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Vipers Sign Former Major Leaguers

May 5, 2010 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Calgary Vipers News Release


The Calgary Vipers announce today that they have signed two former Major League Baseball players and a former "AAA" player for the 2010 Golden Baseball League season. Outfielder Julio Ramirez, pitcher Anastacio Martinez, and catcher Luis Taveras will all join the Vipers for their first year in Calgary.

Ramirez totalled 84 games in the big leagues with four different teams from 1999 through 2005. The 32-year-old has also totalled 630 games at the "AAA" level. In total this will be the 5'11" 205 pounder's 14th season in North America after playing the last couple of years in the Dominican Republic. This season will be the Santo Domingo native's first in Independent baseball. Back in 2002 Julio played 29 regular season games for the eventual World Series Champion Anaheim Angels.

Taveras has played 28 games at "AAA" and another 226 at the "AA" level. Overall the 34-year-old has played 12 seasons professionally in North America. The 5'10" 210 pound Salcedo, Dominican Republic native has played the last three years in the Independent Atlantic League after nine years in affiliated baseball.

The Vipers will be holding their annual pre-season Media Conference on Friday May 7th at 12:00 PM. Media, sponsors, and friends are invited to meet & greet this year's team while enjoying a complimentary Bar-B-Que lunch of hotdogs and hamburgers. After the conference the Absolute Baseball Academy will be available for all to take their swings with the Vipers. The 10,000 square foot indoor facility adjacent to Foothills Stadium features the only Pro-Batter video pitching machine in the city as well as eight batting cages and a full artificial turf infield.

The Calgary Vipers open training camp on May 8th with workouts at Foothills Stadium. From May 11th - 13th the Vipers travel to Kamloops, British Columbia to host a baseball clinic followed by two preseason games against the Victoria Seals. On May 15th the team is hosting a Meet & Greet and serving up a BBQ Burger Cook-off at the Main Dish in Calgary. The Vipers open up the 2010 Golden Baseball League season on May 19th with a seven game road-trip through Yuma and Tucson, Arizona.

Opening Day is scheduled for May 27th at Foothills Stadium with the Strong Warriors of Maui, Hawaii making their first ever appearance in Calgary. Maui is one of two new teams in the G.B.L. with Tijuana, Mexico being the other. The league now stretches over three countries and three different time zones and this season a new rule change has been implemented that will eliminate the designated hitter and allow pitchers to bat for themselves.

Tickets are currently on sale at the Vipers' office (2255 Crowchild Trail NW), you can also call 403-277-2255 or visit the Calgary Vipers' brand new website: www.calgaryvipers.com .



Golden Baseball League Stories from May 5, 2010


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