MLB and China

[Fenway]

MLB officials have been in China for most of the month. When I was there I ran into officials from the Mariners, Yankees and Cubs. Boston and Pittsburgh were there 2 weeks ago.

http://www.boston.com/sports/articles/2007/06/17/far_east_on_the_radar/

My friend at the Embassy says they are hopeful 4 teams will spend a week in China next March

A saw a quite a few baseball hats (Giants mostly followed by Yankees, Boston and LA )

Very popular with Chinese males is the Bulls road jersey with 23 on it. The NBA is huge in China.


Lucchino and McClatchy were members of a party of MLB executives, led by CEO Bob DuPuy, who recently spent six days touring four cities in China: Beijing, Tianjin, Wuxi, and Shanghai. They visited baseball facilities, including the stadium being built for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and met with officials representing the Olympics, the Chinese baseball association, the Chinese professional baseball league, and schools that have made baseball a centerpiece of their athletic programs.

The group also met with US Embassy officials, as part of a major push by MLB to play games in China next spring, one component of a grander scheme to promote the game there and capitalize on a potentially huge market.

[slavko]

I heard they had figured out a way to make baseball players there at 1/3 the price of making them here. That includes trans-Pacific shipping costs.

[harwar]

We'll all be spending our hard-earned Ameros watching teams from around the world.

[WSox597]

We'll all be spending our hard-earned Ameros

Sad, but probably true. The "ameros" part I mean.

[ilsox7]

Great idea Bud, should this go through you have cemented yourself as the worst commissioner in the history of sports.

Um, no. Bad, but not the worst.

[itsnotrequired]

Not to turn this political but why should China not be treated any different than Cuba?

$$$$$

[Fenway]

$$$$$

Exactly. MLB and the NFL have seen the NBA making $$$ in China.

[kaufsox]

$$$$$

exactly, nothing like 1.5 billion potential consumers. On the less cynical side, baseball has a great appeal that I think will only grow as globalization continues.

[DumpJerry]

Why is a baseball stadium part of the Olympic facilities? I thought it was no longer an Olympic sport. Is it for the womens' softball?

[itsnotrequired]

exactly, nothing like 1.5 billion potential consumers. On the less cynical side, baseball has a great appeal that I think will only grow as globalization continues.

If only 1% of the population is into the sport, that's still 15 million potential customers buying merchandise.

I'm interested to set what kind of players can be produced. Even if 0.0001% of the population has MLB skill-sets, that's 1500 MLB players. To put 0.0001% into perspective, that's the equivalent of 3 people out of the entire city of Chicago.

[DumpJerry]

If only 1% of the population is into the sport, that's still 15 million potential customers buying merchandise.

I'm interested to set what kind of players can be produced. Even if 0.0001% of the population has MLB skill-sets, that's 1500 MLB players. To put 0.0001% into perspective, that's the equivalent of 3 people out of the entire city of Chicago.
Can we find some by the All Star break who can hit over .300 or come out of the Bullpen in the 7th and set down the opposition or field without muffing it up?

If so, get those visas ready!

[Fenway]

Why is a baseball stadium part of the Olympic facilities? I thought it was no longer an Olympic sport. Is it for the womens' softball?

Baseball still Olympic for 2008 out 2012 as is softball

[ougu]

china have MLB? :?::o:???

[Fenway]

China has embraced baseball after the game was banned for nearly 50 years. They have hired many Cubans to teach young players.In another 5 years you will see players in MLB.

[soxfan80]

Why is a baseball stadium part of the Olympic facilities? I thought it was no longer an Olympic sport. Is it for the womens' softball?It's dropped after 2008.

[PatK]

When can we get the baseball equivalent of Yao Ming?

[rookiewhitesox]

china have MLB? :?::o:???

Also Israel.