In the dugout the next inning, as teammates commiserate: "If it's a strike, I'll let him know. I'll hit it out."
Zelman, the manager, owns Revolution Eyewear in Simi Valley. He hires celebrities to promote his business, so that's how he became friends with Canseco and invited him to play.
There are no rules against ringers. If you're 28 or older and you haven't played pro ball in the previous three years, Zelman says, you're eligible. Bret Saberhagen and Eric Davis, among others, preceded Canseco in the league.
"He just happens to be the very best hitter we've ever had in the league," Zelman said.
Zelman sponsors his team, so Canseco doesn't pay to play, and neither do his teammates. But, Zelman says, Canseco throws $5 into the pot to pay umpires every week, same as everyone else.
"You play once a week and have fun with the guys," Canseco said, "win, lose or draw."
In the fifth inning, he drives in a run with a bloop single. In the seventh, he grounds out. The Mets lose, 11-6.
The players on both teams line up for handshakes, Canseco included. And then, if that 480-foot home run hadn't convinced you this guy was someone special, the postgame reception would.
A guy from the opposing team asks Canseco to pose with him. Canseco puts his arm around the guy and smiles for the camera.
Six more guys make the same request, and Canseco graciously obliges, one by one. The three kids get their autographs, and he poses with them too.
And, since this drizzly morning has given way to a sunny afternoon, Canseco invites all the Valley Mets to his Encino home, for a Sunday barbecue.
*
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)
Blasts from the past
The major league statistics of Jose Canseco, a six-time All-Star as well as the American League's rookie of the year in 1986 and most valuable player in 1988:
*--* Year Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB Avg 1985 Oakland 29 96 16 29 3 0 5 13 1 302 1986 Oakland 157 600 85 144 29 1 33 117 15 240 1987 Oakland 159 630 81 162 35 3 31 113 15 257 1988 Oakland 158 610 120 187 34 0 42 124 40 307 1989 Oakland 65 227 40 61 9 1 17 57 6 269 1990 Oakland 131 481 83 132 14 2 37 101 19 274 1991 Oakland 154 572 115 152 32 1 44 122 26 266 1992 Oakland/Texas 119 439 74 107 15 0 26 87 6 244 1993 Texas 60 231 30 59 14 1 10 46 6 255 1994 Texas 111 429 88 121 19 2 31 90 15 282 1995 Boston 102 396 64 121 25 1 24 81 4 306 1996 Boston 96 360 68 104 22 1 28 82 3 289 1997 Oakland 108 388 56 91 19 0 23 74 8 235 1998 Toronto 151 583 98 138 26 0 46 107 29 237 1999 Tampa Bay 113 430 75 120 18 1 34 95 3 279 2000 Tampa Bay/NY 98 329 47 83 18 0 15 49 2 252 (AL) 2001 Chicago (AL) 76 256 46 66 8 0 16 49 2 258 Totals 1887 7057 1186 1877 340 14 462 1407 200 266
*--*
