Valenzuela’s Return to Major Leagues Helps Boost Ticket Sales at Anaheim

Gerard Mendoza of Anaheim will make his first trip of the season to Anaheim Stadium Friday for one reason: Fernando Valenzuela’s Angel debut.

“I just decided it would be interesting to see him,” said Mendoza, who is bringing a group of friends and family. “I don’t think I would have come otherwise.”

Mendoza will have plenty of company. Ticket sales boomed Wednesday, the first business day after it was announced that Valenzuela will start Friday. Sales stood at 29,000 by late Wednesday afternoon. Field level seats were sold out by 4 p.m. Wednesday, and terrace level seats were said to be going fast. The capacity of Anaheim Stadium is listed at 64,593.

“It’s been going crazy,” said Clancy Holligan, a group sales representative. “At first, people were buying for Saturday because (newspapers) said he was going to pitch then. Now Friday is going quick.”

The Angels’ attendance through their first 25 home games was 716,116, down more than 78,000 from the same number of games in 1990. Friday’s game, and a Cap Day promotion Saturday, should erase a portion of that decline.