Anthony Bemboom’s story of becoming a big leaguer is one of resiliency, hard work, commitment, and a willingness to never give up. It’s also a story of sacrifice, and one of support. Greg and Deb Bemboom were both star high school athletes so it’s no surprise Anthony and their daughter Bailey were star athletes as well. But to make it to the Big Leagues?
Well, sometimes you have to have a family that supports you big time to make those dreams come true.
Anthony’s love for baseball started almost immediately. Greg was playing for the Sauk Rapids Cyclones when Anthony was a baby and attended games with Deb. When Anthony was old enough he served as the team’s bat boy and by the time he was a junior in high school, shared the dugout with his dad as a Cyclones player.
“That was really special,” said Greg. “I played baseball since four or five years old and through college. Anthony followed suit, and then some.” After earning all-state honors at Sauk Rapids High School, Bemboom set out for Iowa Western Community College, a two-year school where many top players attend with hopes of being signed professionally or proving their skills are good enough to warrant a Division I scholarship.
Bemboom, a catcher with a solid bat and rocket arm, had two stellar seasons at Iowa Western, earning all-tournament team honors as a sophomore when his team won the Junior College World Series. That earned him a chance to play at the Division I powerhouse Creighton University. After his senior season he was chosen in the 22nd round by the Los Angeles Angels.
For Greg and Deb, it was a dream come true not just for Anthony, but for them as well.
“It was a step-by-step process starting with youth baseball, making the team in high school and being recruited to play junior college in Iowa, and then getting recruited to play at Creighton,” said Deb. “And then finally being drafted.”
It was also a bittersweet day in the Bemboom household. The same day Anthony received the best news of his life, Deb received the scariest of hers. She was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer.
“The hardest part for me was having to tell Anthony about my diagnosis on the day that should be the happiest of his life,” Deb said. “I didn’t want to take anything away from that.”
It was difficult for Anthony because he was so far away from his family. He felt helpless.
“But we told him becoming a pro athlete and following his dreams was a Godsend for all of us.”
Bemboom reported to rookie ball in Utah and hit .250 in 40 games. But more important than his hitting was his ability to play the toughest position on the field – catcher – and play it extremely well. Over the next seven years Anthony toiled in the minors for three different organizations before getting the call up to the majors while with the Tampa Bay Rays on May 10, 2019. On May 12 he made his major league debut against the New York Yankees and on May 14 recorded his first major league hit, an RBI double.
An injury ended his season and he was traded back to his original team, the Angels, in the offseason. In 2020 he led all Angels catchers with a 41 percent caught stealing ratio, well above the major league average.
He was eventually placed on waivers and claimed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in August 2021, but was left off the 40-man roster without ever appearing in a game for the Dodgers. Then last December he signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles and made their opening day roster as a backup catcher.
For Greg and Deb, watching their son chase his dream was fulfilling, but it was also filled with bumps in the road. Because Anthony was playing ball all over the country, it was difficult for him to make family functions.
“A lot of sacrifices were made along the way,” said Deb. “Every summer he was away playing baseball. We would travel to see him play as much as we could.”
Over the years of playing minor league baseball, Anthony was faced with difficult decisions. Being traded and reassigned several times, his dream of playing in the majors would sometimes dim his hopes. But all he wanted was an opportunity to prove himself.
“There were many big decisions we tried to help him with,” said Deb. “Whether it was picking what college to go to or which team to sign with as a free agent…you never knew f it was the right decision. You just went with your gut.”
The Bembooms also helped Anthony financially during his time playing in college and the minor leagues. Because players don’t make a lot of money, Greg and Deb chipped in to help Anthony focus on his nutrition and training. Many players end up retiring from baseball at a young age because they want to start a family or a career that will help support a family. Or they see the writing on the wall and the long bus trips seem longer and longer.
“We just wanted to give him the best chance at being successful so we were happy to help him,” Deb said. “There were many times he was having a hard time and we would give him pep talks to keep him grounded and help him realize that it’s one day at a time and sometimes it takes time for things to fall into place.”
It appears as if those things have fallen into place. This season he has appeared in nine of the Orioles 16 games, splitting time with fellow journeyman catcher Robinson Chrinos.
Greg and Deb are certainly proud of their now 32-year-old son. They watch him on television every chance they get. They often find themselves cheering for him the same way they did when he was playing in the Sauk Rapids youth program.
Over all his years playing baseball, Greg and Deb never pressured him into playing, but always supported his passion, which was to play baseball.
“Parents should support their kids in any activities they show interest in, even if it’s not what you would envision them doing,” said Deb. “Keep it fun, it’s not a job and most kids aren’t going to be professional athletes so you want it to be a positive experience. Let them enjoy it.”
The Bembooms are certainly proud of Anthony’s accomplishments as a professional athlete. But they are most proud that Bailey graduated from the nursing program at Mankato, Anthony graduated from Creighton University, and that Deb was able to overcome breast cancer.
Anthony will look to spend a full season in the majors this summer as mom, dad and sister cheer him on from a far.
He is proof that achieving a childhood and lifelong dream and becoming a big-league player takes big league support from those who love you the most.