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Tejanos team keeps players young at heart
Published November 29, 2009
For members of the Tejanos Veterans Baseball Club of Del Rio, life begins after 35.
That’s because players on the team must be at least 35 years old to participate or at least 40 years old if they want to pitch.
The team, managed by Rudy Fernandez and coached by Gene Flores and Manuel De La Paz, features a variety of players whose average age is in the 38 to 40 range.
“Our third baseman, David Gutierrez, is leading the league in hitting and he’s 52. Tony Reyes, who is in his 60’s, is undefeated as a pitcher,” Fernandez said.
The team participates in a veteran’s league in Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico. Games are played every Sunday and teams use regulation baseballs as well as aluminum bats.
Through their first nine games this season their record was 8-1 and the Tejanos were on track to reach the playoffs again, which is something they’ve done the past several years. Fernandez estimates that the team has won about four championships since it was first created 32 years ago.
Of the 12 teams in the league, the Tejanos is the only one that calls Del Rio home.
“I played on the first team that participated in the league. We were the first ones from Del Rio invited to participate. Back then our team name was Amistad. We used to be the Del Rio Indians but now we’re the Tejanos,” Fernandez said.
The team has featured some familiar names on its roster including former high football great Danny Chavira, former high school baseball star Pablo Rodriguez, Fearless Forecaster leader Ramiro “Speedy” Gonzalez and current Val Verde County Commissioner Cheo Ortiz.
The current roster includes former college players, ex-semi pro players and local youth coaches.
“We’re just a bunch of die-hards, baseball players who still love the game. Even if we can’t move we’re still there,” Fernandez said. “We recruit new players each year and have practices every Wednesday. Some of the newer kids we’ve brought on are outstanding. But all of us want to represent Del Rio and so far we’ve done pretty good.”
There is some cost involved with playing for the Tejanos. Fernandez said the team’s costs run about $1,200 to $1,500 each year. Some of the expenses include paying the league’s entry fee, paying for meals, paying the umpire’s fee and purchasing uniforms and equipment.
Fernandez said costs are defrayed through fundraisers and sponsorships from local businesses including longtime sponsors Amigo Motors, Brown Chevrolet and Del Rio Ford.
Playing with the Tejanos has also become a family affair for Fernandez as this year his son Julian joined the team.
“This is his first year to play with us. To show you how long I’ve been doing this, I started when he was four-years-old,” Fernandez said.
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