Baseball in the Dominican Republic

Last updated

Estadio Quisqueya baseball stadium in Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Estadio quisqueya santo domingo dominican republic 1.jpg
Estadio Quisqueya baseball stadium in Santo Domingo Dominican Republic

Baseball in the Dominican Republic
CountryDominican Republic
Governing bodyFEDOBE
National team(s) Dominican Republic
First playedlate-19th century
Club competitions
International competitions

Baseball is the most popular sport in the Dominican Republic. It is a major sport in the country, and was introduced in the late-19th century in the city of San Pedro de Macorís by Cuban immigrants. [1] After the United States, the Dominican Republic has the second-highest number of baseball players in Major League Baseball (MLB). [2] The Dominican Republic national baseball team has won the Baseball World Cup in 1948 and the World Baseball Classic in 2013.

Contents

History

During the 1870s, many Cuban citizens fled Cuba because of the Ten Years' War. Many relocated to the Dominican Republic, bringing with them the sport of baseball. [3] The nation's expert class was established in 1890. The first clubs were Ozama and Nuevo. On 7 November 1907, the Licey club was established in Santo Domingo. By the 1930s, it had developed into a major source for gifted players whose guardians frequently worked at sugar refineries. In 1937, Negro league stars from the United States including Satchel Paige came to the country. In the mid-1950s Rafael Trujillo built the main stadium. Dominican players initially began migrating to the U.S. to play for Major League Baseball, starting with utility infielder Ozzie Virgil. [4]

Cultural impact

Not only did baseball help strengthen the Dominican Republic's relationship with the United States, but it also had a massive effect on the culture of the Dominican Republic as a whole. Nowadays, baseball symbolizes a dream and hope for a better future for aspiring athletes and helps unite baseball fans (old and new) across several Spanish-speaking countries. The rise of baseball in the Dominican Republic has also had a massive impact on the economy of the country as a whole, generating around $1 billion per year via training facilities and professional games.

1951–present

A summer baseball league began in 1951. In the 1955–56 season, it joined the professional association. Since then, the league has attracted many top players from the major leagues. Beginning in the 1955 season, the country's international presence grew attracting global attention. As of 2015 opening day, Dominicans were 83 of Major League Baseball's 868 players. [5] At the beginning of the 2016 season, no country other than the United States contributed as many. [6]

The Dominican Republic's Professional Baseball League [7] LIDOM by its acronym in Spanish, hosts yearly winter games across the country. It consists of 6 teams, and it is the highest level of professional baseball played in the Dominican Republic.[ citation needed ]

Championships

Every year at the end of the summer season, the two tops teams from that season face off at La Normal Stadium. This has been a major cultural event in the Dominican Republic, drawing in thousands of eager fans. Find more information on the winners of these playoff games in the table below:

Titles By Team

TeamTitlesRunners-upYears ChampionYears Runner-up
Tigres del Licey 24 (2)15 (1)1951, 1953, 1958–59, 1963–64, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1976–77, 1979–80, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1990–91, 1993–94, 1998–99, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2016–17, 2022–23, 2023–24 (1924, 1929)1952, 1954, 1956–57, 1971–72, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1985–86, 1988–89, 1997–98, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2015–16,2017–2018, 2019–2020 (1922)
Águilas Cibaeñas 2218 (2)1952, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1971–72, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1992–93, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2017–2018, 2020–211953, 1955–56, 1960–61, 1963–64, 1969–70, 1973–74, 1976–77, 1980–81, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1989–90, 1993–94, 1994–95, 2001–02, 2005–06, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2016–17 (1936, 1937)
Leones del Escogido 16 (1)13 (2)1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1968–69, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1991–92, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2015–16 (1922)1951, 1958–59, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1970–71, 1978–79, 1990–91, 1996–97, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2013–14 (1924, 1929)
Estrellas Orientales 3 (1)141954, 1967–68, 2018–19 (1936)1957–58, 1959–60, 1968–69, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1995–96, 1999–00, 2010–11, 2014–15
Toros del Este 331994–95, 2010–11, 2019–201984–85, 1992–93, 2018–19
Gigantes del Cibao 242014–15, 2021–222003–04, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2020–21
Dragones de Ciudad Trujillo 0 (1)0(1937)

Baseball academies

Dominican Republic ambassador Jonny de Jesus Martinez showcasing baseball culture Dominican Republic Baseball.jpg
Dominican Republic ambassador Jonny de Jesús Martínez showcasing baseball culture

Baseball academies are how Major League Baseball recruiters develop the talent they find across all Latin America. In 1987, the Los Angeles Dodgers were the first MLB club to establish a baseball academy in the Dominican Republic when they opened the doors to Campo Las Palmas. [8] Now, every single one of the teams in the MLB has a baseball academy in the Dominican Republic. [9]

With four out of every ten Dominicans living in poverty, baseball has become a small beacon of hope for many Dominican families. The baseball academies in the Dominican Republic offer many young boys what may be their and their family's only chance of overcoming poverty, and as a result many boys as young as age 10 drop out of school to focus all of their attention on baseball and someday playing for an MLB team. [10] However, it is estimated that only two percent of Dominican recruits are actually able to make a living playing in MLB, leaving many of these young recruits finding themselves aged 19–21 with no education, no work skills, and no job prospects. Joe Kehoskie, a former baseball agent, described the situation in the 2001 PBS documentary, Stealing Home :

Unfortunately, here in the Dominican, a lot of the time kids just quit school at 10, 11, 12 and play baseball full-time. It’s great for the kids who make it because they become superstars and [make] millions of dollars in the big leagues. But for 98 kids out of a hundred, it results in a kid who is 18, 19 with no education. So it’s kind of a win-lose here in the Dominican. [11]

Because of this, many baseball academies in the country have made efforts to incorporate educational programs that teach English and financial skills to their recruits, to better prepare them for the future. [12] For instance, the Arizona Diamondbacks' baseball academy, ran by former major league player Junior Noboa, is committed to helping their players complete at least their high school education, even if they are released from their team. [13]

Notables

The list of notable names continues to grow each year and includes some major history-making players including: Juan Marichal, Felipe Alou, Bartolo Colón, Tony Fernandez and others. Some more recent and recognizable, Major League Baseball names include: [14] [15]

Pedro Martínez

Pedro Martínez, from Manoguayabo, was a Major League Baseball player from 1992 to 2009. He played for five teams and was best known for his tenure with the Boston Red Sox, joining with Ortiz to help them win the World Series in 2004. [16] From 2002 to 2006, Martínez held the league record for the highest career winning percentage by a pitcher. He won three Cy Young Awards and was the first Latin American pitcher to achieve at least 300 strikeouts in a season and 3,000 in a career. Martínez reached the 3,000 strikeout mark in fewer pitches than any pitcher other than Randy Johnson. Martínez was the only pitcher to acquire 3,000 strikeouts with fewer than 3,000 innings pitched.

Martínez became a U.S. citizen in April 2006. [17] He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2015. [18]

Sammy Sosa

Sammy Sosa was born on 12 November 1968 in San Pedro de Macorís. Sosa was a slugger and had his best years while he played for the Chicago Cubs. Sosa influenced many Dominicans and is best known for his record-breaking season in which he hit 61 home runs. [19] [20]

David Ortiz

David Ortiz arrived in MLB in 1997, experiencing injuries that slowed his progress. Ortiz signed with the Boston Red Sox in 2003 but did not play much until he became their designated hitter later that year. In 2004, Ortiz became known globally for his achievements. During the 2004 season, he hit 41 home runs and had 139 RBIs while batting .301. He joined with Martinez to lead the Boston Red Sox to their first World Series Championship in 86 years. [21]

Robinson Canó

Robinson Canó is a professional second baseman baseball player, born on 22 October 1982 in San Pedro de Macorís. [22] At a young age, Canó knew he wanted to become a baseball player. He was first signed by the New York Yankees as a free agent in 2001, at the age of 18. [23] Since then, Canó has played with the Seattle Mariners and on 3 December 2018, was traded to the New York Mets on a five-year contract. [24] [25]

Most Valuable Player

SeasonShell AwardsApollo Productions
1971–72Jesús Frías (EO) / Pedro Borbón (TL)-
1972–73Winston Llenas (AC)-
1973–74Teodoro Martínez (TL)-
1974–75Rafael Batista (EO)-
1975–76Miguel Diloné (AC)-
1976–77Miguel Diloné (AC) (2)-
1977–78Carlos Julio Pérez (TL)Carlos Julio Pérez (TL)
1978–79Ramón Pérez (AC)Bob Beall (AC)
1979–80Rafael Landestoy (TL)Jerome Dybzenski (TL)
1980–81Tony Peña (AC)Tony Peña (AC)
1981–82Tony Peña (AC) (2)Tony Peña (AC) (2)
1982–83Tony Peña (AC) (3)Tony Peña (AC) (3) / César Gerónimo (TL)
1983–84Rufino Linares (CS)Rufino Linares (CS)
1984–85Julio Solano (EO)Ken Howell (TL)
1985–86Rufino Linares (EO) (2)Rufino Linares (LE) (2)
1986–87Tony Peña (AC) (4)Robert Brower (AE)
1987–88Félix Fermín (AC)Mark Parent (EO)
1988–89Domingo Michel (TL)Domingo Michel (TL)
1989–90Félix José (TL)Dave Hansen (TL)
1990–91Bernardo Tatis (AC)Andújar Cedeño (AE)
1991–92José Núñez (LE)Luis Mercedes (EO)
1992–93Bernardo Tatis (AC) (2)Tom Marsh (AC)
1993–94Silvestre Campusano (TL)Gerónimo Berroa (LE)
1994–95Domingo Martínez (AC)Domingo Martínez (AC)
1995–96Mario Brito (LE)Sherman Obando (AC)
1996–97Tony Batista (AC)Tony Batista (AC)
1997–98José Oliva (EO)José Oliva (EO)
1998–99Adrian Beltré (EO)Adrian Beltré (EO)
1999–00David Ortíz (LE)David Ortíz (LE)
2000–01Félix José (EO) (2)Félix José (EO)
2001–02Mendy López (AC)Eric Byrnes (TL)
2002–03Félix José (EO) (3)Félix José (EO) (2)
2003–04Julio Ramírez (GC)Julio Ramírez (GC)
2004–05Erick Almonte (EO)Erick Almonte (EO)
2005–06Esteban Germán (AE)Willis Otañez (TL)
2006–07Mendy López (AC) (2)Erick Almonte (GC) (2)
2007–08Emilio Bonifacio (TL)Brayan Peña (GC)
2008–09Víctor Díaz (AC)Víctor Díaz (AC)
2009–10Juan Francisco (GC)Juan Francisco (GC)
2010–11Héctor Luna (AC)Juan Francisco (GC) (2)
2011–12Joaquín Arias (AC)Joaquín Arias (AC)
2012–13Héctor Luna (AC) (2) / Mauro Gómez (LE)Héctor Luna (AC)
2013–14Gregory Polanco (LE)Gregory Polanco (LE)
2014–15Cristhian Adames (TE)Marcos Mateo (EO)
2015–16Audy Ciriaco (EO)Tyler White (EO)
TemporadaPremios TotalProducciones Apolo
2016–17Rubén Sosa (LE)Rubén Sosa (LE)
2017–18Franchy Cordero (LE)Franchy Cordero (LE)
2018–19Jordany Valdespín (TE)Jordany Valdespín (TE)
2019–20Peter O'Brien (TE)Peter O'Brien (TE)
2020–21Ronald Guzmán (GC)Ronald Guzmán (GC)

Attendances

The 2023-24 LIDOM clubs by average home attendance:

#ClubAverage attendance
1 Águilas Cibaeñas 10,674
2 Leones del Escogido 9,865
3 Tigres del Licey 9,562
4 Estrellas Orientales 7,653
5 Gigantes del Cibao 7,346
6 Toros del Este 6,785

See also

Other Dominican bat-and-ball games:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pedro Martínez</span> Dominican-American baseball pitcher (born 1971)

Pedro Jaime Martínez is a Dominican-American former professional baseball starting pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1992 to 2009, for five teams—most notably the Boston Red Sox from 1998 to 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sammy Sosa</span> Dominican baseball player

Samuel Peralta Sosa is a Dominican-American former professional baseball right fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 18 seasons, primarily with the Chicago Cubs. After playing for the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox, Sosa joined the Cubs in 1992 and became regarded as one of the game's best hitters. Sosa hit his 400th home run in his 1,354th game and his 5,273rd at-bat, reaching this milestone quicker than any player in National League history. He is one of nine players in MLB history to hit 600 career home runs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julián Javier</span> Dominican baseball player (born 1936)

Manuel Julián Javier Liranzo, is a Dominican former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a second baseman from 1960 to 1972, most prominently as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals where, he became a two-time All-Star player, and was a member of two World Series winning teams. He played his final season with the Cincinnati Reds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Pedro de Macorís Province</span> Province of the Dominican Republic

San Pedro de Macorís is a province of the Dominican Republic, also the name of its capital city. The city is fairly active due to its proximity to the national capital of Santo Domingo and also its role in the sugar industry. The province is informally known as San Pedro, SPM or Serie 23 for the first two numbers of their Dominican identification or Cedula.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">José Lima</span> Dominican baseball player (1972–2010)

José Desiderio Rodriguez Lima was a Dominican right-handed pitcher who spent 13 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros (1997–2001), Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers (2004) and New York Mets (2006). His best year in the majors was 1999, when he won 21 games for the Astros and pitched in his only All-Star Game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robinson Canó</span> Dominican baseball player (born 1982)

Robinson José Canó Mercedes is a Dominican-American professional baseball second baseman for the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League; he also captains the Estrellas Orientales of the Dominican Professional Baseball League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, and Atlanta Braves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">José Offerman</span> Dominican baseball player (born 1968)

José Antonio Offerman Dono is a Dominican professional baseball manager and former player. He played professional baseball for nearly 20 years, including 15 seasons in Major League Baseball and four seasons of independent and Mexican League baseball after leaving MLB.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tigres del Licey</span> Dominican professional baseball team

Tigres del Licey is a professional baseball team in the Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM). The team was founded in 1907 and is based in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Tigres is the oldest team in LIDOM and has won 24 LIDOM titles and 11 Caribbean Series titles, the most out of any team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manny Acta</span> Dominican baseball coach and manager

Manuel Elias Acta is a Dominican former professional baseball manager who is currently the bench coach for the Seattle Mariners, and formerly a broadcast analyst for ESPN and ESPN Deportes. He has served as manager for the Washington Nationals and the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dominican Professional Baseball League</span> Highest level baseball league in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League is a professional baseball winter league consisting of six teams spread across the Dominican Republic; it is the highest level of professional baseball played in the Dominican Republic. The league's players include many prospects that go on to play Major League Baseball in the United States while also signing many current MLB veterans. The champion of LIDOM advances to play in the yearly Caribbean Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tetelo Vargas</span> Dominican Republic baseball player

Juan Esteban Vargas Marcano, better known as Tetelo Vargas, and nicknamed "El Gamo Dominicano" or "the Dominican Deer", was a Dominican professional baseball player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yunesky Maya</span> Cuban baseball player

Yunesky Maya Mendizula is a Cuban-born professional baseball pitcher for the Piratas de Campeche of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals and in the KBO League for the Doosan Bears. He has also played for the Pinar del Río of the Cuban National Series. He was part of the Cuban national baseball team at the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Águilas Cibaeñas</span> Baseball team in Santiago, Dominican Republic

The Águilas Cibaeñas is a professional baseball team in the Dominican Republic's Professional Baseball League (LIDOM), based in Santiago in the northern region of Cibao. Founded in 1933, the team has won six Caribbean Series and 22 national titles. The Estadio Cibao is the home stadium of the Águilas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gigantes del Cibao</span> Baseball team in the Dominican Republic

The Gigantes del Cibao (English: Cibao Giants) are a baseball team that plays in the Dominican Winter League. The team was founded in 1996 as Gigantes del Noroeste then with a change of ownership the name was changed several times, being called Pollos del Cibao, and Pollos Baseball Club.

Silvestre Diaz Campusano is a Dominican former professional baseball center fielder and coach, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies, and in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Wei Chuan Dragons. Campusano batted and threw right-handed. He is currently a coach for the Conspiradores de Querétaro of the Mexican League.

Sports are a central part of the culture of the Dominican Republic, and have been practiced in the whole country since the native inhabitants were living in the island. Sports play a key role in the culture and makeup of Dominican Republic society. Baseball is the most popular sport on the island country and Major League Baseball has been recruiting players from the Dominican Republic since the 1960s. Basketball, football, volleyball, and boxing are other sports played in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jhan Mariñez</span> Dominican baseball player (born 1988)

Jhan Carlos Mariñez Fuente is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Conspiradores de Querétaro of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida Marlins, Chicago White Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Texas Rangers, and Baltimore Orioles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Pedro de Macorís</span> City in Dominican Republic

San Pedro de Macorís is a city and municipality (municipio) in the Dominican Republic. The capital of its eponymous province in the east region of the country, it is among the ten largest cities of the Dominican Republic. The city has approximately 217,000 inhabitants, when including the whole municipality. As a provincial capital, it houses the Universidad Central del Este. San Pedro de Macorís is also well known for producing professional baseball players at an exceptionally high per capita rate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlos Martínez (pitcher, born 1991)</span> Dominican baseball player

Carlos Ernesto Martínez, nicknamed "Tsunami", is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Olmecas de Tabasco of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals. Originally signed by the Red Sox as an international free agent in 2009, MLB voided his contract due to discrepancies over his name and date of birth after the revelation that he was also known as Carlos Matias. However, he was eventually cleared of wrongdoing, as it was found that the inconsistencies arose from poor record keeping.

References

  1. ↑ "History of baseball in the Dominican Republic". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  2. ↑ "The Lure of Baseball in the Dominican Republic". The New York Times. 29 October 2015. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  3. ↑ "MLB Stats, Scores, History, & Records | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  4. ↑ "The Official Site of Major League Baseball". MLB.com. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  5. ↑ "Dominican Republic Vacation Planner Guide to a Great Caribbean Holiday". Visiting the Dominican Republic. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  6. ↑ Lagesse, David (3 April 2016). "Baseball is a Field of Dreams — and Dashed Hopes — for Dominicans". NPR.
  7. ↑ "LIDOM (main page)". LiDom (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  8. ↑ Carrasco, Yvonne. "Dodgers to dedicate newly renovated Campo Las Palmas complex". Dodger Insider. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  9. ↑ "Academies". mlb.com. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  10. ↑ Lagesse, David (3 April 2016). "Baseball is a Field of Dreams — and Dashed Hopes — for Dominicans". NPR.
  11. ↑ "Stealing Home". PBS. 18 June 2001. Retrieved 18 June 2001.
  12. ↑ "Dominicans in the Dugout: Latin America's Role in American Baseball". 10 January 2017.
  13. ↑ "The Education Crisis Crippling Dominican Baseball Players" YouTube", uploaded by Vice Sports, 18 June 2015.
  14. ↑ "History of baseball in the Dominican Republic". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  15. ↑ "Aguilas Cibaeñas - Sitio oficial de las Águilas Cibaeñas". aguilas.lidom.com (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  16. ↑ Chancey, Asher. "Pedro Martinez: The Most Dominant Pitcher of Our Lifetime". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  17. ↑ "Martinez Aces U.S. Citizenship". New York Daily News. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  18. ↑ "Biography Archive". Biography Archive. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  19. ↑ "Biography Archive -". Biography Archive. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  20. ↑ "Sammy Sosa". Biography. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  21. ↑ "Biography Archive -". Biography Archive. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  22. ↑ "Jock Bio". Jock Bio. Archived from the original on 23 January 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  23. ↑ Kepner, Tyler (2 March 2008). "New York Times". New York Times. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  24. ↑ "ESPN". ESPN. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  25. ↑ "Seattle Times". Seattle Times. 3 December 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.