By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Wally Joyner scores thePadres' eighth run.
Padres rise and shine
The series was a hit and could be
By Mike Fitzgerald
a stepping stone to a return visit by
more big-league clubs
and Dave Reardon
Star-BulletinTheir reaction was somewhat of a mixed plate -- but the majority of players and administrators want to bring major-league baseball back to Honolulu next season. And the transformation of Aloha Stadium back to a baseball field got pretty good reviews as well from the historic weekend series between the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals.
"We want to have a little chance to review everything, but if you asked our front office and our players to vote, it would be overwhelmingly in favor of coming back," said Padres president and CEO Larry Lucchino. "The support has been terrific."
The attendance for Saturday's doubleheader was 37,382 fans and yesterday's single game attracted 40,050 baseball enthusiasts.
"Our goal was to have 40,000 for each game," Lucchino added. "So we came pretty darned close."
Gov. Ben Cayetano was on hand both days.
"I would like to see the Padres come here on a regular basis," Cayetano said. "We showed that we can support it. We're drawing a lot more than some of the mainland games. We have the weather and the stadium is beautiful."
Russ Francis, state sports coordinator, said that the possibilities include other major-league teams.
"I talked with Lucchino and he's pleased with the results -- and would like to see it continue as a series," Francis said. "There's also the possibility of teams from Japan playing here. And there are some other major-league teams that are interested. They've called us. We've talked to three other teams."
By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Rickey Henderson steals second ahead of Royce Clayton's tag.
Padres manager Bruce Bochy had a positive reaction, despite his team losing two out of the three games.'"I've enjoyed it -- it's been a great experience," he said. "Everyone has been so hospitable to us. We appreciate their support and it has been a lot of fun. It was a warm one today and that's how baseball is supposed to be."
Former Hawaii Islander and seven-time National League batting champion Tony Gwynn saw it both ways.
"It was all right -- I hadn't been back in 15 years when I was called up, so that was nice," he said. "But I wouldn't want to do it on a regular basis. It gets you out of your rhythm, out of your normal routine. But the fans were very enthusiastic. That's as enthusiastic as I've seen in baseball.
"I think the players and the families enjoyed themselves. But even coming from the West Coast would be hard. When we finished last night's game, it seemed like it was 5:30 in the morning -- we were just drained. That part of it was pretty tough. But the baseball itself wasn't much different than playing anywhere else. Baseball is baseball. But the time change and the distance makes it difficult."
On Aloha Stadium, Gwynn said: "The stadium hasn't changed in 15 years. The turf is as slick as any I've ever seen. The only difference is the fence, where they put some plywood and padding."
Veteran Cardinals reliever Dennis Eckersley -- who has pitched in at least 30 different big-league parks since 1975 said: "I'd say this is in the top 10 for pitcher's parks, and I guess I've pitched long enough for that to mean something. It's more than fair on home run distance, but the ball just doesn't carry. Overall, I really liked the trip, but going from L.A. would have made more sense."
St. Louis outfielder Ron Gant, who had an inside-the-park home run yesterday, was pleased.
"With a couple of minor adjustments, this would be a wonderful, wonderful place to play baseball," he said.
Last year's National league MVP Ken Caminiti said: "I wouldn't mind coming back here, but I think you have to have a day off when you get here and a day off when you leave. And I think you have to come in from the West Coast."
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said the long flight here from Florida wasn't that bad.
"The trip wasn't really a problem," he said. "We had plenty of time with the day off. The toughest part of this was playing a doubleheader and then coming back the next day to play when it's really warm."
La Russa added: "I don't know what the weather is like here later in the year. But this is the time of year balls don't carry. Still, there were some decently hit fly balls that would have been homers in other parks. If you hit the ball down the lines it will go. But nobody hit it down the line."
Padres' first baseman Wally Joyner, who was in Honolulu as a team spokesman when the games were first announced, wants to return.
"I think the fans enjoyed us being here and we enjoyed being here, also. Hawaii is a wonderful place to come and visit and vacation, and it's also a great place to come and play ball. I think there's a future here. Other than the travel, which I think is easy to get around, you should be able to play here. The games were very close and competitive. So I would consider it a huge success."
Veteran sportscaster and current Aloha Stadium assistant Les Keiter smiled from the press box yesterday.
"I'm just all goose bumps, sitting out here and seeing the enthusiasm and the excitement it has created across the state," he said. "I think it is wonderful."
Another longtime broadcaster, Jerry Coleman, agreed.
"It was a howling success," said the voice of the Padres and former player and manager. "Both sides enjoyed it. Everybody was wonderful to us, they treated us like kings. The weather was spectacular. Remember, we came out of 34 degrees in Pittsburgh. Hey, I may move here."
Finally, ESPN's Jon Miller -- who did the nationally televised play-by-play with Hall of Famer Joe Morgan yesterday -- had a novel idea.
"I'm all for it," he said with a grin. "I'd like to see them make the Sunday night game always in Hawaii. Joe and I could just move over here and welcome all the teams in as they come in every week.
"We would be like the big-league baseball version of "Hawaii Five-O" or Tom Selleck and "Magnum." Joe and I would just get some nice Aloha shirts and be here every Sunday."
Ricky Show
