The Dominican Republic and the United States: A Baseball History

By

Andrew Mitchel

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A young Dominican boy argues a call with the umpire during a practice game.

Baseball Game

A young Dominican boy argues a call with the umpire during a practice game.

Statue of Sammy Sosa in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic.

Sammy Sosa

Statue of Sammy Sosa in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. Sosa was a Dominican baseball player who mostly famously played for the Chicago Cubs from 1992-2004. Image by Adam Jones.

Dominican player Esmil Rogers pays tribute to Epy Guerrero on his cap.

Epy Guerrero Memorial

Dominican player Esmil Rogers pays tribute to Epy Guerrero on his cap, 2013. Image by James G.

A panoramic view of Estadio Quisqueya.

Estadio Quisqueya

A panoramic view of Estadio Quisqueya, a baseball stadium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Kids at a baseball stadium in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic.

Baseball Cards

Kids at a baseball stadium in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic show trading cards of Dominican MLB players. Image by Adam Jones.

A Cuban sugar plantation around 1904.

Sugar Plantation

A Cuban sugar plantation around 1904. Sugar plantations were common across the Caribbean including the Dominican Republic.

Political cartoon showing the deployment of U.S. military might.

Military Might

Political cartoon showing the deployment of U.S. military might in response to feared European incursion into the Dominican Republic.

Babe Ruth playing for the 1934 All-American tour in Japan.

Babe Ruth

Baseball diplomacy in action. Babe Ruth playing for the 1934 All-American tour in Japan.

Poster for the 1934 Japan Tour with American All-Stars.

1934 Japan Tour

Poster for the 1934 Japan Tour with American All-Stars, featuring Babe Ruth.

Rafael L. Trujillo inspects the Marine Honor Guard.

Rafael L. Trujillo

Rafael L. Trujillo inspects the Marine Honor Guard shortly after his arrival at Union Station in Washington D.C. on July 6, 1939.

Propaganda sign celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Era de Trujillo.

Era de Trujillo

Propaganda sign celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Era de Trujillo in 1955. Translation: In this household, Trujillo is a national symbol.

Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente.

Roberto Clemente

Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente played for the Santurce Cangrejeros team from 1952 to 1954.

Willie Mays’ 1952 Bowman Gum trading card.

Willie Mays

Willie Mays’ 1952 Bowman Gum trading card.

Ozzie Virgil.

Ozzie Virgil

Ozzie Virgil with the New York Giants in the 1950s.

Juan Marichal’s statue.

Juan Marichal Statue

Juan Marichal’s statue outside the San Francisco Giants stadium.

A 1978 baseball game between the Dodgers and the Reds.

Dodgers and the Reds

A 1978 baseball game between the Dodgers and the Reds.

Bud Selig.

Bud Selig

Bud Selig pictured in 2010.

Sandy Alderson pictured in 2011.

Sandy Alderson

Sandy Alderson pictured in 2011.

Jose Bautista’s famous bat flip from the 2015 ALDS.

Jose Bautista

Jose Bautista’s famous bat flip from the 2015 ALDS.

Fernando Tatis Jr.

Fernando Tatis Jr.

Fernando Tatis Jr., the next Latin superstar.

Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts.

Xander Bogaerts

Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts practicing at Fenway Park, 2016.

Dominican young men play for their local baseball schools.

Junior Baseball

Dominican young men play for their local baseball schools, which are places for scouts to recruit. This field is next door to the Toros del Este's stadium. Image by churl.

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