Jose Canseco Returns to Face-Off Against Surf Dawgs
Published on July 25, 2006 under Golden Baseball League (GBL)
San Diego Surf Dawgs News Release
SAN DIEGO - Rivalries are spurred in a multitude of fashions, but no rivalry becomes as bitter as when a team loses its star player, who brought an uplifting attitude to the ball club that resulted in a plethora of wins, only to have that player return with a different club. The stage is set for this Friday evening as the former Surf Dawgs Designated Hitter of one evening returns to find his former team rolling with the most second half victories in the Golden Baseball League. Major League Baseball legend Jose Canseco makes his first appearance as a member of the Long Beach Armada to take on the team he demanded a trade from.
Canseco, 42, has had a spectacular professional baseball career. During the course of his seventeen big league seasons, he was named Rookie of the Year and American League MVP, was selected as a member of six All-Star teams, and played in four World Series -- winning championships with the 1989 Oakland Athletics and 2000 New York Yankees. A longtime sports and pop culture icon, Canseco's notoriety raised to record heights in 2005 with the publication of his autobiographical best seller "Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big" that detailed steroid use in professional baseball.
Canseco began his Golden Baseball League career when he played his one and only game with the Surf Dawgs on July 3rd. He went 0-for-3 in the game with three strikeouts as the DH. After the game with the Surf Dawgs, Canseco demanded a trade to play closer to home. The trade was made the following day, as Canseco was traded to the Long Beach Armada for pitcher Yoankis Turino. After an initial struggle adjusting back to wooden bats, as he had not played with one since his last professional contract in 2001, Canseco has hit .400 in his last 10 games with the Armada, logging 2 homeruns and 7 RBI.
While the Surf Dawgs were not happy with Canseco's choice, the Long Beach Armada have taken kindly to his support as a big brother figure since the trade that sent him closer to his family. Pitcher Ryan Webb said, "Sometimes you sit there, look at him and think about who he is and what he's done, but when he's out on the field it's pretty clear he's another guy just in love with the game." It is obvious that Canseco's passion for the game still has him going strong after a 17-year professional career.
Canseco still is as big of a home run threat as ever. He was victorious in the Inagural Home Run Derby 5-4, edging current Surf Dawg Scott Goodman. Goodman belted 13 homeruns to Canseco's five in the first round of the Derby, but could not keep up with the masher in the second round. Later that same evening, Canseco appeared in his first game since his famous pitching debut in MLB and gave up four runs in 16 pitches. His futility led to the North edging the South 7-6 in the All-Star Game Classic and cost Surf Dawg Adam Mandel, who went 5-for-5 with five doubles, a sure MVP nod.
These recent occurrences have fueled the Surf Dawgs to their best stretch of the season, as they currently stand tied atop the Golden Baseball League with a 5-2 record. While they have wanted to prove their ability to defend their 2005 GBL championship without Canseco, the trade that sent Canseco to the Armada has not been like Babe Ruth going from the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees. New acquisition Yoankis Turino has been spectacular, most recently going two perfect innings, striking out two while only throwing 15 pitches, on Saturday night. However, the first real rivalry between two teams is beginning to form in the GBL.
Come watch Jose Canseco's only appearance this year at Tony Gwynn Stadium during a three game set beginning Friday, 7 PT. Tickets are available online at www.sdsurfdawgs.com. If you are unfamiliar with the Surf Dawg Media Credential Policy, please call the Media Relations Department at (619) 282-4487. The Surf Dawgs are expecting large crowds throughout the weekend so make your plans to come out to Tony Gwynn early.
Golden Baseball League Stories from July 25, 2006
- Adam Mandel Named GBL Player of the Week - San Diego Surf Dawgs
- Jose Canseco Returns to Face-Off Against Surf Dawgs - San Diego Surf Dawgs
- Armada win ugly, top Outlaws 8-6 - Chico Outlaws
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