By Dave Lomonico 

Bienvenido a la Noche Latina! There was a bit of Latin flavor at Camden Yards on Saturday night, complete with merenque and flamenco, salsa and tango, tortillas and pollo and, of course, Dos Equis and Jose Cuervo. Cap it off with a big Daniel Cabrera growth poster for the kids, a Spanish-speaking JumboTron and America’s pastime had truly turned into a Latin fiesta. 

Yes, it was Latino Night at Camden Yards with the Orioles providing the food and entertainment and the people providing the fun and excitement that makes such a night special for Baltimore, the Orioles and Latin communities around the world. 

“[Latino Night] is great for the Latin community; it shows that the team supports the Latin community,” said Orioles reliever Danys Baez, a native of Cuba. “There’s a lot of Latin fans out there, and they support you [as a player], and they’re proud of you. … [Latino Night] gets a lot of them to the ballpark.”

While the event wasn’t exactly a Puerto Rican reunion with homemade tortillas, fresh paella and the easy beats of a salsa band, there was enough of an authentic feel to get the point across. 

“For me, it’s important because it lets Latin people come together,” said Yojany Minaya, a native of Peru who attended the event with family and friends. “It’s nice that [the Orioles] make Latins feel welcome.”

While Latin fans certainly enjoyed the concessions and the camaraderie of their Spanish-speaking kinsmen, the real importance of the night laid with the support showed for those who can only dream of attending a baseball game in America, much less a big league park.

To make sure the less fortunate got a taste of Latino Night, the Oriole Advocates hosted the Cardboard to Leather program, which provides a impoverished Latin communities with baseball equipment and monetary donations. Last year, according to Kevin Joyce, vice chairman of the program, the Advocates raised about $3,500 and received a surplus of baseball equipment that was sent to the Dominican Republic. This year, they’re donating all proceeds to the Sebaco Valley League, a youth baseball program in Nicaragua. 

“This is our biggest collection night of the year,” Joyce said. “We get most of our equipment donations tonight. ... I think [the Latin people] appreciate the fact we are doing something for the country they’re coming from.”

While a glut of Rawlings baseball gloves, Louisville Slugger bats and Orioles baseball hats poured in, fans also had the opportunity to bid on autographed memorabilia, with proceeds benefiting the Cardboard to Leather program. Of course, all the signed jerseys, balls and gloves were courtesy of the Orioles’ Latin contingent, from Melvin Mora to Sam Mejias.

Mora, a native of Venezuela, recognizes the importance of such an event as well as his influence as a big league player. “I’m proud to be a Latin, and for people to pay attention to us and what we do for this community -- especially all the people that play baseball in Latin countries -- [Latino Night] is nice for the Latin people,” Mora said.

“We don’t have a lot of Latin people [on the Orioles] right now, but I know Baltimore has a lot of Latin people [in the community],” Mora continued. “They’re happy to see Latin people play for the Baltimore Orioles.”

Shortstop and Dominican Reupblic native Miguel Tejada agreed with Mora. And before the game, Tejada, who knows how hard it is growing up impoverished, donated 150 tickets to Latin youth in Baltimore. While Tejada loves to see the less fortunate enjoying themselves at the ballpark, he truly wants to help the youngsters, who will cherish the chance to watch a major league game.

“When I was a little kid, I didn’t have an opportunity like this -- for someone to bring me to the ballpark and take me to the game like this,” Tejada said. “It’s an opportunity for me to do something. … I don’t do it to promote the game, I do it more to help little kids.”

Baltimore can hardly be called a hotbed for the Latin American community, but it’s hard to deny the changing demographic and the increasing number of Latin Americans in the area. As the community grows, Mora, Tejada and Baez all agreed that it’s important for the team to reach out. Latino Night is certainly a start for Baltimore, and if the Latin community continues to grow, then maybe it’s time to turn the Yard into a fiesta more often.

Issue 2.29: July 19, 2007