The Power of Sports

Visit the Dominican Republic today and you’ll find kids playing catch on sidewalks. They field ground balls in the streets. Baseballs are used long after their covers have worn down. 

“We live baseball,” Cruz explains. 

Baseball’s roots in the Dominican Republic trace back to the late 1800s. That’s when immigrants from Cuba first introduced the sport to the island. People faced off in the Dominican Republic’s first recorded baseball game in 1886. It was a hit! Soon after, athletes formed local teams, and the sport’s popularity continued to grow.

In the Dominican Republic today, kids play catch on sidewalks. They field ground balls in the streets. Baseballs are used long after their covers have worn down.

“We live baseball,” Cruz explains.

Baseball’s roots in the Dominican Republic trace back to the late 1800s. That is when immigrants from Cuba first introduced the sport to the island. The Dominican Republic’s first recorded baseball game was in 1886. It was a hit! Soon after, athletes formed local teams. And the popularity of the sport kept growing.

Back in the U.S., baseball was also thriving. By the 1960s, Major League Baseball was adding new teams. Owners looked for talent in the Dominican Republic—and they found it. By then, Ozzie Virgil had become the first Dominican to play in the majors. Later, in 1983, pitcher Juan Marichal became the first Dominican voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

All along, the country’s athletes have shone brightly. In the past decade, pitcher Pedro Martinez and first baseman David Ortiz also were named to the Hall of Fame. And last year, the Houston Astros won the World Series powered by six players with Dominican roots—including Series Most Valuable Player Jeremy Peña. 

Back in the U.S., baseball was also doing well. By the 1960s, Major League Baseball was adding new teams. Owners looked for talent in the Dominican Republic. They found it. By then, Ozzie Virgil had become the first Dominican to play in the majors. Later, in 1983, pitcher Juan Marichal became the first Dominican voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

All along, the country’s athletes have shone brightly. In the past decade, pitcher Pedro Martinez and first baseman David Ortiz also were named to the Hall of Fame. And last year, the Houston Astros won the World Series powered by six players with Dominican roots. That included Jeremy Peña, the Series Most Valuable Player.

Today baseball is not only the Dominican Republic’s most popular sport but also an important part of the nation’s culture. 

“Baseball has become a force for pride that bonds Dominicans,” says Rob Ruck, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. He has written about the history of the sport in the country. 

But to chase their big-league dreams, Dominican kids often give up a lot. Thousands drop out of school to practice full-time. Some as young as 12 leave home and their families to train at private baseball academies. At 16, they can sign contracts with major league teams. 

The odds of making it to that level, however, aren’t great. Only about 1 in 50 players end up in the majors. And without a high school education, the rest often struggle to find high-paying jobs.

Today, baseball is the Dominican Republic’s most popular sport. But it also is an important part of the nation’s culture.

“Baseball has become a force for pride that bonds Dominicans,” says Rob Ruck. Ruck is a professor at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. He has written about the history of the sport in the country.

But Dominican kids often give up a lot in order to chase their dreams. Thousands of them drop out of school to practice full-time. Some as young as 12 leave home and their families. They go away to train at private baseball academies. At 16, they can sign contracts with major league teams.

But the odds of making it to that level are not great. Only about 1 in 50 players end up in the majors. And the rest often struggle to find high-paying jobs because they do not have a high school education.

Still, many Dominicans say the sport has improved life in their country. For one thing, baseball pumps hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy. It has created thousands of jobs for people to train and develop players at baseball academies. 

And those who do make it big often return, giving back time and resources. Martinez has rebuilt homes, churches, and schools in his Dominican neighborhood. Cruz, who has earned more than $137 million during his baseball career, has invested in education, health care, and supplies for his hometown.

That ability to give back is motivating, Cruz told a reporter last year. “It makes you keep doing what you’re doing,” he said. “Through baseball, I’ve been just blessed to be helping so many people.” 

Still, many Dominicans say the sport has improved life in their country. For one thing, baseball pumps hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy. The sport has created thousands of jobs for people to train and develop players at baseball academies.

And those who do make it big often return. They give back time and resources. Martinez has rebuilt homes, churches, and schools in his Dominican neighborhood.

Cruz has earned more than $137 million during his baseball career. He has invested in education, health care, and supplies for his hometown.

That ability to give back is motivating, Cruz told a reporter last year. “It makes you keep doing what you’re doing,” he said. “Through baseball, I’ve been just blessed to be helping so many people.”

India is the world’s most populous country. Like the U.S., it is a democracy, a government in which a country’s people elect its leaders. However, women there lack many opportunities. Most are expected to get married, have kids, and stay at home. Only about 20 percent have professional careers.

And there are other challenges. While opportunities for higher-paying jobs are increasing in some areas, large parts of the nation remain poor.

In Dharoki, Sunaina and Naina’s parents work as cleaners. The family lives in a room on the second floor of a small building, which they reach by climbing a rickety ladder.

India is the world’s most populous country. Like the U.S., it is a democracy. That is a government in which a country’s people elect its leaders. But women there lack many opportunities. Most are expected to get married, have kids, and stay at home. Only about 20 percent have professional careers.

And there are other challenges. In some areas, opportunities for higher-paying jobs are increasing. But large parts of the nation are still poor.

In Dharoki, Sunaina and Naina’s parents work as cleaners. The family lives in a room on the second floor of a small building. They reach it by climbing a rickety ladder.

But such hardships are forgotten on the cricket field. One day this past spring, Sunaina, Naina, and about 20 other girls ages 9 to 14 headed to practice on their bicycles. 

After a two-mile run, the girls practiced batting and bowling (pitching). Then they lay on the grass for reflection. The girls know that cricket could change their lives. In India, the average monthly income for women is $188. But WPL athletes can earn more than $400,000. That kind of money would give the girls freedom to make their own choices. 

But such hardships are forgotten on the cricket field. One day this past spring, Sunaina, Naina, and about 20 other girls ages 9 to 14 rode their bikes to practice.

First they did a 2-mile run. Next, the girls practiced batting and bowling (pitching). Then they lay on the grass for reflection. The girls know that cricket could change their lives. In India, the average monthly income for women is $188. But WPL athletes can earn more than $400,000. That kind of money would give the girls freedom to make their own choices.

During the WPL season, Sunaina and Naina rushed home after practice to watch the televised matches. The girls paid especially close attention to star player Harmanpreet Kaur.

Even before the WPL, Kaur was well known in India as the captain of the women’s national cricket team. When she was in high school, there were no girls teams in her area. Her career took off because a coach let her practice with the boys. 

Already, that lack of opportunity for female players is changing. Local girls teams are increasing in number. The best players on those teams can qualify for more advanced teams—and a chance to go pro.

During the WPL season, Sunaina and Naina rushed home after practice to watch the matches on TV. The girls paid especially close attention to star player Harmanpreet Kaur.

Even before the WPL, Kaur was well known in India as the captain of the women’s national cricket team. When Kaur was in high school, there were no girls teams in her area. A coach let her practice with the boys. Her career took off.

Already, that lack of opportunity for female players is changing. Local girls teams are increasing in number. The best players on those teams can qualify for more advanced teams—and a chance to go pro.

On a sunny day a few weeks later, the sisters and the rest of their team traveled to a nearby city for tryouts. Recruiters were looking for players younger than 15 for a district squad. Three female recruiters made notes as the girls went through their drills.

A few days after the tryouts, the recruiters called the girls’ coach with the good news: Seven of the team’s players had made the squad, including Sunaina and Naina.

The sisters know there will be a lot of hard work ahead. After all, landing a spot on the district-level youth squad is just one of many steps to reach the pros.

Still, their mother has great belief in their potential.

“We are poor people, but my daughters have given me hope and happiness,” Shashi Singh told reporters. “My dream is that their dreams of becoming successful players come true.” 

—Mujib Mashal covers South Asia for The New York Times. 

One sunny day a few weeks later, the sisters and the rest of their team traveled to a nearby city for tryouts. Recruiters were looking for players younger than 15 for a district squad. The girls went through their drills. Three female recruiters took notes.

A few days after the tryouts, the recruiters called the girls’ coach. They had good news. Seven of the team’s players had made the squad. That included Sunaina and Naina.

The sisters know there will be a lot of hard work ahead. After all, landing a spot on the district-level youth squad is just one of many steps to reach the pros.

Still, their mother has great belief in their potential.

“We are poor people, but my daughters have given me hope and happiness,” Shashi Singh told reporters. “My dream is that their dreams of becoming successful players come true.”

—Mujib Mashal covers South Asia for The New York Times.