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Royals Play in Toronto Despite SARS Risk

Posted on: Saturday, 26 April 2003, 06:00 CDT

By TOM COHEN

TORONTO (AP) -- There was no special security and only gag surgical masks at the first game in Toronto since the World Health Organization warned against travel to the city because of SARS.

The lone mention of severe acute respiratory syndrome that has killed 19 people in Canada's largest city was a sign held by two fans that read: "What SARS?"

All else appeared normal, including the celebrating mass of Toronto players after Vernon Wells homered leading off the bottom of the ninth, giving the Blue Jays a 6-5 victory Friday night over the Kansas City Royals.

The crowd of 16,417, the largest since opening day, showed life in the city of more than 3 million people has remained relatively normal despite the biggest SARS outbreak outside of Asia, where the illness originated.

Some players admitted to being nervous about being in Toronto, especially a few visiting Royals who said they would confine their movements to the stadium, hotel, airport and team bus during the weekend series.

"I have a wife and a son back home. I'll take three days in our hotel to make sure I'm safe and my family's going to be safe," outfielder Brandon Berger said before the game. "That's more important than seeing the city."

The WHO warning raised questions about whether the nine-game Blue Jays' homestand that started Friday should proceed. Anaheim pitcher Kevin Appier suggested his team's series there next month be moved to California.

Health authorities, baseball officials and the Blue Jays assured players and fans that the risk of contracting the disease at SkyDome or in downtown Toronto was minimal. Only those directly exposed to SARS patients are considered at risk.

In a show of support, Ontario Premier Ernie Eves sat in the front row behind home plate, while Sandy Alderson, executive vice president of baseball operations, and Gene Orza, the No. 2 official of the players' association, also attended the game.

"I'm not going to lie you and say it has no symbolic value," Orza said. "I would never send the players where I myself wasn't perfectly willing to go, but I'm perfectly comfortable being here."

Alderson called his appearance a demonstration on the part of commissioner Bud Selig's office that the risk of contracting SARS "is very minimal."

Blue Jays president Paul Godfrey said the WHO warning has unfairly fueled a perception of a SARS epidemic in Toronto.

"If you did not read a newspaper or did not watch a television station and came to Toronto, you would never know that SARS existed here," Godfrey said. "I'm afraid it's going to carry on for a considerable time."

He noted baseball officials have told visiting players to take precautions such as washing their hands more often than usual. If players are concerned, they can avoid crowded bars and subway cars where they would be face-to-face with strangers, he said.

Royals outfielder Raul Ibanez, who said he was worried before leaving Kansas City on Thursday, felt better Friday after seeing normal street life.

"I understand they have it pretty much under control, so I feel a lot better. People are walking on the streets," said Ibanez, who showed an awareness of the situation by noting the U.S. Centers for Disease Control decided against issuing a similar warning as the Geneva-based WHO.

Catcher Brent Mayne said he signed autographs, as usual, at the team hotel, but Ibanez and pitcher Jason Grimsley, the Royals' player representative, said they would decline autograph requests on this trip.

"You just have to be careful," Grimsley said. "I'm not going to go out of my way to put myself in a situation harmful to myself or my teammates. If that means staying in my room and not doing a whole lot, then that's what I'm going to do."

The apprehensive Royals packed bottles of disinfectant for the three-game series, while Blue Jays manager Carlos Tosca seemed less concerned.

"It's a virus. There are other viruses out there," Tosca said. "We have to live our lives. We're not in danger, I think."

Outside of Asia, Canada has been the country most affected by SARS, with Toronto as the epicenter of the Canadian outbreak. Most of the more than 300 probable and suspect cases reported in the country have been in the Toronto area, including all 19 deaths.

Godfrey said SARS has cost the club 10,000 ticket sales, and tourists making summer plans now would likely decide to go elsewhere. But if the illness posed any threat to players fans or staff, he said, he would cancel games without hesitation.

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On the Net:

World Health Organization

Centers for Disease Control

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