Baseball player José Lima visited 94-year old former President Joaquín Balaguer prior to opening the spring training game for the Houston Astros at the Quisqueya Ball Park. He urged Dominicans to vote for the former statesman, "because he is the only person who has done everything for the country." He said he would request permission from the Astros to come in May to vote for Balaguer. The winner of 20 games in the last Major Leagues season, Lima asked Balaguer for a favor. He said he wanted to make real a dream that he had of arriving to the stadium in the former statesman’s car. He did so, attracting a crowd upon his arrival. The crowd thought it was the former statesman arriving to watch the game. Lima opened the car door winning a big applause from surprised onlookers.
