DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - BASEBALL, OUR GREAT PASSION Here, the game is simply called “ball.” From the grandmother in the rural farming village to the world-famous professional player on television to the fisherman on the North Coast to the schoolchildren in the Colonial City, everyone in the Dominican Republic (DR) shares in the naEonal passion and pride of baseball. “Ball” truly transcends social status, gender and age. HISTORY Opinions differ on the date baseball began in the Dominican Republic. There are versions that say it was introduced into the country by the Cuban brothers Ignacio and Ubaldo Alomá in September 1886, at San Pedro de Macorís. Others say that it began between the years 1894 and 1896, through Cuban ciEzens residing in the country and that the first teams were Ozama and Cauto. There is yet another version which indicates the date as Sept. 25, 1886 when some Cuban sailors gave a demonstraEon of the game on a plot of land near the port in the city of San Pedro de Macorís and who then leZ behind the bats and balls used when they departed. There is also an opinion that differs from the preceding theories: that baseball was introduced by Americans when they installed the first beer factory in Santo Domingo, but the year is not specified. Regardless of which version might be the truest, what is clear is that the sport definitely took off starEng in 1916, due to the first American intervenEon in the country. AZer several games played between Dominicans and the American Marines, Dominicans began to show pride in being great, compeEEve players. Amateur baseball began to develop during the 1940s through the tournaments held in honor of the dictator Rafael L. Trujillo. Also important to baseball’s development was the construcEon of the first baseball stadium in 1946 next to the Escuela Normal (Normal School) of Santo Domingo, with a capacity of 4,000 fans. Organized and professional Dominican baseball started in 1955 with the creaEon of the Professional Baseball League of the Dominican Republic (LIDOM) and its incorporaEon with U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB). The Dominican league's first president was Dr. Hipólito Herrera Billini. The following year was when baseball was first played at night, in the new Quisqueya Stadium, now named aZer pitching great Juan Marichal. If your visit the DR during baseball season (mid-October to end of January) and would like to ahend a baseball game, go to the Dominican Baseball League Internet site www.lidom.com, or visit any Dominican team's websites for all the necessary informaEon, such as game schedules, stadiums, Ecket prices, etc. If you visit the DR during baseball season – October - January TEN FUN FACTS 1. The first broadcast of a Dominican baseball game took place on October 21, 1917, in La Vega, and it was carried out by telephone. 2. In 1928, the first baseball game between Licey and Escogido was broadcast by radio staEon HIJK. 3. In 1936, the CincinnaE Reds were the first MLB team to visit the Dominican Republic, as part of its tour through the region. 4. The first naEonal baseball tournament was organized that same year with the Licey, Escogido, Estrellas Orientales and Sandino teams. The Sandino team subsequently changed its name to Águilas Cibaeñas. 5. The Dominican Republic made its debut in an amateur world series in 1941. 6. A lihle over 50 years aZer the first Dominican player debuted in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States, the country has produced more than 500 professional players, making it the biggest producer of MLB players outside of the United States. 7. Many players have raised the Dominican flag high in MLB. More than 65 players have been selected as MLB All-Stars, including Manny Ramírez, Juan Marichal, Vladimir Guerrero, Albert Pujols, David OrEz, Pedro Marrnez, Sammy Sosa, Alfonso Soriano, Miguel Tejada and Tony Fernandez. 8. Four players from the country have won MLB MVP honors: Sammy Sosa (NaEonal League, 1998), Miguel Tejada (American League, 2002), Vladimir Guerrero (American League, 2004), Albert Pujols (NaEonal League, 2005, 2008, 2009). 9. The Dominican Republic's professional winter baseball tournament is held between the months of October and January. The regular season ends - in late December and then there is an eliminaEon or “round-robin” series for the enEre month of January. The season concludes in the Final Series, which designates the championship team that will represent our country in the annual Caribbean Series. 10. The Caribbean Series is a compeEEve event between Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. Teams from Dominican Republic have won 19 Emes, more than any other country. Puerto Rico ranks second with 14 wins. Tigres de Licey (from Dominican Republic) has won 10 Emes, the most of any team. DOMINICAN PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE Six professional teams currently parEcipate in the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League, oZen referred to as LIDOM, its Spanish-language acronym (Liga de Béisbol Profesional de la República Dominicana). This is the highest-level professional baseball league in the country. Tigres del Licey (Licey Tigers) o Founded in 1907 o Santo Domingo o Estadio Quisqueya (16,500 capacity) o www.licey.com Estrellas Orientales (Eastern Stars) o Founded in 1910 o San Pedro de Macorís o Estadio Tetelo Vargas (8,000 capacity) o www.estrellasorientales.com.do Leones del Escogido (Escogido Lions) o Founded in 1921 o Santo Domingo o Estadio Quisqueya (16,500 capacity) o www.escogido.com Águilas Cibaeñas (Cibao Eagles) o Founded in 1936 o SanEago o Estadio Cibao (18,077 capacity) o www.aguilas.com.do Toros del Este (Eastern Bulls) o Founded in 1983 o La Romana o Estadio Francisco Micheli (8,838 capacity) o www.lostorosdeleste.com Gigantes del Cibao (Cibao Giants) o Founded 1996 o San Francisco de Macorís o Estadio Julián Javier (12,000 capacity) o www.gigantessfm.com DOMINICAN REPUBLIC PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE CHAMPION HISTORY 1922 Leones del Escogido 1956-57 Leones del Escogido 1924 Tigres del Licey 1957-58 Leones del Escogido 1929 Tigres del Licey 1958-59 Tigres del Licey 1936 Estrellas Orientales 1959-60 Leones del Escogido 1937 Dragones Ciudad Trujillo 1960-61 Leones del Escogido 1951 Tigres del Licey 1961-62 Season not finished 1952 Águilas Cibaeñas 1962-63 No season 1953 Tigres del Licey 1963-64 Tigres del Licey 1954 Estrellas Orientales 1964-65 Águilas Cibaeñas 1955-56 Leones del Escogido 1965-66 No season 1966-67 Águilas Cibaeñas 1991-92 Leones del Escogido 1967-68 Estrellas Orientales 1992-93 Águilas Cibaeñas 1968-69 Leones del Escogido 1993-94 Tigres del Licey 1969-70 Tigres del Licey 1994-95 Azucareros del Este 1970-71 Tigres del Licey 1995-96 Águilas Cibaeñas 1971-72 Águilas Cibaeñas 1996-97 Águilas Cibaeñas 1972-73 Tigres del Licey 1997-98 Águilas Cibaeñas 1973-74 Tigres del Licey 1998-99 Tigres del Licey 1974-75 Águilas Cibaeñas 1999-2000 Águilas Cibaeñas 1975-76 Águilas Cibaeñas 2000-01 Águilas Cibaeñas 1976-77 Tigres del Licey 2001-02 Tigres del Licey 1977-78 Águilas Cibaeñas 2002-03 Águilas Cibaeñas 1978-79 Águilas Cibaeñas 2003-04 Tigres del Licey 1979-80 Tigres del Licey 2004-05 Águilas Cibaeñas 1980-81 Leones del Escogido 2005-06 Tigres del Licey 1981-82 Leones del Escogido 2006-07 Águilas Cibaeñas 1982-83 Tigres del Licey 2007-08 Águilas Cibaeñas 1983-84 Tigres del Licey 2008-09 Tigres del Licey 1984-85 Tigres del Licey 2009-10 Leones del Escogido 1985-86 Águilas Cibaeñas 2010-11 Toros del Este 1986-87 Águilas Cibaeñas 2011-12 Leones del Escogido 1987-88 Leones del Escogido 2012-13 Leones del Escogido 1988-89 Leones del Escogido 2013-14 Tigres del Licey 1989-90 Leones del Escogido 2014-15 Gigantes del Cibao 1990-91 Tigres del Licey Media Contact Siren Communicaons Olivia Bruho 416-351-0777 [email protected] .