Hall of Fame president Dale Petroskey, as well as senior staff members Ted Spencer, Jeff Idelson and Brian Haase, traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico for Sunday's opener between the Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers. Last year, the first game was played in Japan and the year before that in Mexico. Baseball officials said one of its current missions is to further the international enjoyment of and participation in the sport.

"I think somewhere down the line major league baseball would love to have a World Cup style World Series," Idelson said Tuesday.

Hall representatives were able to secure the first pitch thrown by winning pitcher Esteban Loiaza, who also signed the ball; the hat worn by Blue Jays third baseman Tony Batista, who hit what proved to be the game-winning home run in an 8-1 Blue Jays victory; and the line-up cards used by both teams.

Idelson said he was impressed by the fans' enthusiasm for the game in Puerto Rico, and said players of Latin American descent now make up about a quarter of the 750 players in the major leagues.

"Latino American baseball has a tremendous amount of pageantry," Idelson said. "Here, fans are involved in the strategy of the game, while in Latin America, beyond the strategy, there is a real celebration of the game of baseball."

Four players, two from each team, were born in Puerto Rico, including Carlos Delgado and Jose Cruz from Toronto, and Ricky Ledee and probable future Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez, who received a long ovation prior to the game.

"It was very emotional-both for the players and the fans," Idelson said.

Idelson added that the Hall of Fame has a strong presence in Puerto Rico after the recent induction of native son Orlando Cepeda and the recasting of Roberto Clemente's plaque last November.

The artifacts will go on display within the next two weeks, Idelson said.