“Revenge of the Pickle”— it sounds like the title of a gun-slinging Western, but it’s part of The Portland Pickles’ continuing effort to help change the way baseball is viewed and shared between the United States and Mexico.

The Pickles first traveled to Mexico to play The Mazatlán Venados (Deer) in 2019, and are returning for a rematch on Thursday, September 30. 

Traveling with the team is a player who was chosen during tryouts last month. The team also invited all their other fans to join them on the trip south— arranging travel packages including lodging, on-the-ground travel, and tickets to the game.

2019’s journey was made into a documentary titled “The Pickle and The Deer”. The film is set to be released in October, and you can watch the trailer below.

Promotional material about the documentary sums up the spirit and motivation behind the cross-border match-up:

“In a world full of politics, cultural differences and discrimination— sports stands above it all. Baseball is a unifying force that brings us all together to celebrate the game we love.”

Learn more about the documentary here. 

The Pickles and The Venados have teamed up to release some limited-edition merchandise commemorating this international event. See what’s available here.

“The Portland Pickles are a collegiate wood-bat baseball team founded in 2015 and based in Portland, Oregon. The team is a member of the West Coast League and plays home games at Walker Stadium in Portland’s Lents Park. … The Pickles lead the West Coast league in attendance and good times.”