Fairfax hosts former Twins:Sampson's birthday draws Oliva, Dark Star

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

FAIRFAX -- For the third year, the residents of Fairfax got together to throw Curt Sampson a big ol' birthday bash.

And, for the third year in a row, they watched him celebrate his birthday at a ball park, and not to mention, watched the 71-year old pitch to the Stark Longhorns.

The third annual "Curt Sampson night" was celebrated with a baseball game between and Stark and Fairfax, with celebrity guests such as Tony Oliva and Julio Becquer, along with WCCO radio announcer Dark Star.

There was an autograph session which started at 5:45 p.m. Fans of all ages brought bats, baseball cards, baseballs, gloves and caps to be autographed and fans were also able to get their pictures taken with the celebrities.

During the game, there were prize drawings in between innings for Communications Systems, Inc. stock shares, autographed baseballs, and various other baseball items and memorabilia.

The idea of such an event grew from having no celebrities to adding Oliva and Juan Berenguer last year.

"We started it two years ago," Fairfax coach Gary Ness said. "Last year, the same people were here, with Julio Becquer, Juan Berenguer and Tony Oliva coming last year, and this year I added Dark Star as a little kicker to do some announcing."

Sampson first met Oliva at a Twins baseball camp in 1992 and has been going back ever since.

"Actually, three years ago, we didn't make such a big deal out of it," Sampson said. "But last year, for my 70th birthday, we decided to see if they would come out, and this year, we had asked Dark Star to come out, because a lot of people were wanting to meet Dark."

A year ago, Sampson pitched six innings for Fairfax, but didn't think he'd be able to do the same a year later.

"I was only figuring on going a couple, but I thought I will go until they start getting on me," Sampson said. "It just seemed to keep on working and working."

His coach figured to just get a couple of innings out of him.

"His arm is healed, and if we can get three out of him [Monday night], I think we'll be lucky," Ness said.

Ness also said that it's pretty easy getting guys like Oliva and Berenguer to come down.

"These guys are more than welcome to come down here and do this," Ness said. "Especially for Curt Sampson -- for all the fund-raising and donations that Curt Sampson has done for many organizations. I think it's a return thing back to Curt."