’t talk to one-tenth of the people that come here. If I did I would never get anything done. But it’s great. Every once in a while I come out here and talk to people like you and everybody has there own little dreams. a lot of people come out here because they seen the movie and sort of relate back to it. Got their own little dreams and they come out here to make their dreams come true.

DC:
I was surprised. The first thing that struck me was that it didn’t look like a movie set. It looks like just a beautiful, beautiful park. There’s nothing phony about it.

DL:
We don’t want to commercialize it. The first year after the movie was made, my phone rang off the wall for big teams that wanted to come out here -- talking teams from Chicago and New York -- and I said no to the first ones and I’m glad I did because that would have opened up a whole new chapter.  I could have a game out here every day if I wanted to. But that would take away from the tours that want to come out here and have their own little family picnics and pickup games.

DC:
Do you regret that? Have second thoughts about that at all?

DL:
No I didn’t. When they told me they were going to build me a ball field, I liked baseball and I thought, heck this is a great opportunity. There’s no regrets that I have it and as the years go on I really appreciate that we’re keeping it because it makes so many people happy.

DC:
That’s more important to you -- I’m sure it would have been more financially rewarding to go the other way.

DL:
It probably would have. But I’m not in it for the money. I’m in it for the fun and bigger is not always better.

DC:
This is definitely better.

DL:
I had one story one time where this father had two sons that didn’t get along. He invited them out here. They didn’t know that the other was going to be here. And before they left they were playing catch. But before that, they wouldn’t speak a word to each other.

...People ask me how long I’m going to keep it. And I say, as long as people keep coming, it will be here.

RC:
I hope we’re a part of keeping it going. It was the movie and this field that fueled our making this trip happen. This place was always at the heart of it. And rightfully so; it has surpassed my expectations.

DC: Mine too.

DL:
This has all happened through word of mouth. I had a guy come out here with his pregnant wife about 13 years ago. His dream was to have a son. 13 years later he comes back and he’s out here playing catch with his son. So it is magic.

DC:
Another dream come true.

DL:
I’m so thankful and so blessed.

RC:
To be the facilitator of dreams, as you are, you’re one of our angels, as we like to say. On this trip we’ve been loaded with them. Thank you.

DL:
You’re welcome. I had a guy come from California one time. He was playing in the minor leagues, he was a catcher and he got injured. He got up one morning and he told his wife, I’ve got to go to Iowa to see the Field of Dreams. He drove all the way out here and he spent about two hours out here and he told me, “My dream is fulfilled, I’ve got to go back home.” He wanted to get in the Major Leagues, but that didn’t happen because he got his leg torn up. I mean, you wonder sometimes if it’s made up  or not. But I heard it here  just like I’m hearing you guys, so...

DC:
Probably not made up.

DL:
His wife was shocked, but she said you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do, just like in the movie.

RC: Wise woman.

DC: Yeah.

DL: Okay guys. Come back again.

DC/RC: We will.

The Boys of Summer roll along, but we need your help to complete this year's journey. Please see our site for the latest on how to contribute. Thank you!

Boys of Summer book Entry #76

You can see the complete film "Boys of Summer" for free by clicking here. 

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

July 18, 2004 - Dad

Wheeling, WV

I wake up at 7:30 excited to watch television coverage of the final round of the British Open in our hotel. Our schedule allows time to watch most of it.

We are on the road by noon and stop at the Wheeling Casino where they have Greyhound racing. We stay for one race. I bet $5 on number 4 to win and he does. We leave right away so I don’t have a chance to lose the $22 I won.

The next stop is the Cracker Barrel for lunch where the manager donates two meals. The food is not fancy but very tasty and the service is friendly.

Bob:

We’re really at the halfway point calendar-wise today – one month in and about one month to go. We’ve seen 13 parks and  a lot of country.

We’re going to a Reds game tomorrow night. There is a Parkinson group that has promised us a host house to stay in, but I haven’t gotten the details on that. If it doesn’t work out the weather looks good for camping tonight.

Dad:

We drive to King’s Island a theme park with a campground just outside of Cincinnati. The weather is warm and it is a good opportunity to dry out our rain soaked gear.  Tonight  we barbecue, enjoy a campfire and play a game of cribbage. Bob wins again!

Bob:

Checking the big picture to see how many of the states we’re scheduled to touch:

CA, OR, WA, NV, AZ, CO, NM, TX, KS, AR, LA, TN, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, VA, WV, DE, MD, NY, PA, CT,RI, MS, NY, OH, MI, IN, IL, IA, WI, MN, MO, UT, KY, NE

That’s 38 out of 50 – not bad work for two months. Maybe we should be running for office.

The Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa is just two days away. Just seeing that on the page shifts my perspective. I’m understanding the peaks and valleys of this trip more clearly and with a healthier detatchment right now. I repeat to myself: “Believe”.

Later...

I spoke to Cincinnati Reds Public Relations Chief, Rob Butcher on the phone about our visit. I hoped that he might be able to arrange press passes or aces to interesting parts of the park to show it in its best light, just as we’ve done with all the other parks. He adamantly said he’d never heard of our group or request. I asked if I could fax him over our info (for what would be the third time) and he said “fine” (gruffly). After receiving our media request he called back to say he’d received it at least three times already and sent me e-mails saying they do not honor such requests. He added that he didn’t know if I was checking my e-mails or not, but that’s where he’d sent the info.

I do check my e-mails regularly. I received emails, phones or faxes from every other team. Rob Butcher never sent me an email. Lorrie Platt (with the Reds Community Relations Department, who very kindly got us tickets for the game) did send me emails which got to me just fine.

What’s not adding up here, Rob? I don’t understand how he could go from not knowing who we are to telling me I’m not paying attention to the emails he allegedly sent denying the request he’d seen at least three times in the span of five minutes?

I understand they get a large number of requests and do their best with what they have. I also understand timing – maybe I hit Rob on a bad day? I don’t have any problem with being told no. I do have a problem with being treated rudely, especially with no provocation!

I wrote two passages of an adaptation of the Tao Te Ching this morning and they flowed quite nicely. It is refreshing to be in an open-hearted position and to write in a quiet, clean and composed manner. It’s especially important to remember the centering words in that book when I get as fired up like I have been since my conflict with Rob Butcher. 

You can see the complete film "Boys of Summer" for free by clicking here. 

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation.