Today's Edition
Dubai (Aletihad) - In a weekend of firsts, the first-ever professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and Indian subcontinent took place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The rectangular strip on a round pitch morphed into the diamond as Baseball United saw an entertaining two-game series between two All-Star teams. Baseball United (BU) East swept the series against BU West, winning the opening match narrowly 3-2 on Friday before stepping up their game in the second to win 9-5.
The teams, whose batters combined for four home runs and six stolen bases during two exciting affairs, played in front of diverse, family-oriented crowds each night on a custom-made playing field built by BU’s experts. Baseball United chairman and CEO, Kash Shaikh, kicked off the festivities with a welcome to all the fans in the stadium and those watching in more than 120 countries around the world.
The league has seen investments and partnerships with Major League Baseball legends, such as Barry Larkin, Adrian Beltre, Elvis Andrus, Felix Hernandez, Nick Swisher, Robinson Cano, Bartolo Colon, and Robinson Chirinos. Cano (41) and Colon (50) also played in the two-game series.
Dr. Tayeb Kamali, representing the Emirates Cricket Board, was the guest of honour and threw out the ceremonial first pitch to local product, Chris Beyers. “We turned a big dream into a bigger reality,” said Shaikh. “I spent hundreds of nights at that stadium over the past two years, and hundreds more all across this city, trying to help paint the picture of what we could create together. But nothing tells the story better than being able to see it for yourself. I had the opportunity to speak with so many fans from so many countries as I walked around the stadium over the weekend, and all of them had such a great time. That’s what is most important to us. We want families to come for the baseball and stay for the experience.”
The opening ceremonies included the national anthems of the UAE and the United States, followed by a surprise firework show. Apart from other means of entertainment, two giant LED walls showcased baseball graphics, statistics and imagery.
“Building a fan base for a new sport and a new league takes time. But this is how you start. There is a bright future for baseball in this region,” Shaikh added. The series was a taster for things to come. The league is planning for a full season with multiple franchises beginning in November of 2024.
On the action front, East All-Stars rallied from 2-0 to register a victory. Colon started the game, giving up two runs on three hits, while striking out three batters in three innings of work, and threw 52 pitches. Jair Jurrjens started the game for the West, striking out four, while pitching four scoreless innings and throwing 68 pitches. The West led 2-0, after two innings.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the West brought in India’s top pitching prospect, Akshay More, to start the inning against Pakistan’s Wahid. A two-base throwing error and a wild pitch by More, allowed the first run for the East. Later in the inning, after Jacob Robson, from Canada, walked and stole second, and Venezuela’s Pablo Sandoval drove him in with a single to left to tie the game, 2-2.
Five East pitchers combined in the sixth inning to shut out the West the rest of the way. In the second match of the day, the East scored two runs in the top of the second. The West answered back with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning, when Italian third baseman, Alex Liddi, hit a home run.
Connor Panas belted a home run over the right field fence to tie the game 2-2. Two singles later, Pablo Sandoval makes baseball history by hitting first-ever 6-run home run.
A Money Ball rule, created by Shaikh, allowed double the runs if a batter hits a home run in a certain period. Sandoval homered to right field. West fought back, but not enough to go down 9-5.
