Chihuahuas, Padres hold First Pitch Luncheon before exhibition game
Fans got the chance to get up close and personal with players and coaches of the 2016 Chihuahuas and San Diego Padres Thursday, all in the name of charity.
The Chihuahuas Foundation hosted the First Pitch Luncheon at the Convention Center Thursday morning, with net proceeds benefiting the YMCA of El Paso and the Chihuahuas Foundation.
“The YMCA of El Paso is pleased that the El Paso Chihuahuas has chosen us to be the beneficiary for the First Pitch Luncheon,” said President and CEO of YMCA of El Paso, Bill Coon. “We have worked with the Chihuahuas on many different projects. When you put two great organizations together, we can make a huge impact in the lives of our El Paso Community.”
“We are very thankful to the Padres for their spirit of cooperation to pull off such a significant event here in El Paso that will benefit our hometown YMCA, the El Paso Chihuahuas Foundation and our community,” said Brad Taylor, general manager of the El Paso Chihuahuas.
Mike Dee, the President and Ceo of the Padres, spoke at the luncheon, saying that the Padres “consider the Chihuahuas family”. Dee invited El Pasoans to go to San Diego and see some of the careers that have started at Petco Park.
Dee went on the praise Southwest University Park on having not only one of the best ballparks in Minor League Baseball, but in all of baseball. He later talked about the strategy of bringing baseball to Mexcio and holding events along the border. “Playing games in Mexico is a priority. Turning baseball fans across the border into Padres fans is a priority,” said Dee.
Alan Ledford, Chihuahuas President, talked about Thursday’s border symposium happening in El Paso which featured dignitaries from El Paso, Juarez, Tijuana, and San Diego.
The symposium, bought together by MountainStar Sports Group, the El Paso Chihuahuas, the San Diego Padres, and The Borderplex Alliance, focused on issues regarding cross-border commerce, tourism, and joint opportunities to promote the border region as an investment.
Ledford said the symposium gave leaders a chance to discuss the opportunities and challenges of baseball on both sides of the border
Chihuahuas General Manager Brad Taylor also spoke, touting the Chihuahua’s commitment to the community. “We promised from the beginning that Southwest University Park would be the center of your community and I hope we’ve lived up to that promise,” said Taylor.
He also talked about Chihuahuas NeXt, the new softball and baseball academy to open in El Paso. Chihuahuas NeXt will offer camps, clinics, and tournament hosting to help create a perpetuating program for young athletes in the El Paso region.
Bradford said not only will participants learn skill sets for sports, but also skills sets for life, like how to be a better teammate.
Andy Green, former Diablo player and now manager for the Padres, was very comfortable sharing about his time in El Paso at Thursday’s luncheon.
“I loved it. I loved my time in El Paso,” said Green. He reminisced about staying at the Colinas Del Sol apartments with his wife and roommates, adding that it is “the beauty of minor league lifestyle”.
Green also spoke about his relationship with Rod Barajas, the current Chihuahuas Manager who also played for the Diablos and the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“I tried to buddy up to Rod (barajas) in Phoenix, but he wouldn’t talk to me. We talk now,” said Green. “At the end of the day I’m gonna smile and be grateful at the end of the day that I get to be one of 30 major league managers.”
A fan asked Green if he had any leadership advice. Green said he looked for these qualities as he hired his staff, including Mark Maguire: “I look for competency and understanding of the game, of course, but I look for humility and authenticity.”
The Chihuahuas and the Padres will play against each other in an exhibition game Thursday at 6:35 p.m. at Southwest University Park. It will be the first time in 13 years that a Major League Baseball team has played in El Paso.
