Tucson, AZ - TheTucsonPadresand VisitTucson announced thefourthannual VamosaTucsonMexicanBaseball Fiesta presented by Cox willbe playedon October2-5,2014atKinoStadium.This year's eventwill includetheNaranjerosdeHermosillo,Tomaterosde Culiacan, YaquisdeObregon, Mayos de Navojoa oftheMexicanPacific League,aswellas agroupof the top instructional leagueplayers fromthe Los AngelesDodgers and Kansas City Royals organization. In 2013 we had three teams from Mexico. Thursday'spress conferenceatMariscos Mi MazatlánincludedJuanAguirre,theGeneralManagerof theNaranjerosde Hermosillo.
“Although theTucson Padres moved to El Paso, we believe it was essential we continue this fun-filled cultural event in Tucson”said Mike Feder, former Tucson Padres GM and current President of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, LLC.“Thistournamentincludessomeofthemostpopularteamsin Mexico. The Vamos aTucsonMexicanBaseballFiestawill beatraditionin Tucsonformanyyears to come.” Feder joined MBF founder Francisco Gamez and Jack Donovan in forming the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, LLC. All three partners worked for the Tucson Padres. The Mexican Baseball Fiesta now takes place in seven total cities – Tucson, Phoenix, El Paso, Nogales (MX), Magdalena, Agua Prieta, and Cananea.
“The Mexican Pacific League, is as popular in Mexico as Major League Baseball is in the U.S., if not more so,” said Francisco Gamez, Mexican Baseball Fiesta, founder and LLC partner. Gamez played over 10 years in the Mexican Pacific League. Donovan, who also pitched in the Mexican Pacific League, said “Excitement is best way to describe the Mexican Baseball Fiesta. The energy of the fans, the music and fun make this a unique experience for all baseball fans that transcends borders and language.”
“We'reexcited topartnerwith this great eventforthe fourthyearto bringMexicanbaseball back to Tucson,”said FelipeGarcia,ExecutiveVicePresidentofVisitTucson. “Thepopularityof thisevent continuestogrowandweareproud tobeapartofsomethingthatboth localsandvisitors lookforwardto everyOctober.”
VisitTucsonis one of twotitlesponsorsoftheVamosa TucsonMexican Baseball Fiesta.VisitTucson hasvisitorcentersinHermosilloandObregon. Vamos aTucsonistheMexicanmarketingdepartmentofVisitTucson. Cox Communications added their support to this year's international event.
“Cox is proud to be a member of the Tucson community and to bring this cultural event to baseball fans and their families,” said Lisa Lovallo, Market Vice President of Cox Communications. “Cox prides itself on delivering life's most important connections to its customers and we are thrilled to partner with Vamos A Tucson Mexican Baseball Fiesta to bring this event to not only the Hispanic community, but all of southern Arizona.” Added Lovallo, “Cox's title sponsorship of the Vamos A Tucson Baseball Fiesta is also a great way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage month in October when the games will get underway. Let's play ball!”
A large number of the TucsonPadresstaffwill runandoperatethe Vamos aTucson MexicanBaseball Fiesta. Tickets to the general public go on sale on September 8th. Ticketscanbepurchased in personattheKinoStadiumboxoffice,onthephonebycalling(520)434-1367oronlineatwww.MexicanBaseballFiesta.com. The prices are premier box seats - $15, box seats - $13, adult general admission - $9, Students 6 – 16 and senior citizens 55+ - $6; under 6 are free. Fan giveaways and other activities are planned including a free kids baseball clinic on Saturday.
Culiacan will play the Kansas City Royals Young Stars in the opener. The MexicanPacificLeague and the defending Caribbean Series champion Naranjeros de Hermosillo willplay thesecondgameoftheMexicanBaseball FiestaonThursday, October 2againstagroupof the top minor leaguersfromthe Los Angeles Dodgers. Official openingceremoniesfor the2014Vamos aTucsonMexican Baseball Fiestawilltakeplacebetween gamesonFriday, October 3.Thefulltournamentscheduleis as follows:
Thursday October 2nd - start 5:30 pm
Culiacan vs. Kansas City Future Stars
Hermosillo vs. Dodgers Future Stars
Friday October 3rd - start 5:30 pm
Dodgers Future Stars vs. Obregon
Hermosillo vs. Navojoa (rematch of LMP Finals)
Saturday October 4th - start 5:30 pm
Culiacan vs. Navojoa
Hermosillo vs. Obregon
Sunday October 5th - start 4:00 pm
Obregon vs. Navojoa
Hermosillo vs. Culiacan
Information ontheMexicanPacificLeagueteams comingtoTucson:
NaranjerosdeHermosillo
Theteambased inthe Capital ofSonora has agreatfollowingandstrongattendance.The Naranjeros de Hermosillo are one of the most popular and successful teams in the Mexican Pacific League, having won 16 league titles and two Caribbean Series title. The Naranjeros won the Caribbean Series title in 2014. Theybecamethe firstMexicanteamto win theCaribbean Seriesafterwinningthetitlein 1976. FormerHermosillo players includeCurt Schilling, LarryWalker,FernandoValenzuela, ErubielDurazoandVinnyCastilla.
TheTomaterosareoneof themostpopularteams in theMexicanPacificLeague.TheyhavewonnineMexicanPacific LeagueChampionships,mostrecentlyin 2004. Inthatsameyear theywentontowin the Caribbean Series with alineup that featuredseveral Major LeagueplayerslikeRodrigoLopez,OliverPerez,LuisAyala,JoseSilvaandBenjiGil.
Mayos de Navojoa
The Mayos, in the Liga Mexicana del Pacífico (official name), lost to the Naranjeros in last year's league championship series. They have been champions of the league twice. The first time was at the 1978–79 season, with Chuck Goggin as coach. The next time was in the 1999–2000 season, with Lorenzo Bundy as manager. Bundy, who lives in Tucson and is the Los Angeles Dodgers third base coach, has managed Navojoa nine years, taking the Mayos to the championship series four times..
