Be it little, minor or major league, baseball has dominated the Dominican Republic for many years and been an essential part of Caribbean life and dreams for many young boys and players. Way back in 1866 American sailors who were stationed in Cuba taught the locals the fundamentals of the game. After the “Ten Year War” baseball migrated to the Dominican Republic by Cubans fleeing their country and settling here in the DR. The name “baseball” quickly colloquialized into “beisbol”, the rules were set and the sport rapidly took off through out the Dominican Republic. Just by simply driving around the Dominican Republic from coast to coast you will be amazedat the many stadiums both grand and small built for the game, fields in the countryside, spare patches of ground in inner city areas, just about anywhere that will house a rudimentary pitch will receive scores of kids and teenagers out playing.
In 1920 the sport turned competitive with the Dominicans playing games against neighboring Caribbean countries resulting in the formation of the Dominican Baseball League. Four teams were formed, Tigres del Licey and Leones del Escogido from the Santo Domingo area, and Estrellas Orientales of San Pedro and Las Aquilos Cibaenas from Santiago. Popularity and dedicated following of these teams turned into professional baseball which unfortunately came to a head in 1937 due to a massive financial downturn in the Dominican Republic. However this did not signify the end of baseball rather it encouraged and forged many amateur baseball teams who still competed with teams from the United States and other Caribbean Islands. Finally in 1951 the return of professional baseball came back to the DR with the Dominicans promoting the idea of hosting amateur baseball in the summer months and professional baseball during the winter months.
Today the Dominican Republic is soaked in baseball history, rich in the class standard of payers it produces. American Major League Baseball or the MLB now consists of more than 30 percent of contracted Spanish Speaking players. The MLB has 101 Dominican Republic players including legends such as Sammy Sosa from the Baltimore Orioles, Pedro Martinez and Jose Reyes both from the New York Mets, Albert Pujols of the St.Louis Cardinals, Vladimir Guerrero and Bartolo Colon from the Los Angeles Angels, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez from the Boston Red Sox and Alfonso Soriano from the Texas Rangers.
Baseball is not just a game or sport here in the Dominican Republic it is a way of life and played with a passion of full heart and soul. Just stroll past a pitch when a game is on to hear the deafening roars from spectators. Baseball is a firm part of the Dominican Republics culture and heritage and will continue to be so in the future of this “beisbol” island.
