Baseball getting another shot of Hawaiian punch

OAKLAND — They met at home plate for a pregame photo shoot. With multi-hued leis placed gently around their necks, they stood proudly, their chests puffed out a little more than usual as they donned their current colors, those of the Oakland A's and Philadelphia Phillies.

Kurt Suzuki and Shane Victorino, those native and favorite sons of the Hawaiian island of Maui, were barely able to contain their beaming smiles. You could almost feel a gentle trade wind blow across the emerald green field, hear the calming crash of waves, the peaceful strumming of a ukulele, the clarion call of the conch, see a whimsical hula, taste a soothing mai tai.

But this was the East Bay and McAfee Coliseum, not Waikiki or Kaanapali Beach at sunset. And off in the distance, that was not Diamond Head, it was Mount Davis.

Paradise lost? Try Paradise found.

Because Suzuki and Victorino, high school rivals in Wailuku, represent a growing wave of Hawaiians washing up on the shores of Major League Baseball as they fight to be seen as more than exotic novelties, more recognizable to mainland haoles than Jack Lord.

Indeed, a year ago on the same field, Suzuki, a catcher, and pitcher Shane Komine, who grew up in Honolulu, became the first Hawaiian-born battery in major-league history.

"It meant a lot because growing up in Hawaii, you really didn't see a lot of guys in the big leagues," said Komine, currently on the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats' disabled list after undergoing surgery on his pitching shoulder. "It flew under the radar a little bit. I don't think too many people realized it.

"We've both got a scorecard and the ball from that game."

Check that — Komine has the ball. And with a wink and a laugh, the right-hander known as the "Hawaiian Punch-Out" for his proclivity for strikeouts, plans to keep the horsehide for a while.

He's the one who faced four Texas Rangers over 1ª innings that night, a perfect outing that began with the daunting task of facing Sammy Sosa, and closed out an 11-4 A's loss.

"It's definitely an awesome thing," Suzuki said of their feat. "It's good for the fans, good for the people home in Hawaii.

"Everybody's goal is to make it to the major leagues."

It's just that few Hawaiians have made it to the Show, and the national pastime in paradise has always been in question as it took its place well behind surfing, swimming, snorkeling and, well, spam.

According to baseball-reference.com, 34 Hawaiian-born players have appeared in the big leagues, beginning with "Honolulu Johnnie" Williams, who made four starts for the Detroit Tigers in 1914 after playing for the Sacramento Senators.

Tony Rego was a catcher with the St. Louis Browns. Henry "Prince" Oana played with the Phillies and Tigers.

There was an Islander interlude until 1967, when Mike Lum, an outfielder with the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds, made his big-league debut. Since then, such players as Lenn Sakata, Ron Darling, Benny Agbayani, Jerome Williams and former A's farmhand Tyler Yates have made their marks.

The Duke Kahanamoku — the legendary surfer who transcended the water-based sport — of baseball on the islands? That would be "El Sid," as in left-hander Sid Fernandez, who spent 15 seasons in the big leagues and wore No. 50 as a tribute to the 50th state.

"He's the top guy; he took it to another level because of the World Series and the longevity of his career," said Kyle Galdeira, the sports information director of the Hawaii Winter Baseball League.