Dodgers slugger Ramirez to play Taiwan games
TAIPEI — Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez will join a tour of Taiwan next week, organisers said Tuesday, ending speculation that he might disappoint millions of fans on the island…
TAIPEI — Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez will join a tour of Taiwan next week, organisers said Tuesday, ending speculation that he might disappoint millions of fans on the island by not turning up."The Dodgers have confirmed that Ramirez will come," an official of Taipei-based Bros Sports Marketing Inc told AFP.The US Major League baseball team in January unveiled plans to play a series of exhibition games in Taiwan during their first visit to the island since 1993, but they did not say if their 37-year-old star player would also come.This set off widespread fears in the media and among the public that Ramirez would be a no-show.Ramirez, formerly with the Boston Red Sox, has recorded 546 career home runs and a .313 batting average, making him one of the most outstanding players in MLB history.Out of the other 32 players joining the tour, 17 have MLB experience, according to Bros Sports Marketing.The Dodgers are due to arrive on March 11 for a four-day visit during which they will play three games with an all-star team of Taiwan's professional baseball league.The Dodgers first visited Taiwan in 1993 amid much fanfare and the local fan base for US Major League games has expanded since.Its popularity received another boost after home-grown talent made it to the league, including relief pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo for the Dodgers and pitcher Wang Chien-ming for the Washington Nationals. Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
last modification 2010-03-02 16:15:20
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