Tonight, from the valley where corn was first cultivated, I’ll be watching my San Francisco Giants play game one of Major League Baseball’s, 2014 World Series.
I was amazed to discover that one of San Francisco’s ace relief pitchers, Yusmeiro Petit, the Giants’ do-everything man, played for the Oaxaca Guerreros in 2011!!! The Guerreros, a Triple-A team in the Mexican League play at Estadio Eduardo Vasconcelos, within walking distance (albeit, a long walk) from my apartment. I attended several of the Guerreros’ games in 2011 and, who knows, maybe I saw him.
When I was in Mexico, I always said to myself, “This is going to be my goal, to go back to the United States and be successful,” said Petit, through a translator. “I always knew that this could happen. I didn’t know how it was going to happen, but I knew this could happen.” (from article, Giants’ do-everything man Petit ready for any task)
(AP Photo/Don Boomer, File)
And, from another article:
Petit thinks his experience with the Oaxaca Warriors was crucial in his career surge. In Mexico he learned to mix his pitches and mastered the curve. “I was in a slump, which happens to anyone,” he said. “But in Mexico I learned that I had to work harder to keep going and to reach what I was looking for, which was to come back (to the majors) and stay here.”
¡Felicidades Yusmeiro Petit y vamos Gigantes!
Mexican Peso Converter
Hi Shannon,
I’m in SF, also saw this yesterday.
Funny, I went to 4-5 Guerreros games in May, 2011 and don’t remember Petit.
He’s been “lights out” for the Giants this year.
Regards,
Peter Y
I know, I don’t remember him in 2011, either. But he was awesome in the playoffs! Added a quote and a link to another article (above) where he says he didn’t want to come down to Oaxaca, but learned a lot. I’ve always been a Giants’ fan, however, because of him, a lot of US ex-pats living in Oaxaca are rooting for SF. 😉
Couple of thoughts… ya gotta love the Guererros if you are connected to Oaxaca. I haven’t gone the last couple of years though. Do they still have the Guerritas? Seeing them cut up with Tato was worth the admission price alone..
Re the Giants, nice to see you posted the pic of the Domincan Dandy, Juan Marichal, one of the two best pitchers of the 60’s, the other being Sandy Koufax…
Go Giants!
Oh yes, there are still Guerritas (photo evidence here: https://casitacolibri.wordpress.com/2014/05/02/take-me-out-to-the-ball-game/) As for the Dominican Dandy… He was a childhood favorite as I followed the Giants on the radio with my grandfather and that leg kick was legendary! Ahh, those NY then CA Giant-Dodger rivalries…
I loved those teams… Mays, McCovey, Marichal, Gaylord Perry and later, the original Bonds…
Living in LA, my friends hated that I loved the Giants back then…
Me too! As a child, I had a small poster of the Mays, McCovey, Cepeda, Alou, etc. team on my bedroom wall. I would listen to Lon Simmons and Russ Hodges broadcast the games with my grandfather. Fond memories…
Hola Shannon – I too love baseball, with a grandson who plays, and I never miss a game. But that is not my main thought in writing to you. Do you remember two women in a taxi back in Jan. 2012? – one of them very sick, who almost was denied getting on the plane…We picked you up in our taxi on the way to the airport – your alarm hadn’t gone off, and you were slightly disheveled…However, we chatted, and you gave me your blog info…I loved Oaxaca, and am seriously considering taking 3 months out of my usual life, and spending it in Oaxaca, hoping to get more skilled in Spanish…I read some of your blog entries, some beautiful (I too love outdoor activities, and I adore hummingbirds) and one very sad, the murdered young men from Ayotzinapa. I am hoping that you could put me in touch with some modest accommodation resources, perhaps with a Spanish speaking family, where I could stay and pay on a monthly basis. Can you help? I am thinking some time in the New Year. Hoping to hear from you…Jillian from Madison (originally Australia)
Jillian — OMG, I remember that colectivo ride! Now I triple check my alarm. I don’t have any inside info re home stays. However, a couple of suggestions… Many of the Spanish language schools in Oaxaca provide home stays. In addition, you might want to pose the question to the Facebook group, Clandestine Oaxaca Appreciation Society . Thanks for reconnecting and keep me posted. – Shannon