Tucson has chance to show desire for pro baseball to return with International Series at Kino Stadium

The International Series presented by the Mexican Baseball Fiesta is coming to Tucson.

Will Tucson come to it at the Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium?

The historical cross-border 2024 International Series is Friday through Sunday between Mexican Pacific Winter League (Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico) teams Yaquis de Obregon and Aguilas de Mexicali. The teams will play at 7:10 p.m. Friday, 6:10 p.m. Saturday and 5:10 p.m. Sunday.

Never in the history of LAMP has a regular season game been played in the United States.

This is a chance for this community to show it wants professional baseball to return for the first time since the Triple-A Tucson Padres played their last game in 2013.

The hope is for future LAMP expansion to Tucson.

These games will also have future economic ramifications for Southern Arizona.

Ticket prices: $30 for box seats, $20 for general admission and $10 for kids (6-16), seniors (65+) and military. Kids under 6 will be admitted free. Tickets can be purchased online at MexicanBaseballFiesta.com or in person at the Kino Stadium ticket office (open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.). The phone number at Kino Stadium is (520) 222-1008.

“A lot of people in the United States don’t understand that the Mexican Winter League’s has really good talent,” said Mike Feder, President of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, in a press release. “We feel honored that the Yaquis are giving us that opportunity to showcase that talent. The atmosphere will be electric at Kino Stadium, just like it always is at the Fiesta! There will be a lot of eyeballs in Mexico watching to see if we are a viable option for a future LMP expansion franchise.”

Frank Gamez, the vice president of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, said the weekend event will have the same feel as the annual celebration held at Kino Stadium in early October.

“We will bring the same formula of authentic Mexican food and great musical guests to join us in this historic event, such a Chuy Vega Jr and La Kana” Gamez said. “Together, with the support of our fans and sponsors, we are looking forward on creating a new tradition in Tucson for years to come”

Information on the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, LLC is available at MexicanBaseballFiesta.com; on Facebook at Mexican Baseball Fiesta; on Twitter at @MexBaseballFsta in English, Instagram – Mexicanbaseballfiesta, Tik Tok.

NOTES

–INF Alex Mejia of Mexicali was the starting shortstop for the Arizona baseball team that won the national championship in 2012.

–Obregon pitcher Carlos Martinez, formerly of the St. Louis Cardinals, played nine years in the majors and was selected to the MLB All-Star games in 2015 and 2017. He earned $52 million in his big-league career.

–Other former major-league players with Obregon: P Carl Edwards Jr. (10 years with numerous MLB teams), P Luis Cessa (eight years with New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds), P Odrisamer Despaigne (six years with numerous MLB teams), OF Anthony Alford (six years with the Toronto Blue Jays and Pittsburgh Pirates), and INF Jonathan Arauz (four years with the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles).