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Dominican Republic Provides Pipeline for Red Sox Success
It is both the metaphorical mango tree of Pedro Martinez's youth and a very real version. This tree stands in an outdoor square next to the Alczar de Coln [Palace of Columbus] and serves as the Dominican Republic's "official state" mango tree.
Martinez, whose place on the 2015 Hall of Fame ballot became official last week, is one of a handful of great Dominican baseball players who helped create and expand the roots of a baseball tree that will bear more major league fruit than ever in 2015.
Baseball didn't come to this Caribbean country that shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti until the late 19th century. American "imperialism" and expansion took hold in the region. Sugar plantations covered the landscape. American workers and companies imported their evolving national pastime. into Las Grandes Ligas has helped the Red Sox and others build baseball empires of their own.
Chief among those native Dominicans for the Boston Red Sox are David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez and . While Ramirez was born in Santo Domingo, his family moved to New York when he was Pandora Sale 12. All three are transcendent sports personalities in Boston and national figures here. They have raised millions to build hospitals, schools, baseball fields and promoted other charitable endeavors. Ortiz's annual charity golf tournament in the eastern resort laden province of Punta Cana begins Dec. 4. and Eastern Massachusetts.
Third pandora bracelets kays jewelry for sale baseman was the first of 568 Dominican born players in the majors back in 1956. Giants pitcher was the first Dominican to join the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983.
Come next summer, Martinez will be the second.
Santo is a tour guide who speaks fluently in [at least] three languages. pandora murano glass beads 100% genuine His last name contained several names that he didn't bother to repeat.
Baseball is his game. And his nation's. The Red Sox are his team.
"Children in the Dominican Republic learn how to play baseball before they are born," says Santo. "There are three 14k gold charms pandora compatible sports here, baseball, cock fighting and dominoes. Baseball is far and ahead No. 1. There's never been a Red Sox Nation census here, but Santo would count himself among the "Nation's" most loyal. He offered multiple compliments on one Red Sox hat that became part of his tip at the end of this day's journey.
There are plenty of signs of Red Sox popularity here. One of the larger gift shops in this capital features officially licensed Red Sox merchandise among the thousands of trinkets, t shirts, magnets and costume jewelry items. Satellite TV sports bars feature unlicensed Red Sox logos and images of Ortiz and .
The road to Las Grandes Ligas for most Dominican ballplayers stretches back to their early teen years. A total of 28 major league teams have baseball academies here called "baseball factories" by the locals to nurture, develop and educate young talent. The players are both schooled in baseball and the cultural mores of the United States and Canada. The Red Sox are one of four teams that require their players to attend a private high school.
Baseball is the national passion and pastime in the Dominican Republic Getty Photo
One of these "factories," east of Santo Domingo in Boca Chica, houses potential members of the Reds, Twins and White Sox. It offers lush and perfectly maintained baseball fields. The dorms resemble what you might see on a college campus. If the players need any extra motivation to reach the majors, all they have to do is look over the left field wall that runs along Los Rieles. That is an unpaved road which boasts a variety of ramshackle, crudely built homes and a school that is surrounded by barbed wire fence.
Santo, like many of his baseball loving countrymen, is eager to talk about the Red Sox. No doubt the return of Dominican native Hanley Ramirez to the Red Sox organization met with his approval. Without prompting, Santo broke down Dominican shortstop and Boston prospect Elwin Tejada.
Tejada was signed by the Red Sox for $300,000 in July. All of 16, Tejada has a "long, ultra thin frame at 6 foot 2, 150 pounds [with] a solid swing and a high baseball acumen that stands out more than his raw tools," according to Baseball America.
"He is a lot like Ortiz when he first broke in with Minnesota," adds Santo. "He can help the Red Sox, someday. He bats righthanded, but can't hit any breaking pitches. He needs to switch to the left side."
Baseball's presence here serves as a national pastime and passion. It requires little overhead to play a broom handle and tennis ball can do in most cases. The tropical climate allows for year round play. The culture practically demands it. "It is something to look forward to. And something to forget about everything else."
The bonds between Dominican ballplayers past, present and future are forged with national pride, responsibility and respect. Martinez tried to give his 1997 Award to Marichal because Marichal had never won one. Marichal refused. The Red Sox baseball academy is run by , who briefly played in the same San Francisco Giants outfield with his brothers Felipe and Matty in 1963. "He's texting me pretty much every day and telling me what I've got to do, what I've got to change. I think he's part of my success in the big leagues. He has a big heart. . I can't wait to be on the same team with him. It's going to be great."
The Dominican Republic has a population of approximately 10.4 million people, with roughly a third living in and around Santo Domingo. The country's workers make anywhere between $150 a month for a police officer, to about $600 a month for a salaried, government bureaucrat or nurse. The nation's gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in 2013 was estimated at $9,400. And , based on current exchange rates, is about $441. It takes about $600 or so monthly to comfortably support a family of five.
Clearly, the Dominican Republic produces more major league ballplayers per capita than any other country in the world. hails from San Pedro de Macoris, which is located about 40 miles east of Santo Domingo. It has produced 76 major league ballplayers, short of the 106 that are from Santo Domingo. The town, however, has just pandora bracelets kays jewelry for sale six percent of Santo Domingo's population. It does however boast a rarity in this country a McDonald's.
Dogs roam freely here. People routinely walk down the median of the main highway in the south, Route 3, to get from one place to another. But it's not a place of poverty and desperation.
There's a permanent sense of optimism that can been seen within many of the people here. There's no doubt an ulterior motive in being gracious and hospitable to American visitors with American dollars [about 43 Dominican pesos to the dollar]. But the smiles extended to children coming home from school in their uniforms. And they weren't asking for anything.
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