DOMINICAN REPUBLIC,
Oct. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In
Dominican Republic, baseball—or
simply "ball"—is a national passion that transcends age, gender and
social status. Children and adults in every corner of the country
share immense pride in their national teams, and starting this
month, visitors can seize the unique opportunity to witness the
country's most beloved sport firsthand.
The 2016-2017 season for the Dominican Republic Professional
Baseball League (LIDOM) begins Oct.
20. The country's six teams will compete during the regular
season until Dec. 21 before the round
robin semi-finals from Dec. 27 through Jan.
17. The finals begin Jan. 19,
ending with one victorious Dominican team that will advance to play
in the Caribbean Series against champions from Cuba, Mexico,
Puerto Rico and Venezuela.
"Baseball is woven into the fabric of Dominican culture and we
are proud of the contributions of so many talented players from our
country," said Magaly Toribio,
Marketing Advisor for the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism.
"With our major teams in or near many of our major tourist
destinations, we invite all visitors to Dominican Republic to experience the heart and
passion that goes into the sport during one of our winter league
games."
Tourists seeking an authentic Dominican baseball experience can
easily find a game, with five stadiums located throughout the
country and games scheduled for most days of the week. Stadiums are
located in the cities of Santo
Domingo, Santiago,
San Pedro de Macorís and La
Romana—a short drive away from nearby Punta Cana.
Baseball games in Dominican
Republic usually start at 7:30 p.m.
On Saturdays and Sundays, games start at 5 p.m. Tickets prices range from 350 to 750 pesos ($8.00 -
$18.00) and can be purchased at the ballparks or in some
local stores. The full schedule for the season is available at
http://www.lidom.com.
Many LIDOM players go on to play in U.S. Major League Baseball.
As of opening day for the 2016 MLB season, 238 of 864 players were
born outside of the United States.
Since 1995, Dominican Republic
accounts for the largest percentage of those players with 83 –
representing 35 percent of all foreign players and 10 percent of
all MLB starters. This is particularly impressive for a country
with a population no larger than that of Ohio, and an area that is half the size of
Indiana.
Standout MLB players from Dominican
Republic over the years have included Baseball Hall of Famer
San Francisco Giants' Juan Marichal
and of the trio of Pedro Martinez,
Manny Ramirez and David "Papi"
Ortiz that propelled the Boston
Red Sox to win the legendary World Series in 2004.
THE HISTORY OF BASEBALL IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
For over 100 years, baseball has been at the center of cultural
life in the Dominican Republic.
Though the origins of baseball in the Dominican aren't exactly
known, historians suggest that baseball first came to the island
around the 1880s. Though it is a historical misconception that
American Marines brought the game to the island during the 1916
invasion, the United States did
play an integral, though indirect, role in bringing baseball to the
country.
The first baseball teams on the island were formed either in the
year 1894 or 1895. By the 1920′s, Dominican teams were competing
against other Caribbean countries
and teams in North America. The
game enjoyed most of its popularity in the southeast of the
country, where generations involved in the sugarcane industry
learned the sport during seasonal down time.
The sugarcane factory owners actually encouraged employees to
participate in the sport and gave financially to the practice of
this game. This area of the country still produces the greatest
number of players who go on to play professionally. In fact, there
are more Dominican players in the minor and major American leagues
than there are of all other players of Caribbean nationality combined. All major
league teams have training camps in the Dominican Republic to scout and train players
for professional potential. As it has each year since MLB began
releasing annual data in 1995, the Dominican Republic continues to lead the Major
Leagues with the most representatives from any one country.
Whether you're a lifelong baseball fan or curious to check out a
game, Dominican Republic has it
all. For information on baseball, hospitality options, local
excursion providers, natural attractions and more, visit
www.GoDominicanRepublic.com.
About Dominican
Republic
Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the
north and the Caribbean Sea on the south, our lush tropical and
paradisiacal country boasts nearly 1,000 miles of coastline,
magnificent resorts and hotels, and a variety of sports, recreation
and entertainment options. Here you can dance to the pulse pounding
thrill of the merengue, renew in our luxurious and diverse
accommodations, explore ancient relics of centuries past, delight
in delicious Dominican gastronomy or enjoy ecotourism adventures in
our magnificent national parks, mountain ranges, rivers and
beaches.
Known for our warm and hospitable people,
Dominican Republic is a
destination like no other, featuring astounding nature, intriguing
history and rich cultural experiences like music, art and
festivals, plus uniquely Dominican specialties such as cigars, rum,
chocolate, coffee, merengue, amber and larimar.
Dominican
Republic features the best beaches, fascinating history and
culture, and is a chosen escape for celebrities, couples and
families alike. Visit Dominican Republic Ministry of
Tourism's official website at: www.GoDominicanRepublic.com.
Download the Go Dominican Republic App, available in the
App Store and Google Play
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @GoDomRep Like us on Facebook
GoDominicanRepublic
CONTACT:
BVK Public Relations for DR Ministry of
Tourism
Annie Holschuh, US PR Director
(414) 247-2140 / annie.holschuh@bvk.com
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161012/428017
Logo -
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160503/363046LOGO
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/for-the-love-of-the-game-experience-the-passion-of-baseball-in-dominican-republic-300343878.html
SOURCE Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism