Baseball in Latin America

For the past half a century, the sport of baseball has been gaining popularity in the .  Traditionally, soccer is the more popular sport, but baseball has been rising in popularity.Both sports can be played without much equipment Many people in Latin America play baseball on the streets. They simply use a stick and ball. Instead of gloves they catch the ball with their hands.In this way, baseball is simplified.  Latin America has produced many baseball stars. In June, 1999 the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum was established to honor many of the Latin American baseball legends.   In one of the more memorable instances in Latin American baseball history,  on June 23rd, 2007 current Giant Omar Vizquel, former Giant Matty Alou, and former NY Yankee Hector Lopez were honored during a homeplate ceremony at AT&T Park for their recent induction to the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum 's Hall of Fame before a crowd of 43,000 fans.This year, six of the sixteen nations playing the world baseball classic are from Latin America. These teams are Cuba, Dominican Republic, Panama, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Baseball can be said to have to greatest hold in the Dominican Republic.The rise in the number of Hispanic baseball players and baseball in Latin America was helped by the 1980's baseball super star Fernando Valenzuela. In 1981 he threw eight shutouts and gained his heroic status. Because of immigration concern, the American government instituted a visa quota system which limits the number of Hispanics baseball teams can bring into this country.  Despite the quota, the number of Hispanic players making baseball news continues to grow.

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