New York Yankees Make Historic Return to Mexico City

Mexico City. For the New York Yankees, their first trip to Mexico in more than 50 years probably means nothing more than two exhibition games, but for many Mexican fans and the host team, the Red Devils, the visit of the iconic franchise is a A dream come true.

The Yankees played in Mexico in 1968 when they split a two-game exhibition series at the now-defunct Delta Park.

Red Devils management said they hoped to have the opportunity to do it again after that, but it wasn’t until Omar Minaya was hired as senior advisor for baseball operations with the Yankees last year that the games became a reality.

“Alfredo (Harp Helú, the owner of the Diablos) is a very good friend of Omar Minaya and that drove everything,” said Othón Díaz, team president. “We let them know how much it would mean to us to have them here again and they agreed.”

According to the baseball office of Major League Baseball (MLB) in Mexico, the Yankees are the most popular team in Mexico, followed by the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Boston Red Sox.

Diaz said hosting an MLB regular-season series between the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants last year helped his chances because the Yankees front office was aware that Mexico City and the Red Devils have a stadium that could house them.

The Alfredo Harp Helú stadium, which cost $160 million to build, opened in March 2019 and has a capacity for 20,000 people.

The Alfredo Harp Helú stadium, which cost $160 million to build, opened in March 2019 and has a capacity for 20,000 people. (Fernando Llano)

“The cornerstone was having the stadium,” Díaz said. “You can see everything that has happened since we opened it: a young San Diego Padres team came for opening day and then everything slowed down with the coronavirus pandemic. but last year we had a great series with the Padres and Giants and now this.”

Although the stadium is small by MLB standards, the carnival atmosphere stands out. Last year, Padres players wore Mexican wrestling masks in the dugout and smashed a Buzz Lightyear piñata after games against the Giants.

“To have the opportunity to go there, to Mexico, and pitch there, I have a lot of family there that will have the opportunity to see me pitch,” said Yankees pitcher Victor Gonzalez, who is Mexican. “So to wear the Yankees striped jersey and be home and pitch in front of my family, I think it’s going to be amazing for me.”

Alex Verdugo, another player with Mexican roots on the Yankees roster, is happy to make the trip south of the border.

“I know what the games are like there. It’s going to be very special,” said Verdugo, who played for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. “I feel blessed and special, this series will remain in my heart forever.”

Tickets for the games sold out a month ago when they went on sale in less than an hour, and prices on the resale market range from $130 in the stands to $2,000 behind home plate.

“For me the price is reasonable; It’s not every day you get to see your two favorite teams play against each other,” said Armando Arce, a 45-year-old businessman who bought a $250 ticket for Sunday’s game.

2024-03-24 03:15:21
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