For Immediate Release
July 28, 2017
Contact: Mike Feder, (520) 954-8803
mike@mexicanbaseballfiesta.com
or Francisco Gamez, (520) 460-5750
francisco@mexicanbaseballfiesta.com
Theseventhannual VamosaTucsonMexicanBaseball Fiesta presented by Vantage West, Cox, and Visit Tucson willbe playedon October 5 – 8 at Kino Stadium in Tucson.
This year’s eventwill includetheNaranjerosdeHermosillo,YaquisdeObregon, Aguilas de Mexicali, and the Cañeros de Los MochisoftheMexicanPacific League (Liga Mexicana Del Pacifico),aswellas top prospects from one MLB organization to be determined. Hermosillo and Obregon have participated in all seven years. The Mexican Baseball Fiesta will take place in Phoenix (Mesa) and Las Vegas. We are still working on games in Nogales and Douglas, Arizona as well as a few other regional cities.
“We believe it was essential that we continue this fun-filled cross-border and cultural event in Tucson”said Mike Feder, President of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta.“Thistournamentincludessomeofthemostpopularteamsin Mexico. The Vamos aTucsonMexicanBaseballFiestawill continue to beatraditionin Tucsonformanyyears to come. We’re excited that the Mexican Baseball Fiesta continues to grow every year.” Feder joined MBF founder Francisco Gamez and Jack Donovan in forming the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, LLC in 2011.
“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 as well as in the Milwaukee Brewers organization in the states. Constant excitement is the 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. This event embraces our Mexican friends and visitors.”
“We’reexcited topartnerwith this great eventforthe seventhyearto bringMexicanbaseball back to Tucson,”said FelipeGarcia,ExecutiveVicePresidentofVisitTucson. “Thepopularityof thisevent continuestogrowandweareproud tobeapartofsomethingthatboth localsandvisitors lookforwardto every September & October. Over 1,800 hotel room nights were booked last year. We are expecting more this year.” Hermosillo and Mexicali will continue training in Tucson a couple of weeks prior to the Fiesta.”
VisitTucsonis one of threetitlesponsorsoftheVamosa TucsonMexican Baseball Fiesta.VisitTucson hasvisitorcentersinHermosilloandObregon. Vamos aTucsonistheMexicanmarketingdepartmentofVisitTucson. Cox Communications will return as a Title Sponsor for the fourth year. Vantage West will be the Title Sponsor for the second year.
Tickets for the Vamos aTucson MexicanBaseball Fiesta go on sale in early September onlineatwww.MexicanBaseballFiesta.com. Ticket prices are box seats – $15 and general admission – $10, kids (6-16) $6. Fans will be also be able to purchase tickets at some of these locations beginning in mid-August: Food City, Vantage West (Craycroft and Golf Links), Taco Giro, El Nene, Ultimate Auto Boutique, Suspiros Cakes, Mi Mazatlan and Los Portales. Tickets will also be on sale at the Kino Stadium box office two weeks before the first game. Thefulltournamentschedulewill be released in early August. The popular games between Hermosillo and Obregon will once again be the second game of the doubleheader on both Friday and Saturday. That game has drawn in excess of 5,000 fans every year.
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. Hermosillo will be managed by Tucson resident and current Miami Marlins coach Lorenzo Bundy.
Yaquisde CiudadObregon
TheteamfromObregonhad wonthreeMexicanPacific LeagueChampionshipsinarow from 2010 – 2012,givingtheteamseveninclub history.They alsowontheCaribbean Seriesin 2011and2012. Gamesbetween theNaranjeros andYaquisare consideredassomeofthebestmatchups inthe league,duetothe longrivalrybetweenboth teams. Former Obregon players includeKansasCityRoyals pitcherJoakimSoria, former BaltimoreOriolespitcherLuis Ayala. The Yaquis are managed by Eddie Diaz.
Cañeros de Los Mochis play in the state of Sinaloa. The Cañeros won the league championship in 1984 and 2003.Luis Sojo will manage the team for the third year. Notable players from the Cañeros include Aurelio Rodriguez, Mike Cameron, former Tucson Toros P Bronswell Patrick, Tucsonan Ed Vosberg, and Juan Castro.
Agulias de Mexicali play in the Capital of Baja California. Mexicali was the LMP league champion last season. The team has a history of playing against Arizona teams, when in the 50s it played against the Tucson Cowboys in the Arizona-Mexico League. The Aguilas won the league championship in 1986, 1989, 1999 and 2016.The team also won the 1986 Caribbean Series. Former Mexicali players include Mike Piazza, John Kruk and Rudy Seanez. Roberto Vizcarra will manage the team.
Information on the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, LLC is available at www.MexicanBaseballFiesta.com; on Facebook at Mexican Baseball Fiesta; on Twitter at @MexBaseballFsta in English, @MexBeisbolFsta in Spanish.
