Submitted Photo Anthony Barone will manage his first professional game Friday night in the American Association.

For as long as he can remember, Anthony Barone has been a fan of the Boston Red Sox.

That includes from 1992-94 when Boston went 207-232 under the direction of manager Butch Hobson.

On Friday night, Barone will manage his first professional baseball game and standing in the opposing dugout will be none other than Hobson himself.

The American Association announced its return to the field June 12, starting with a weeklong training camp that began Thursday.

Barone, a Jamestown High School graduate, was named the manager of the Milwaukee Milkmen last fall after spending one season as the team’s assistant coach in charge of infield defense and hitting.

On Friday, the Milkmen will open their home schedule in Franklin Field at Ballpark Commons against the rival Chicago Dogs.

“Chicago has a very, very good ballclub,” Barone said Tuesday afternoon. “For my first professional game to be against a guy who managed my favorite team, it’s going to be pretty neat. I’m grateful for the opportunity to do what I love to do.”

Under Wisconsin state guidelines, Milwaukee will welcome 33% of its stadium capacity into the game or about 1,500 fans according to Barone.

“I think it’ll be the hottest ticket in the area. … The Brewers draw close to 3 million. … Just with that alone we’ll give everybody a chance to watch a live baseball game,” he said. ” … We’re the only baseball in America that has fans. It’s a unique opportunity … a great platform for our organization and our players.”

Some similar rules to what will be in play later this month when Major League Baseball gets underway will be in play in the American Association. There will be no spitting allowed, managers will not be allowed to enter the field of play to argue, anybody who makes a visit to the pitcher will have to stay off the mound, baseballs will not be allowed to be thrown to fans in the crowd, there will be no autograph signing and “scuffed” baseballs will not be allowed back into play until they are sanitized with an ultra-violet light.

Teams are allowed 28 players during their one-week training camp, but must get their roster down to 25 by midnight tonight. For the first 10 days of the season, teams can carry two extra pitchers for a total of 25 players, but then must be down to 23 by July 13.

The American Association is normally made up of 12 teams, but only six will be competing this summer. In addition to the Milkmen and Dogs will be the Fargo Moorhead Redhawks, the St. Paul Saints, the Sioux Falls Canaries and the Winnipeg Goldeyes. Fargo and Winnipeg will both play out of Fargo’s home field while Sioux Falls and St. Paul will share the stadium in Sioux Falls. Originally, Milwaukee and Chicago were going to share Franklin Field, but that won’t be the case now.

“Chicago can have fans now, so they moved down there,” Barone said. “We’ll be home for 30 games and on the road for 30 games.”

Players from all over the country were tested when they arrived at their team’s training camp earlier this week. Barone said there are several standards in place to keep people safe including more testing, symptom checks and temperature checks in the clubhouse.

“It’s been a lot different than back in New York. I got out here and people were having fun while being very cautious about things. Things were open and people were out doing things,” he said. “We’re taking it one day at a time. Everything is very clean. … It’s great to be able to do what you love to do and be safe about it.”

Unfortunately for Barone, he doesn’t imagine his wife and kids will make any trips to suburban Milwaukee this summer to see the Milkmen.

“Last year they took in a weekend series, but unfortunately this year I don’t think they’ll be coming out,” he said. “With me being around all the guys in the clubhouse, we just don’t think it’s the best practice.”

Still, the former manager at Jamestown Community College and of the Jamestown Jammers is excited for what the next three months will hold.

“It’s been a lot of emotions over the last four months. The coolest part is seeing grown men at the highest level of baseball get excited and show their passion for the game,” Barone said. “It’s almost like we’re blessed to have this opportunity after so many things have been canceled.”

While he’s happy for his players and himself, Barone also sees the positives for the greater Milwaukee community.

“It gives people the outlet to have fun and enjoy life. There are so many societal things right now … if we can be a part of something positive, it’s really exciting,” he said. “It’s almost like starting your career all over again because you never thought this was going to take place. For us to have a season, we’re very blessed.”