And so it is in Mexico, where the stadiums seat as few as 6,000 maximum in Campeche, to as many as 27,000 in Monterrey. You can usually park for free on the street and ticket prices run well under $10, generally just $1-$5; add a bottle of Corona and a mesquite-grilled taco for about 30 pesos, or a little over $2. Of course, not every Mexican can afford even these prices, but many can. A family can easily enjoy a night at the ball yard for under $20.

The whole experience is like attending a carnival, with patrons joking with umpires and players, as the scantily clad cheerleaders enthusiastically lead the charge in rooting for the home team. The camaraderie and sense of community that the town derives from this common experience are extremely important to a country that values friendships and family above all.

The league is divided into two divisions, north and south. The North Division has teams in Chihuahua, Monclova, Mexico City, Monterrey, Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa, and Saltillo. The South Division is represented by Campeche, Minatitlán, Oaxaca, Puebla, Cancún, Villahermosa, Veracruz, and Mérida.

"The Mexico Winter League" "Liga Mexicana del Pacífico" "Mexican Pacific League" - runs from early October until December. The league has eight teams in small towns in northwestern Mexico at Culiacan, Guasave, Hermosillo, Mazatlán, Mexicali, Los Mochis, Navajoa and Obregón. Many Major League players have played in this winter league to keep their skills honed between seasons, and some others go to play out their career, when they are no longer performing at the major league level. Even the great Fernando Valenzuela pitched in Mexico after his major league career had ended.

You might be surprised to learn that nearly 100 major leaguers, past and present, were born in Mexico. The first was Mel Alamada, from the state of Sonora, who was signed by the Boston Red Sox in 1933. The best known players are aforementioned Dodger Hall-of-Famer Fernando Valenzuela and Oaxaca-born Vinny Castilla, who had a great 15-year career with several big-league teams.