Las Vegas Weekly

March 16, 2010 · 8:51 AM

Photos: Frank Caliendo, Mayor Oscar Goodman throw out first pitches

By Robin Leach

The Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox two-game, Spring Training 2010 match-up in Las Vegas included first pitches by Strip headliner Frank Caliendo and Mayor Oscar Goodman and the national anthem performed by The Phantom himself, Anthony Crivello.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

The dueling Chicago Cubs beat the Chicago White Sox on two consecutive nights in their annual Spring Training games and visit here to Las Vegas. That’s definite proof that the boys of summer are ready for another season of America’s favorite pastime, and it also proves that winter is behind us and warmer weather is here to stay.

Monte Carlo headliner impressionist Frank Caliendo threw the first ball at our Cashman Field, but it took him six times before the pitch was perfect! Our Merry Mayor of Mirth Oscar Goodman showed how to do it right the next night with just one throw. I guess that means politics wins over showbiz?

Actor and singer Anthony Crivello, who stars as The Phantom in Phantom -- Las Vegas Spectacular at The Venetian, performed the national anthem.

Before the first game, Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster invited Frank into the clubhouse to say hi, and the comedy star wound up putting on an impromptu show for 10 minutes pre-game, which had the team rolling on the floor in hysterics, and it also gave them the energy for the double win.

Our contributing photographer Tom Donoghue was invited into the clubhouse and dugout for the first time, and as the only lens man there, he captured a great exclusive set of photographs.

Tom’s cast of characters includes Oscar, Frank, Anthony and Don Logan. From the winning Chicago Cubs, meet Alan Trammell, Ryan Dempster, Tom Gorzelanny, Geovany Soto, Mike Fontenot, Kevin Millar, Ryan Theriot, Marlon Byrd, Greg Maddux and Kosuke Fukudome, and from the same-city rival Chicago White Sox, it’s Ozzie Guillen, Paul Konerko, Mark Kotsay, Andruw Jones and Juan Pierre.

For those of you who follow Major League Baseball, opening day of the 2010 season is April 4 with a game between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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