From the sugar mill towns of ‘San Pedro de Macrois’,and ‘La Romana’, to fields all across the D.R., young, poor kids dream of someday playing major league baseball and bringing financial security to their families. The D.R. has a passion for baseball far and above anywhere else.
For Dominican Republic baseball, from late October to January, when the sugar mills are slow, a baseball season is born. It is the big leagues for Dominican ball players who dream of making it big. It’s where their fantasies can come true. To play well and to be seen by major league scouts. It is also a time when current major leaguers can come home and play in their winterball season.
Since the 50’s when Ozzie Virgil made Dominican Republic baseball famous by playing in the major leagues, we have seen more and more players make the transition and do it well. The Alou brothers, and currently, Sammie Sosa. Who could be bigger? Manny Ramirez, Pedro Martinez, and more.
When the ten year war (1868-1878) in Cuba brought turmoil to the country, many Cubans fled their country and migrated to the D.R. bringing with them the game called “Baseball” or “Beisbol. Dominicans were quick to learn the game and soon organized teams.
The national sport and passion of Dominican Republic is baseball or “Beisbol” as the Dominicans call it. No matter where you go on the island you will find a baseball stadium/park, even in the poorest of towns. Today more than one in six players in the American league is from Latin America, the majority of them coming from the towns located on the southeastern coast Dominican Republic.
Each year, from October to January, fans of the Dominican Republic Baseball support their favorite team. Games are held at the Quisqueya Stadium in Santo Domingo and at stadiums in Santiago, San Pedro de Macoris, and La Romana. If you are in the D.R. during this time, not only can you take in the beautiful beaches, but you have to take in a ball game. The passion for this sport is like no other for Dominicans all over.
