Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez with Johan Santana (Photo Bill Menzel)

On June 22, 2010 when the Detroit Tigers with their 4 Venezuelan players arrived in Queens for Interleague play against the New York Mets and their 4 Venezuelan players – in a somewhat subdued way; few of the general fans had arrived at Citi Field – or should one say, with feign fanfare:  the Mets became the first team to pay homage to Venezuelan Heritage by featuring Venezuela’s Ambassador to the U.S. Bernardo Alvarez.

Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez with members of Amigos Invisibles (Invisible Friends Band) (Photo Bill Menzel)

Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez interviewed by Latino Sports WGR (Photo Bill Menzel)

Also invited and to the delight of a contingent of Venezuelan fans along the first base line where José Luis Pardo and José Rafael Torres, two members Los Amigos Invicibles, a very popular Venezuelan band (this writer was tempted to ask the two if the rest of the members of the band were on the field, but were not visible).   

Would Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (an avid baseball fan) be watching the game? Latino Sports asked Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez. “He is aware of this game and if there is to be a telecast transmission don’t be surprised if he does tune in to see it,” he replied.

Johan Santana, Francisco Rodríguez, Fernando Nieve and Henry Blanco  play for the Mets while the Detroit Tigers  feature Miguel Cabrera, Carlos Guillen, Maglio Ordoñez  and Armando Galárraga. A record-breaking fifty-eight Venezuelans currently play on the Major Leagues.

Angel Pagan and R.A. Dickey get a feel of the Good Earth (Photo by WGR)

Earlier in the day a number of Mets along with their manager Jerry Manuel visited a garden in Spanish Harlem-El Barrio and while they did not go to necessarily plant roses (there is still one there – even more) two Boricua residents of the community, one yours truly and community activist Gloria Quiñones told Boricua Angel Pagan (in Spanish) “Welcome to El Barrio, the birthplace of the Puerto Rican community in New York."

Angel Pagan felt at home in the Pleasant Avenue Garden in Spanish Harlem-El Barrio (Photo WGR)

“Gracias por la bienvenida,” answered Angel Pagan, the valuable center fielder (playing in place of fellow Boricua Carlos Beltran who is soon to return to playing time and thus create a dilemma given how well Pagan has been performing).

This had been part of the initiation of the program by The New York Mets and Citi so called  ‘Teammates in the Community Week,’ “at a community garden in Harlem (sic), joining local volunteers in planting flowers and trees and installing grills for a revitalization project spearheaded by NYC Service.”

Ninety one year old Margaret Mcguillar got a jersey with 91 on it by the NY Mets. Behind her is her personal plot what she likes to grow best (Photo WGR)

Besides the presence of the Mets an Mr. Met at the Pleasant Avenue Garden located on that street between 117 and 118 Streets,  were Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Diahann Billings-Burford, NYC Service; Eileen Auld, New York State Community Development Director, Citi; and 50 community volunteers.

Major Bloomberg accompanied with Mets players, manager and community gardeners. (Photo WGR)

Not taking part in the event were local elected officials, notably councilwoman Melissa Mark Vivertio.

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