When Hospice's Bob Escher heard that Orlando, a Brooklyn native and lifelong New York Yankees fan, hadn't ever met a single player, he immediately had an idea.

"I approached him about coming to our annual golf tournament (the third annual Doretta Rich Memorial) where we have a bunch of former major league players come and play," Escher, Hospice's Director of Development, said. "He was all for it, and when the day came he was up early and raring to go."

No small task, considering Orlando was in his third month of care at Hospice and his health had deteriorated rapidly. But he showed up at Leatherstocking Golf Course early Thursday morning, June 21.

"He brought a camera into the pro shop, and it was the most touching thing to see him stop the players and take their pictures," Escher said. "He was very interested to meet Tracy Stallard and Ralph Branca and talk to them, considering their histories."

As baseball history buffs may know, Stallard and Branca gave up two of the most famous home runs in major league history-Stallard Roger Maris' then-record 61st home run; and Branca Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World" which gave the Giants the pennant over the Dodgers in 1951.

But as much as Orlando's interest may have been piqued by those two pitchers, Orlando has more in common with another former player-Ed Hearn. Hearn played on the New York Mets' 1986 World Series Championship team, then in 1987 was traded to the Kansas City Royals for a rookie pitcher named David Cone.

In 1990, Hearn was forced to retire because of a shoulder injury, but in 1991 developed kidney disease which he has battled for the past 10 years.

Hearn wrote a book, "Conquering Life's Curves," which details his fight with kidney disease, which almost cost him his life on two occasions, and his 10 years in the minor leagues before breaking into the major leagues.

Hearn and Orlando talked for a while Thursday, and in a letter Tony Orlando and wife Helen wrote to Hospice last Monday, they thanked Hospice's staff and said they especially enjoyed when Hearn let Tony hold his World Series ring.

The tournament, which helped raise close to $30,000, also featured an auction Wednesday night which included a donation from Oneonta native and New York Yankee Clay Bellinger of a 2000 World Series baseball signed by all members of the Yankees World Series championship team; and a replica of Bellinger's bat which was used by Luis Sojo to get the Series' game-winning hit. The original bat is now in the Hall of Fame.

"The Yankees are very cognizant of Hospice and eager to help as both Scott Brosius' and Paul O'Neill's fathers received care from Hospice in the past couple of years," Escher said. "We are also very fortunate to have support from Walter and Karine Rich, whose support makes it possible to put on such a high quality event."

Escher also thanked Hall of Fame president Dale Petroskey and Hall chairman Jane Forbes Clark for hosting the players for a breakfast at the Hall of Fame Friday morning, where each player talked about his best or most memorable moment in the game.

Participating players included: Jon Matlack, Joe Pignatano, Dave Lemanczyk, Stephen Grilli, Chuck Hinton, Jim "Mudcat" Grant, Ralph Branca, Paul Blair, Bert Campaneris, Bill North, Ed Hearn, Tracy Stallard and Vern Law.

Major sponsors included: NYSEG Foundation, New York Central Mutual Fire Insurance, Bettiol Fuel Service, Security Mutual life Insurance Company, New Hartford Shopping Center, Delta Airlines, A.G. Edwards, Delaware Otsego Corporation and Adirondack Combustion.