Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TAKE ME OUT TO THE BÉISBOL GAME
Every Sunday, all over the country, from abandoned lots to the national stadium, there's one
game that's got Nicaraguans obsessed, and if you think it's football, you're dead wrong.
Despite popular belief, baseball was big here even before the marines arrived in 1909 - their
presence just gave the sport a shot in the arm. The first recorded series was played in 1887, when
two Bluefields teams - Four Roses and Southern - battled it out over seven games. Four years
later, baseball fever hit the Pacific coast and by 1915 there was a national championship.
While major-league Nica players are generally treated like royalty here, very few of them don't
dream of going to the US to play, joining a long list of their countrymen, including Tony Chevez,
Albert Williams, David Green, Porfirio Altamirano, Vincent Padilla, Marvin Bernard and, of
course, Hall of Famer Denis 'El Presidente' Martínez, who pitched more winning major-league
games than any Latino and who had Nicaragua's national stadium, Estadio Denis Martínez,
named after him.
Every town has some sort of baseball ground, from a dusty lot on the outskirts to some fairly
fancy affairs in Managua, León, Granada and Chinandega (among others). These four towns, in-
cidentally, compete in Nicaragua's major league.
Games are played on Sunday in villages, towns and cities all over the country, but if you'd like
to catch some major-league action, log on to
www.lnbp.com.ni
(in Spanish) for schedules. For
even better atmosphere, check out the biennial Atlantic Series, which features teams from all
over the Caribbean region playing off for a cup. The tournament takes place in different cities and
towns throughout the region, but is always a great party.
