According to the available information, it is not clear whether baseball was introduced in the Dominican Republic between 1886 and 1891 by Cuban immigrants or in 1916 during its occupation by the United States; Cuba was the first country in Latin America to receive this sport from the United States.
The first championship between three national leagues was held in 1923; one of the main league “Licey” was established in 1907, this team defeated the two existing teams at that time, so “Licey’ had no rivals, encouraging the formation of a new team “Escogidos” in 1921 with a group a selected baseball players. Nowadays there are six teams in the Dominican Republic playing every year during the months of October and January for the national championship to represent our country in the Caribbean Series.
With the time, Dominican people made of baseball, their national sport, enjoyed by the whole family, where everybody has a favorite team according to their region or special preference. As a curious fact, the Taino Indians of the island had ball games!!
Most of our baseball players come from very low-income family and from the countryside, inspired by their love for this game, that keeps these youngsters entertained in a healthy sport; there are also many Dominican fathers who dream to have a great baseball player in their family and motivate their children to be trained in this main sport.
Dominican Baseball Players
The Dominican Republic has produced great baseball players playing in the Major League Baseball teams, being the country with the biggest number of players (over 83). Many of these players support new talents and financially help their people in towns or countrysides where they were born and raised.
As the Major League Baseball teams of the USA know that the Dominican Republic is a source of raw young talents. Most of these teams have installed academies where some of the new prospects are accommodated and trained, as well, as learn to speak English.
Recently the LA Dodgers inaugurated the remaking of their academy, one of the first Major League Baseball team to establish their academy on our island, they have formed star players like Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez!
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