Tag: That's Amaury News and Commentary

That’s Amaury Pi Gonzalez News and Commentary: A Forgotten but Great Baseball Movie

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Monty Stratton shows his throwing pose (photo from the Society for American Baseball Research)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

A Forgotten but Great Baseball Movie

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Dozens of baseball movies have been made in Hollywood. One of the most amazing but true stories is “The Stratton Story.”1949) This fact-based sports drama chronicles the life of famous pitcher Monty Stratton.

Stratton (James Stewart), a star athlete, loses his leg when his hunting rifle misfires during a wilderness outing. Initially, Stratton’s career is derailed, and he wallows in the depths of depression; however, with the encouragement of his loving spouse, Ethel (June Allyson), he decides to get back in the game.

Equipped with a prosthetic leg, Stratton eventually works his way back to pitching in the minor leagues. Sportswriter James Isaminger wrote about the affable 6-foot-6 pitcher. “He is the nearest thing to Grover Cleveland Alexander,” said Cubs manager Charlie Grimm, “The same control, the same ‘dip’ on every pitch, the same smooth, confident motion.”

But then came a dark November day in 1938 that would change the course of Stratton’s life. Stratton pitched in the Major Leagues for five years and spent eight years after the accident in the minor leagues. Some in the game told him, after the hunting accident required his right leg to be amputated, that even with one leg, but at a 6’6″ frame, he could still intimidate hitters.

During his final two seasons in the Major Leagues in 1937, he compiled a 15-5 record with a 2.40 ERA and was selected to play in the All-Star Game. He also had a 15-9 record in 1938. If you are a baseball aficionado or simply a lover of history, there is only one channel on your television nowadays where you can watch this type of historical movie, and that is TCM.

It is a paid channel; however, it may be included in your provider’s bundle with other channels. According to data available, these are consistently ranked among the most popular and beloved baseball movies. One is about a true story, and the other one is a great story, but a baseball fan’s “dream” (1991), A League of Their Own, and (1989), Field of Dreams.

Although these two have become classics, many others deserve recognition. The movie “The Perfect Game” tells the story of the 1957 Monterrey, Mexico Little League team that won the Little League World Series.

The film is a fictionalized account of the real-life team’s journey to victory. Cheech Marin plays a priest who is instrumental in the team’s success. In 2009, Cheech Marin, one of the stars of “The Perfect Game”, came to San Francisco as an invitee of the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame.

Before the movie was shown in a San Francisco theater, I had the pleasure of introducing Mr. Marin as a special guest of the Museum, together with our President, Gabriel (Tito) Avila Jr, and other museum and San Francisco city officials.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: MLB Looking for Partnership with Women Professional Softball

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Women’s softball league under the umbrella of Major League Baseball the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (logo from Athletes Unlimited)

MLB Looking for Partnership with Women’s Professional Softball

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

You could say that Caitlin Clark started the popularity and impact, especially economic impact, of women’s professional basketball. Super talented, she increased the interest, exposure, and support for women’s sports in the country.

After her college years at the University of Iowa, she moved to the WNBA, where she played for the Indiana Fever as the team’s first-round draft pick in 2024, helping to revive the WNBA.

It is not as though the WNBA was not popular before Caitlin Clark’s arrival, but there is no doubt that since her arrival, the WNBA has become much more popular. Currently, the Indiana Fever’s star is sidelined with an injury and expected to miss a couple of weeks, maybe more.

The newest WNBA team is the Golden State Valkyries, which debuted this 2025 season. The Valkyries are the first new WNBA franchise since the Atlanta Dream joined in 2008. They’re based in San Francisco and play at the Chase Center. The NBA owns 42% of the WNBA and provides a significant annual endowment to help cover operational costs. 

There is a sort of renaissance in professional women’s sports in the United States, and Major League Baseball (MLB) is investing in the new Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) to replicate the success of establishing a professional softball league.

MLB is making a long-term investment, which includes media coverage on the popular MLB Network and marketing on Major League Baseball’s digital platforms. This is the first time Major League Baseball has invested in a women’s professional league.

Aiming to emulate the WNBA’s success by establishing a stable and sustainable professional softball league, MLB’s investment is a multi-year financial commitment that includes media coverage on MLB Network and marketing on MLB’s digital platforms.

This investment for MLB is a first-of-its-kind collaboration with a women’s professional sports league. This is very significant, after all, MLB is the oldest professional sports league in the United States, founded in 1876, with the National League and the American League joining later in 1901.

In 2000, the two leagues merged to form a single organization; before that, they were known as the National League and the American League. Some of us with extensive experience in baseball media recall when the NL published the Green Media book and the AL published the Red Media Guide.

For the record, there are other two women’s professional league that pay their players, aside from the WNBA. They are the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), both of which play here in the United States.

I am a strong supporter of women’s sports, and I have five ladies in my family who share my passion for sports. Congratulations to Major League Baseball, and I wish them the best of luck in this new endeavor.

“Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another. We’re strongest when we cheer each other on.” -Serena Williams.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: MLB- Latino Narrative Dominating 

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Minnie Minoso painting by Graig Kreindler. This is a painting of Minoso getting ready for a game with the Chicago White Sox in 1951 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx (Graig Kreindler X photo)

MLB: Latino Narrative Dominating

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

When I first began covering Major League Baseball in the mid-1970s, Latino players made up between 10 and 13% of all players; today, the number is at least 30% and growing. Although the most famous player today, Shohei Ohtani, was born in Japan, Latin culture is ever-present in the game of baseball. Demographics have changed dramatically since the 1970s, and today the total Hispanic population in the U.S. is estimated to be 65.2 million, according to Pew Research Center.

Of all the countries in the world with the most significant number of Spanish-speaking people, the United States of America ranks second, with Mexico having 132 million. One of my long-time friends is Octavio “Cookie” Rojas, who played 16 seasons in the major leagues. Octavio has done it all. Octavio “Cookie” Rojas Rivas (born March 6, 1939) is a Cuban-American former professional baseball player, coach, manager, scout, and radio and television commentator.

He went to La Luz School in Havana (although a few years before me).I also attended that same school. He became a professional player in the old Cuban Winter League with the Leones del Habana. I remember him playing second base, and I recall a television show about baseball on Cuban television that he hosted.

It was Octavio, when he was a scout, that sat with me during a broadcast back in the 80’s, that told me, “En 30 años seremos cerca de la mitad Latinos jugando aqui” trans- “In 30 years, half of all the players playing here, will be Latinos”. He wasn’t far from predicting the truth.

In 2011, the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame inducted Octavio”Cookie” Rojas into their Hall of Fame. The museum has been a traveling museum for 26 years, founded as a non-profit in San Francisco, California.

Rojas also played in Venezuela, after Cuba, and of course made his name in the major leagues. We at the HHBM are very proud to have him among other Latino Legends who led the way for us today and made baseball one of the most popular Latino sports in the United States.

Note: I recall when Orestes “Minnie” Miñoso was playing in Cuba with the Mariano Tigers. He became the first Cuban-born player to earn a salary of $25,000 in the major leagues with the Chicago White Sox. In the 1950s, that was a substantial amount of money in baseball.

Recently Dominican-born Juan Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets in December 2024. This contract makes it the largest in the history of professional sports. It also includes a $75 million signing bonus and an average annual salary of $51 million. The most significant contract ever in baseball went to a Latino player.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame.

 https://goaquaadventure.com

 @Central Park Fremont – Fremont CA

That’s Amaury News and Commentary-Yankees announced $6.4 Billion Stadium renovation

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New York Yankees Stadium will be renovated at the tune of $6.4 billion by owner Hal Steinbrenner (photo by Ebay)

Yankees announced $6.4 Billion Stadium renovation

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

From a team like the A’s, where the owner is counting pennies every day, and seldom improves the team on the field to be at least competitive, and now playing in a foreign stadium not able to at least sellout one game yet during the first two months of the season, to the New York Yankees, arguably the most famous sports franchise in American professional sports.

Here, the Yanks are making news. New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner announced $6.4 billion stadium renovation project that will redefine arena standards to deliver a world-class experience for fans. In a groundbreaking announcement that has sent shock waves through the sports world, New York Yankees managing general partner “This ambitious project aims to completely redefine the standards in the arena and deliver a world-class experience for fans, players, and the entire baseball community.” -said the owner.

Here are some of the improvements. Cutting-edge seating with enhanced sightlines and comfort Immersive digital experiences and interactive fan zones Expanded dining and hospitality options featuring local and international cuisines sustainable design elements to reduce environmental impact Upgraded player facilities inspired by the recent Steinbrenner Field renovations Yankee fans are among the most opinionated in all of baseball.

Here are some of their responses on the internet: After hearing Hal Steinbrenner’s announcement, many Yankee fans reacted this way— “How about putting a roof?” —“We need that money instead to get the players to take us to another World Series title:” — ” Take a billion off and go get some A-list players instead”—. “We are fine the way the stadium is.” “Stadiums fine, sign a few starters and a 3B”— Can you please make it easier to find the parking garage?! I’m still lost in the Bronx.” —Yeah, and then make it that much harder to go to a game because it’ll be more expensive.”

Anecdote: In the 2000 World Series, the New York Yankees played the New York Mets, which was the first Subway Series in New York since 1956. I was contacted by LBC (Latino Broadcasting Corporation, based in Miami) to do the play-by-play with my friend and colleague, Eduardo Ortega, of the San Diego Padres.

We went onto the streets just outside the Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan, armed with a recorder, and gathered opinions from Yankees and Mets fans alike. It was typical New York, with some very colorful language that our producer-engineer, Armando Talavera, had to edit later at the stadium before the game for our pregame. The Yankees won the series 4 games to 1. They were defending World Champions and won their third in a row.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Ohtani and Yamamoto key in Dodgers wins; Ex Dodger Taylor is getting some reps with Angels; plus more news

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Los Angeles Dodgers two way star Shohei Ohtani throws batting practice before meeting the New York Mets Sun May 25, 2025 (AP News photo)

That’s Amaruy News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, Los Angeles Dodgers two way star Shohei Ohtani threw a 22 pitch bullpen session one of the pitches was a 97 mph fast ball how close does he look to returning to the mound.

#2 The Dodgers who had been struggling losing four of their last ten games are showing signs of improvement with a 7-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland. Ohtani and Dodger pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto were both key players in this game. Yamamoto pitched six innings giving up two hits. Ohtani hit a home run for his second straight game for a league leading 19 homers.

#3 Former Dodger Chris Taylor reached a one year agreement at the MLB minimum salary with the Los Angeles Angels on Monday. Taylor started in centerfield on Monday night against the New York Yankees and batted in the eighth hole.

#4 The Detroit Tigers Tarik Skubal’s strike to balls ratio is 82 Ks to 3 Base on balls. Skubal is being compared to former Detroit Tiger Justin Verlander who was unstoppable during his Tigers days. Skubal on Sunday pitched a complete 5-0 shutout against the Cleveland Guardians in Detroit. Skubal has movement on his pitches and was dealing.

#5 Boston Red Sox pitcher Walker Buehler has something to say about a pitch that he said was a strike. The reply did show the ball landed in the box. none the less Walker argued the ball was a strike against New York Mets hitter Juan Soto. Walker was ejected from the game and manager Alex Cora came out and had his say as well.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s manager shows discontent with Sutter Health Park

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A’s manager Mark Kotsay checks things out against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the ninth inning on June 29, 2024 at Chase Field in Phoenix. Kotsay recently said that he can not see the ball when it’s going down the left field line from the A’s dugout at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento. (AP file photo)

A’s Manager shows Discontent with Sutter Health Park

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Players complaining is one thing, and many times it goes ignored by…well, they’re players in a way spoiled, after all, they are playing in the Major Leagues, making more money than most of us can count. But when the Manager is also unhappy with where his home team is playing, that is another thing.

This was the case for A’s Manager Mark Kotsay during a game against the LA Angels recently at Sutter Health Park, West Sacramento. Imagine a manager sitting in the dugout watching the game, and during a controversial play and call by an umpire, he had to say this to the media: “I’m completely blind on anything that goes down the left field line.” Because Kotsay could not see they play as it was happening

It should not be a surprise since the ownership decided to play 81 home games in a Minor League Park, during that play A’s Manager said, “I was relying on the umpire crew to see the play and make the call, and then from his replay team to tell him to challenge it.”

According to today’s MLB regulations, MLb has 15 seconds to ask for replay reviews. What happens at Sutter Health Park should not surprise anybody, but when stuff like this happens, it is confirmation of the ineptness of their front office management.

The A’s most expensive signing this off-season, Luis Severino, their number one starter, has called Sutter Health Park “not a big league park.” He has also highlighted issues with the clubhouse location and the stadium’s size and noted how they affect his routine and rhythm as a pitcher. For the record, he is not having a good start.

With all the problems the Oakland A’s had at the Oakland Coliseum, as dated as it was, it was still a Major League facility—not the best, but still to Major League standards, the condition of the field was excellent all the time, I spoke to many players who played for the A’s and from visiting teams who told me the infield and outfield were always in excellent condition, some infielders told me: “it is soft and smooth infield and easy to field the ball”. Some fans who traveled from the Bay Area and many hardcore veteran A’s fans who were curious about the experience in Sacramento said they had concerns about the long lines for concessions, the lack of MLB-standard amenities, and the cost of parking and food.

I can imagine what many A’s players believe (but will not say) about playing in this facility. It would not be an exaggeration on my part (from personal experience through the years) of what players are thinking. They are probably the ONLY team in Major League Baseball that cannot wait to go on a long road trip.

This popular quote is in doubt for the A’s today in Sacramento

“There’s nothing like playing at home.” – This quote expresses the unique and positive feeling of playing in front of a home crowd.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Ready for Professional Cricket?

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San Francisco Unicorns Hassan Khan takes a swing in cricket action back on Jul 25, 2024 (photo by ESPN)

Ready for Professional Cricket?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Are we Saturated with professional Sports teams in the Bay Area?

Yes, No? Prepare for Professional Cricket, which is coming to the Oakland Coliseum. World-class cricket is coming to the Oakland Coliseum. The San Francisco Unicorns were announced as one of the six teams participating in the league’s inaugural season in 2025. Games will be held on June 12, 14, and 15 at the Oakland Coliseum, and tickets will start at $30.

–The Golden State Valkyries: A new WNBA team owned by Golden State Warriors Joe Lacob and Peter Guber. They are an American professional basketball team based in San Francisco’s Chase Center. The Valkyries compete in the Women’s National Basketball Association as a member of the Western Conference. They recently began play in the 2025 season. Fact: The Valkyries already had more attendance in their inaugural game, 18,064, a sellout, than the Oakland A’s, playing in exile in Sacramento, who have yet to sell out one (1) game this season at Sutter Health Park.

–The Town FC is an American professional soccer team in Moraga, California. It is the San Jose Earthquakes reserve team and participates in MLS Next Pro, a minor league.

The Oakland Roots Sports Club is an American professional soccer club based in Oakland, California. It is a member of the Western Conference and competes in the USL Championship.

–The Bay Football Club, an American professional soccer team based in the San Francisco Bay Area that competes in the National Women’s Soccer League. The team began play in the NWSL as an expansion team in the 2024 season.

Not satisfied with enough Soccer yet? …There is more!

Golden City Football Club (GCFC) co-founders have announced plans to bring professional soccer to the Bay Area—the Golden City Football Club. San Francisco’s iconic Kezar Stadium is getting a major facelift thanks to a new $10 million public-private investment partnership. Mayor Daniel Lurie and (Soccer in Spanish=Fútbol in Portuguese=Futebol) Bay Area franchises in other Sports. –The San Francisco Giants, the San José Giants, and the Oakland Ballers are professional baseball teams in the Major and Minor Leagues.

–The Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association were recently eliminated (minus Curry) during the playoffs.

–The NFL San Francisco 49ers, who play in Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, just signed quarterback Brock Purdy to a five-year, $265 million extension. Purdy is looking for his first Super Bowl ring. Legendary Hall of Fame QB Joe Montana led the 49ers to four (4) Super Bowl titles. Joe Montana, as the 49ers Quarterback, earned an estimated $25 million during his professional football career.

–San José Earthquakes of the MLS (Major League Soccer)USA.

–The NHL San José Sharks just signed a lease to stay at SAP Center until 2050, and the mayor of San José promised many arena improvements.

Q: Are there enough fans and money to support all these sports teams in the Bay Area?

A: Think of this: Most of the wealthiest Californians reside in the Bay Area and amassed their fortunes thanks to the tech industry. With 342,400 millionaires and 756 people worth more than $100 million, the region ranked as the second wealthiest region in the world, just behind New York City. Apr 16, 2025 Adiós Atléticos. It’s too bad for the Oakland Athletics, who left this wonderful, rich area loaded with sports action for Sacramento and are still seeking additional funds for their Las Vegas stadium project. They aim to raise to $550 million from investors. The new stadium, valued at $1.75 billion, is financed through private investment, public funding, and bank loans.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

@Central Park Fremont – Fremont CA

 OPENS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

goaquaadventure.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Dodgers lose fourth straight; Mets Soto asked to hustle out of batters box; plus more MLB news

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Los Angeles Dodgers two way star Shohei Ohtani grounds out in the bottom of the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodgers Stadium on Mon May 19, 2025. The Dodgers are struggling of late and are on a four game losing streak. (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 What happened to the Los Angeles Dodgers after taking two out of three from the Sacramento A’s at Dodger Stadium. Then the Dodgers got swept by in three games by the Los Angeles Angels over the weekend and the Arizona Diamondbacks came to town on Monday night and jumped all over Dodger pitching losing 9-5.

#2  New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza will speak to Juan Soto about getting out of the hitter’s box a little faster. Soto was watching his handy work of what he anticipated would a home run instead of running the bases. The ball ended up bouncing off the Green Monster in Boston for a long single on Monday night at Fenway Park. Soto said he thinks he been hustling out of the box pretty hard.

#3 Jose Alvarado might have disappointed his teammates at the Philadelphia Phillies after coming up positive for external testosterone. Major League Baseball suspended Alvarado for 80 games on Sunday. The Phillies were predicted to be a post season team but with Alvarado out that could set them back.

#4 Former St Louis Cardinal Kolten Wong has announced at 34 he will be retiring at 34. Wong finishes his career with a .256 average and finishes just 27 hit short of getting 1,000 hits in his illustrious 11 year career. He finishes with 86 homers, 511 runs scored, and stole 120 bases. Wong won the Gold Glove Awards in 2019 and 2020. Finishing his career in 2023 hitting .183 with four homers over 87 games.

#5 The Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Bubic pitched a no hitter into the sixth inning only to get charged with a hit by the Giants Wilmer Flores who broke up the no hit bid on Monday night. The Royals got enough good pitching to win the ball game 3-1 in spite of Giants starter Robbie Ray’s great performance pitching seven innings, six hits, no walks, and struck out seven. Ray remains undefeated at 6-0 he didn’t get the loss.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

That’s Amauery News and Commentary-A’s Spanish Radio did not Broadcast the Series in San Francisco

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Spanish radio flagship stations for the Sacramento A’s 890 AM KMJE and Fox Sports 104.7 FM Sacramento did not broadcast A’s baseball from Oracle Park in San Francisco between Fri May 16-18 (logos from La Ranchera 890 AM KMJE and Fox Sports 104.7 FM)

A’s Spanish Radio did not broadcast the Series in San Francisco

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

SAN FRANCISCO–Now, they call it the First I-80 Series. The Sacramento A’s drove 175 round-trip miles and were swept in three games at Oracle Park by the San Francisco Gigantes.. For the first time in their short history since leaving Oakland and temporarily relocating to Sacramento, the A’s Spanish radio was not at Oracle Park to broadcast against the Giants.

You will think the ATH needs all the best publicity in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Chinese, Japanese, Tagalog, Dutch, and other languages.

Everybody knows that since the A’s announced their Oakland departure, the publicity has been overwhelmingly negative from fans and media alike, locally and nationwide, not to mention against their owner, which has been brutal across this country and some foreign countries also as I was speaking today to a colleague from Venezuela who told me the A’s are “persona non grata” in that oil rich country.

A’s has not sold out a game yet at 14,000-seat Sutter Health Park, West Sacramento, even with a recent visit by the New York Yankees, who have a nationwide fan base. The Latino community is not that important for the A’s, even in a town with a rather large Hispanic population like Sacramento—much larger than their future planned home in Las Vegas.

But what the heck? “Only 11 million people in California speak Spanish, (some estimates are much more), and A’s management believes that is not enough. In past years, I lobbied the team management to broadcast the games against the Giants during the regular season, from San Francisco, when we visited, on the A’s Spanish radio station.

This is only natural; it makes sense. However, ‘common sense’ today is not common for some people. Of course, it all culminated in 1989 when the two Bay Area teams played the historic Loma Prieta Earthquake World Series, which I broadcast for the A’s.

During the Walter Haas ownership, the best for the Oakland A’s. Of course, that will never happen again, unless the A’s return to Oakland, and if you believe that, you also believe in Mickey Mouse, the Tooth Fairy, and Santa Claus.

I went to Oracle Park this Sunday for the last regular-season game in San Francisco between the A’s and the Giants. These two teams have a special place in my heart since I broadcast for both. Yours truly is among only a handful of broadcasters who have called many games for both teams.

I share that distinction with other legendary Bay Area colleagues: Bill King, Lon Simmons, Hank Greenwald, Jon Miller, and Ted Robinson. Until 2024, the Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants were two teams of an MLB group that were neighbors, but not anymore, separated by the Bay Bridge and 12 miles.

Others that remain in that category are the Mets and Yankees(12 miles apart), Cubs and White Sox(11 miles apart), Angels and Dodgers(26 miles apart), Orioles, and Nationals(44 miles apart).

Note: The 1989 San Francisco (Loma Prieta Earthquake) occurred on October 17, 1989. It was the only time in history that the World Series was interrupted for anything other than inclement weather.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Best Catcher of the Modern era talks about Pete Rose

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Johnny Bench the former Cincinnati Reds great catcher at the Hall of Fame induction that was held at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati on Sat Jul 15, 2023 commented this week Wed May 14, 2025 on the passing of his former teammate Pete Rose (AP file photo)

Best Catcher of the Modern era talks about Pete Rose

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Johnny Bench was Pete Rose’s teammate during the last Cincinnati Reds glory years in the 1970s; he knew Rose as well as any other player. Arguably the best catcher in the modern era of baseball, Johnny Bench spoke recently about Pete Rose, who last week was reinstated from baseball and soon could be posthumously elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown.

Bench talked to Dan Patrick on Wednesday’s show episode and explained why Rob Manfred might have decided. He said they wanted to wait until Rose died before reinstating his name. Rose died in September of last year, leaving the league free to lift his ban without any potential repercussions.

“I think there was some concern that he wanted to get into the game of baseball as far as what has been talked about,” Bench said. “He still wanted to be a manager or something like that. I think that created some problems, whether somebody would hire at this point, or what position they would be in. I think there was still an okay, we still have to have a particular caution here, we’ve got to put up some yellow flags, and in most cases, many red flags. Johnny Bench is 77 years old and lives in Rancho Mirage, California.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

OPENS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND  

goaquaadventure.com

@centralparkfremont Fremont