A lifelong resident of Roosevelt Island and a 6-foot-5 right-handed pitcher who weighs in at 220, Dishman was recruited by the Atlanta Braves organization last June after his graduation from Duke.  This week he begins Spring Training in Orlando. There's a lot riding on how well he does there, but Dishman has always had a single-minded focus:  to play professional baseball and to play as well as possible.  "I started playing in the Roosevelt Island Little League when I was 4 or 5," he remembers.  "At first, I wasn't better than anyone else. There were a lot of good players. Several of my friends went on to be college athletes.  But I really wanted to be a baseball player. I never wanted to be anything else, and it was a dream that seemed attainable."

A dream that required dedication and sacrifice.  "I practiced a lot with friends, my little brother and my father.  Richard Dishman, Sr., coached a Little League team and was always supportive.  "I received a tremendous amount of help from my family and friends."  Dishman rejected top-rated Stuyvesant High School to attend Archbishop Malloy High in Queens after his father researched schools that could help his son achieve his dream.  "It was a good school with an excellent baseball program," but it meant practicing at least four hours a day, six days a week, ten months of the year.  "I was exposed to a high level of competition," Rich says.  But he was noticed.  He received a draft call from the Marlins as a high school senior, but rejected it without hesitation, turning down an impressive amount of money, because "I wanted to go to college."  He chose Duke because he could be a "normal student, not living and eating only with other athletes," but he had the commitment and found the time to train four hours a day, six days a week, do weights for another hour, run three miles a day, and still maintain a 2.9 grade point average.

He played summers in a college league, turned down another draft opportunity (from the Giants) in his Junior year because he wanted to finish college, and finally, a month after graduation, it all paid off.  He received a call from Atlanta.  "I'm really happy about the Braves - they have great pitching and good coaching."

Last summer, he played for the Emeralds, a short season A team in Eugene, Oregon.  Chris Metz, a spokesperson for the Emeralds, described Dishman "one of our best pitchers and probably our best relief pitcher."  Describing him as "quiet, but getting along with everyone," he went on to say that Dishman has "as good a chance as any on the team to get to the majors."

And according to Metz, this is the big year for Dishman.  Next week as Spring Training begins, the coaches will be watching him closely, and his performance will determine where he'll spend his first full summer in pro ball.  Rich sees it as an opportunity to prove himself.  "Minor League baseball players get little money, have no say and travel all the time, but if you make it to the Big Leagues..."

So what motivates him?  Is it the money?  He makes it clear that's only part of it.  "I love the competition, I love doing something that isn't 9:00 to 5:00 and I love doing something that very few people are able to do."

Chris Metz says that "baseball is one of the toughest sports to predict.  Only a small percentage make it to the majors.  You have to pitch hard and fast - at least 85 mph - and you have to work at it, day after day.  Baseball takes years of honing your craft and a lot of discipline."

Rich Dishman is well aware of the sacrifices involved.  When asked about interests other than baseball, his reply was that he didn't have time for hobbies.  And he understands the risks.  He worked as an intern on Wall Street last winter, and he plans to work at a different company every year for the next few years - just in case.  "Age 25 will be the crossroads for me... the year I'll know whether I play pro ball or go to business school."

If he becomes a major league player, how long will he play?  "I'll play as long as I can, but I want to play at least one year."  Because baseball has always been his dream.

And right now, Rich Dishman is living his dream.