ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, August 17, 1996 TAG: 9608190043
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: MONTERREY, MEXICO
SOURCE: The New York Times
Major-league baseball wants to be a league without borders, and the New York Mets and the San Diego Padres knocked one down Friday night when they played the first regular-season game outside the United States or Canada.
``Mexico is a country that is interested in baseball ownership,'' National League president Leonard Coleman said before the game. ``This is an important event to the city of Monterrey and to Mexico.''
An enthusiastic crowd of 23,699 nearly filled the 25,644-seat Monterrey Stadium not only to get a glimpse of a major league game, but also to cheer its hero, Fernando Valenzuela, a Mexican native, who had a dual honor of sorts by being the Padres' starting pitcher and also throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
``With Fernando pitching we're going to feel like the home team,'' Padres manager Bruce Bochy had said.
Indeed, the Mets started by playing as if they were waiters at Valenzuela's homecoming party. The left-hander pitched six-plus innings of shutout ball to lead San Diego to a 15-10 victory that was embarrassing for the Mets until a late-game rally made the score respectable. Backed by four home runs, including a grand slam by Greg Vaughn that staked him to a 15-0 lead, Valenzuela improved to 10-7.
But the action in the game was less significant than the game itself. It was the culmination of events that began last winter when organizers for the Republican National Convention asked about using the Padres' home park, Jack Murphy Stadium, for their closing ceremonies.
The Padres began looking for alternative sites for their weekend series with the Mets and decided on Monterrey as a way of expanding the club's visibility in Mexico. Although the Republicans eventually opted not to use Jack Murphy Stadium, the Padres already had moved ahead with plans to hold the series here.
Through the combined efforts of the local Mexican League team, the Monterrey Sultans, Major League Baseball International and the Padres, $100,000 in renovations were done to the stadium to bring it up to major-league standards.
The clubhouses and training rooms had to be carpeted and the foul poles lengthened. Additional lights were added and an air-conditioned press box was built for the 200 members of the media covering the event.
``At first we were a bit apprehensive,'' Mets manager Dallas Green said. ``But everything has been great so far. We've tried to view this as just another road trip. But this is a historic event and we're pleased to be a part of it.''
A festive atmosphere prevailed throughout the game. Players from each team were introduced in World Series fashion, with Valenzuela, not surprisingly, earning the loudest ovation. The Mexican national anthem ran twice as long as the Star Spangled Banner and the crowd broke into the wave before the first pitch was thrown.
A six-piece band, perched atop the Padres' dugout, played between innings while clowns danced in the aisles. Fireworks exploded whenever the Padres homered, which was often.
Tickets for Friday night's game ranged from 30 pesos - about four dollars - to 200 pesos ($27). That was a significant increase over the prices of tickets for the Mexican League games that are played here; they range from seven pesos ($1) to 60 pesos ($8).
While the near capacity crowd was jovial throughout and very much into the game, it was difficult to judge how fully the 3.1 million residents of Monterrey have embraced the event. Shirts and hats bearing a logo designed by Major League Baseball Properties are being sold in a few local department stores and AT&T has signed on as a main sponsor.
There have been a few innocent mistakes. In one store a Padres jersey was hung alongside the road jersey of the Yankees.
Still, there are few other signs that something historic is happening in this industrial city located 150 miles south of Houston.
The Mets players, who were generally indifferent to the event upon their arrival here Thursday, seemed more intrigued when they arrived at the stadium.
``I think this is a good idea if major league baseball is serious about expanding into Mexico,'' said Mets infielder Carlos Baerga. ``This is good for Mexico because they don't really have a chance to see major-league players, especially Latin major-league players.''
Coleman said there is no timetable for the next round of expansion, but noted that Monterrey and Mexico City submitted formal applications and were among the cities considered before Phoenix and Tampa were chosen in 1995.
``We enthusiastically received their application during the last process and I'm sure Monterrey will be among the cities considered when the issue comes up again,'' said Coleman, who also praised the Padres for spearheading this event.
Major League Baseball held exhibition games here in 1990 and 1991. Mets pitcher Doug Henry was a rookie on the Milwaukee Brewers team that played the Dodgers in 1991. His most vivid memory was of a parachutist who crashed into the top of an ambulance and broke his hip. Organizers are hoping they'll have a smoother finish this time.
``I think this is a great opportunity to be part of something,'' San Diego's Tim Worrell said. ``There is never going to be another first time. This is it.''
LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Mexican native Fernando Valenzuela pitches for Sanby CNBDiego on Friday night in Monterey, Mexico. color.