NEW YORK -- Approximately 2,500 miles away from Citi Field, there's one heck of an impromptu party being thrown in Scottsdale, Ariz., tonight.

Ron and Kendall Davis are hosting 50-60 family members and friends, to celebrate their son Ike's major-league debut with the New York Mets.

"We are so excited for him," Ron, a former major-league relief pitcher and American League All-Star in 1981, said when reached by phone from Citi Field Wednesday afternoon. "This is a dream come true."

Ron was the first person Ike called when Ike got the news he was being promoted from the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons earlier this afternoon. What was Ron's immediate reaction? "You mean after the first five minutes, when I couldn't even talk?" Ron said. "I mean, it's just overwhelming. I know how hard he has worked for this."

Ron -- who played 11 seasons in the bigs for five different franchises (the Yankees, Twins, Cubs, Dodgers and Giants) -- recalled his own major-league debut. It was on July 29, 1978, with the Yankees, at the age of 22. Ron had never been invited to a big-league spring training camp before, and he was promoted straight from Double-A.

"I was in a little state of shock," Ron said. "One, just to be in Yankee Stadium. And second of all, it happened to be Old Timers' Day. So, you know, I looked over, and Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris are standing over there. And I'm like, 'Holy cow!' These were my childhood heroes.

"And then you had on the same bench down from me, Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter, Thurman Munson, Graig Nettles, Mickey Rivers, Bucky Dent, Lou Piniella … all I could think was, 'Oh my God, what am I doing here?'"

Ike's debut should be a little less intense -- it's not Old Timers' Day, and the Mets are floundering at 4-8. Still, there is plenty of media scrutiny and fan buzz surrounding Ike's arrival in Flushing Meadows.

When asked what advice he gave his son on the phone today, Ron said he told him the same thing he and Ike's mother have preached to him his entire life. "Just go out there and have fun," Ron said. "Whether you get one at-bat or throw one pitch, or play for 20 years, if you make it to the big leagues, you're good, you've accomplished something.

"One day or 20 years, they can't take that away from you."

With that, Ron had to get back to the kitchen. Tomorrow morning at 6 a.m., he and his wife will be on a plane bound for New York, to see their son play in his second major-league game Tuesday night. But at this moment he was cooking up some gumbo for tonight's party -- gumbo being Ike's favorite dinner. Steaks, pinto beans, cornbread and fried gizzard were all on the menu as well.

"It really is a wonderful feeling," Ron said. "To see your son one day make the major leagues, it's unbelievable."

(Click here to listen to Ron Davis on "The Michael Kay Show" on 1050 ESPN Radio.)