Baseball in Albuquerque

Book excerpt: Albuquerque, New Mexico, is more than a refueling place for motorists on I-40. Professional baseball has been played here for more than 70 years, and fans have had the opportunity to see future Dodgers stars like Don Sutton, Ron Cey, Steve Garvey, Orel Hershiser, Eric Karros, and Mike Piazza hone their skills. Hall of Fame members Tom Lasorda and Duke Snider managed here; Darryl Strawberry, Eddie Murray, and Manny Ramirez have spent short stints "rehabbing" here; and big-league preseason games played in Albuquerque give fans a chance to see non-Dodgers favorites. Albuquerque is also where the Los Angeles Dodgers' triple-A farm team, the Albuquerque Isotopes, played before 600,000 fans in 2009, when the Dodgers "returned" after a nine-year absence. Isotopes Park, a baseball jewel, features great entertainment, a gorgeous view of the majestic Sandia Mountains, and a chance for baseball fans to see major league stars of tomorrow.