Beneath the Dugout: Twins Ball Boy 'Tark' Ericksen

[David Youngs]

Going to the ballpark is a ritual for youth in the state of Minnesota. Whether it be Target Field, The Metrodome, or Met Stadium, people of all ages can reminisce of the smell of popcorn, fresh Dome Dogs, and the tradition of Twins baseball that graced their childhood. For Mark 'Tark' Ericksen, it was more than just a memory, it was his life.Over the last six decades there hasn’t been a boy in the state of Minnesota who didn’t spend a portion of his childhood dreaming of donning the stirrups and spikes for his home state Minnesota Twins. From the Met to Target Field and from the cursive ‘M’ to the interlocked ‘TC’ the dream has stayed the same for boys across the Land of 10,000 lakes.

 

But at some point reality kicks in. Life goes on, but the memories of watching the Twins from mom’s basement with your high school buddies’ will forever be embedded in the hearts of boys across the state of Minnesota.

 

The same can be said for 56 year old Bloomington native Mark ‘Tark’ Ericksen, who is a lifelong Twins fan. There’s one difference between his ‘Twins story’ and most others.

 

While most high schoolers in the early 80’s made their money mowing lawns Tark and his buddies made their pocket cash at 8000 Cedar Ave S in Bloomington; Metropolitan Stadium, serving as a ball boy for the Minnesota Twins from 1979 to 1981.

 

The pay wasn’t great and the Twins were mediocre at best. But for Tark and his two friends it was the experience of a lifetime.

 

“For the first four or five months one of our parents would have to pull us out of school and drop us off because none of us had our license,” Ericksen said. “Finally one of us turned 16 and then we carpooled to the stadium.”

 

Ericksen landed the gig through one of his buddies and was hired on the spot. Yet his first day of work was far from his first time at Metropolitan Stadium.

 

“Our dad used to bring us to the Met in the 8th inning of games when fans would clear out and we would watch the last couple innings,” Erickson recalled. “We did that a lot growing up.”

 

And while Tark was no stranger to the seats at Metropolitan Stadium his first day on the job proved that it would take time to get used to being out on the playing field. Tark would start most games sitting outside the visiting dugout, requiring him to run across the field over the large rubber ‘M’ emblem behind home plate. The change in terrain would pay it’s price for Tark on opening day in 1979.

 

“I was wearing my spikes and while I ran across the field I tripped over the rubber ‘M’ and completely face planted. It was quite the way to start the season.”

 

Time of Transition

The late 70’s and early 80’s brought the winds of change to Twins baseball. Names like Carew and Killebrew had left the franchise and hometown hero Kent Hrbek and franchise icon Kirby Puckett had yet to join.

 

Still, names like All-Star Roy Smalley and fan favorite Bombo Rivera drew fans to Minnesota’s first era of outdoor baseball.

 

And before Minnesota-made Tom Kelly began his storied career in his home state the Twins saw names like Gene Mauch and Billy Gardner at the helm of the club. Mauch managed the Twins from 1976 to 1980, sharing the dugout with his nephew Roy Smalley.

 

Regardless of wins and losses Ericksen enjoyed all the stories and memories that came along with spending time in a Major League clubhouse. When he wasn’t shagging balls, moving bats, and doing laundry Tark and his buddies cherished the time spent with the players that they watched from the bleachers growing up.

 

“They were just a great group of guys, always fun to be around,” Ericksen said.

 

That camaraderie extended beyond the walls of Metropolitan Stadium. Each year the ball boys were allowed to go on one road trip. For Tark’s first season he chose to tag along to Old Tiger Stadium to watch the Twins take on Detroit. Baseball wouldn’t be the only entertainment that Tark and his buddies would get to take in over the weekend in Mo-Town. Twins pitcher Fernando Arroyo surprised the boys with tickets to an Elton John concert, who was in town that night.

 

“We were sixteen at the time and it was just an amazing experience,” Ericksen said.

 

The next year Tark took his road trip to Kansas City to watch the Twins take on the Royals in the final series of the season. Following the last game, some of the Twins players wanted to head directly home instead of back to Minneapolis. One of those was outfielder Rick Sofield, who played for the Twins from 1979-1981.

 

Sofield and the other players needed someone to take care of their cars back in the Twin Cities until they could return. The solution? Tark and his fellow bat boys who were all newly licensed drivers.

 

“I drove around Sofield's Mazda RX 7 convertible, I took that thing to school for like a week.” Ericksen laughed.

 

Kid in a Candy Shop

 

Ericksen still lives and works in his hometown of Bloomington. His love for the Twins is still flourishing, with the television still being dialed in to Fox Sports North practically every night at his home.

 

Years have come and gone since his ball boy days. Some of the memories are showcased by a shrine sitting in his house. A newspaper clipping with Athletics (and former Twins) manager Billy Martin chewing out a fan anchors the display, as Tark can be seen to the left of Martin watching the dilemma unfold. A photo with his favorite player of all time Rod Carew sits atop the display.

Download attachment: Tark Billy Martin (2).jpg

 

Perhaps the most meaningful memento sits in between the two. It’s a picture of the Met Stadium scoreboard on the day following Tark’s high school graduation, the text congratulating him and his fellow ball boys.

Download attachment: Tark2.jpg

 

Ericksen will be able to hold those memories with him for the rest of his life as he reflects on his lifelong love of the Minnesota Twins.

 

“Not too many people get that opportunity, it was pretty special.”

 

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[Sielk]

Thank you, that was a really great read!

[mikelink45]

Nicely written and very fun story.

[jjswol]

Fun read, thank you!

 

[T_J]

I'm 41 and I still want to be a bat boy...

[Otto von Ballpark]

I'm 41 and I still want to be a bat boy...

Bat... man?

[cmoss84]

My dad's name is Mark Erickson. Just sayin.

[Seth Stohs]

This is awesome!! Thanks David... and Tark!

 

[nclahammer]

Awesome story, what a great read.   Read some Twins names I haven't heard in awhile.   Bombo.