Baseball in Dominican Republic

Baseball in the Dominican Republic is a major sport. It has been immensely popular almost since its introduction in the 1880s.[1] Many successful players in Major League Baseball have come from the country.[2]

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 November 7, 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 Dominican Republic. 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]

1951–

A summer league began in 1951. In the 1955-1956 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 DR'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 other country contributed.[6]

Notables

Notable Major League Baseball players who came from the Dominican Republic include:[7][8]

Pedro Martinez

Pedro Martinez, 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.[9] From 2002 to 2006, Martinez 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. Martinez reached the 3,000 strikeout mark in fewer pitches than any pitcher other than Randy Johnson. Martinez was the only pitcher to acquire 3,000 strikeouts with fewer than 3,000 innings pitched.

Martinez became a U.S. citizen in April 2006.[10] He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2015.[11]

Sammy Sosa

Sammy Sosa was born on November 12, 1968, in San Pedro de Macoris, the Dominican Republic. 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.[12][13]

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.[14]

References

  1. ↑ "History of baseball in the Dominican Republic". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 2018-04-29.
  2. ↑ "The Lure of Baseball in the Dominican Republic". The New York Times. 2015-10-29. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-04-29.
  3. ↑ "MLB Stats, Scores, History, & Records | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2017-11-26.
  4. ↑ "The Official Site of Major League Baseball". MLB.com. Retrieved 2017-11-26.
  5. ↑ "Dominican Republic Vacation Planner Guide to a Great Caribbean Holiday". Visiting the Dominican Republic. Retrieved 2017-11-26.
  6. ↑ https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/04/03/472699693/baseball-is-a-field-of-dreams-and-dashed-hopes-for-dominicans
  7. ↑ "History of baseball in the Dominican Republic". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
  8. ↑ "AGUILAS CIBAEÑAS - Sitio oficial de las Águilas Cibaeñas". aguilas.lidom.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-04-29.
  9. ↑ Chancey, Asher. "Pedro Martinez: The Most Dominant Pitcher of Our Lifetime". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
  10. ↑ "MARTINEZ ACES U.S. CITIZENSHIP". NY Daily News. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
  11. ↑ "Biography Archive -". Biography Archive. Retrieved 2017-11-26.
  12. ↑ "Biography Archive -". Biography Archive. Retrieved 2017-11-26.
  13. ↑ "Sammy Sosa". Biography. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
  14. ↑ "Biography Archive -". Biography Archive. Retrieved 2017-11-26.
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