Mexico Series leaves lasting memory for Astros fans
By Jaime Zamora
MONTERREY – Judging by the passengers on my flight from Houston, Major League Baseball hit a home run before a pitch had even been thrown during the Mexico Series between the Astros and Angels this weekend.
A majority of those on my flight were wearing Astros orange. My wife Celeste and I made the trip with a group of eight, six from Houston and two Angels fans from California. We arrived in Monterrey on a dreary, overcast day that threatened to prevent the first game of the two-game set from happening at all Saturday afternoon.
Near game time, the scene outside the Estadio de Béisbol Monterrey had the feel of a flea market at a Norteño concert during a baseball game. Fans were everywhere, buying anything that said “Mexico Series” while dancing to music and posing for photos. It was a selfie extravaganza.
The smell of rich food was everywhere, and so was the cold beer. Lots of beer was sold. I bought two beers, two water bottles and a plate of tacos de pastor for the equivalent of $14.
Beer was sold until the end of the game and beyond. Want to walk out with your beer? No problem! You won’t see that at Minute Maid Park, home of the 2017 World Series champion Astros.
Estadio de Béisbol Monterrey had a playoff atmosphere as fans settled in for the main event between José Altuve’s Astros and Mike Trout’s Angels.
Fireworks went off during the player introductions. The vast majority of the crowd were seemingly wearing Astros colors, which shouldn’t be much of a surprise considering Monterrey is a short flight from Houston or even only an eight-hour drive away.
Moreover, Houston is home to a large segment of immigrants from Monterrey. Mexico is known more as a soccer-crazy country, but it was clear during the Mexico Series that Latinos also love baseball.
One of my favorite moments during the first game of the two-game set happened as Altuve was warming up in shallow left field. A fan waving a Venezuelan flag caught the former American League Most Valuable Player’s eye.
Altuve stopped what he was doing and came over to sign the flag. It was a touching moment for two Venezolanos to forget about the turmoil engulfing their home and enjoy baseball.
The contest was essentially decided almost before it started with the Astros jumping to a big early lead. Fans chanting “Let’s go, Astros!” blended with those yelling “Vamos, Astros!”
I was struck by how welcoming and friendly the local fans were. Many asked if we were enjoying our trip and encouraged us to make the most of our visit to Monterrey.
“Baseball is a universal language,” said retired dentist Barbara Moon, the famous Astros Sign Lady who travels the country following the AL West champions. “No matter where we go we try to represent the Astros and Houston and treat people right.
“My signs are an icebreaker, and it gives us a chance to meet people.”
I asked some fans if they thought Major League Baseball would ever establish a franchise in the land of the Aztecs.
“There’s obviously a market, and the attraction is there,“ Domingo Villarreal of Houston said. “Baseball transcends all border politics. It would be phenomenal to add a team in Mexico.”
By the eighth inning Saturday with the game well out of reach, a fan was heard saying of the Angels, “Ya tira la toalla,” which translates to the trite, throw in the towel.
Astros fans were happy. My highlight happened in the ninth inning Saturday. With the blowout, the Houston bench had been emptied. Left fielder Tony Kemp threw me a baseball after warming up.
I turned to a little boy wearing a Mexico shirt and handed him the ball as cheers rang out all around us. It was just two people from different countries enjoying the same wonderful game. His Dad returned the favor by buying me – what else – a beer!
It was a day to come together and enjoy a great game, whether an American baseball fan or a Mexican baseball fan. Major League Baseball may just be onto something here.
Even with a language barrier, the trip was a hit for fans who have followed the Astros throughout the United States during the playoffs and the regular season over the past few years.
“We have had no issues here in Monterrey,” Moon said. “I wish we didn’t have the language barrier, but we’ve worked through that. People have been great. Will I come back? Yes!”
We capped the night not as foreigners but as true sons of Monterrey even though our group included fans from Houston, Vietnam and other parts of the United States.
We ended the weekend by celebrating my wife’s birthday by eating Cabrito, one of delicacies most associated with Monterrey.
Cabrito, beer, good friends and baseball. The Mexico Series was a hit.
Jaime Zamora recently retired after 38 years as a photojournalist for ABC/Disney. He covered the Astros for 30, covering 15 spring training camps. He has also been an Astros season ticket holder for 20 years. He played competitive baseball for almost 50 years, winning a World Series championship in the 2008 MSBL 45+ Division. He and his wife Celeste have two adult twin daughters, Alexis and Isabella.
Featured Image: Courtesy Jaime Zamora
Inset Image: Courtesy Jaime Zamora