The mission of Baseball United is to “Inspire One Billion New Fans To Fall In Love With Baseball“. The face of baseball, of course, is no longer an exclusively American image. The game’s popularity has had hiccups and has stalled over the years for various reasons. Historians can point to many key moments where inclusion has only helped to improve the quality and integrity of the sport. In recent years, there seems to have been a vast resurgence of play, instruction, and grooming of talent from all areas of the globe.
Examples of this include top prospects such as Travis Bazzana, from Australia, or Arjun Nimmala, whose parents hail from India. Both of these players have evolved from their cricket roots to become elite, professional baseball players.
Baseball is now commonly played in countries such as Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and India. This is the result of a consistent, growing movement in recent years. An extensive effort was devoted to establishing a system of building baseball talent. Names of players on MLB rosters are now coming from different areas of the world. Many are from countries where the game had very little exposure in previous generations.
Baseball United has worked hard to continue the game’s growth and trajectory. It operates as an elite, organized professional baseball circuit and league. The organization now personifies and represents its vision by bringing professional baseball to Dubai, UAE, and its surrounding region. The project was created and brought to fruition by renowned, award-winning entrepreneur and business leader Kash Shaikh. Mr. Shaikh has built an ownership group and Board of Directors that includes legendary Hall of Famers Barry Larkin and Mariano Rivera.
Baseball United has always focused on increasing exposure to baseball. Expanding to other areas with the ideal climate, it aims to help introduce the game where it has not been played very much, if at all. Baseball United is deeply involved in active outreach, offering coaching clinics and equipment to its target audiences and communities. An all-star cast of recent MLB players actively supports its initiatives both on the field and through consultation and investment.
The vision is now fully consolidated and implemented for a growing fanbase in Dubai, UAE. The newly constructed Barry Larkin Field at “The Sevens” in Dubai will host The UAE Series on the weekend of February 14-16th. Tickets are selling fast as the games are expected to fill the stands of the almost 10,000-seat, state-of-the-art baseball facility.
The series will feature one game each day of the three-day weekend between the Mid-East Falcons and the Arabia Wolves. The Falcons boast some former MLB talent, such as former Miami Marlins pitcher Severino Gonzalez and three-time All-Star and World Series MVP Pablo Sandoval.
The Wolves, meanwhile, will field former Atlanta Braves workhorse Jair Jurrjens as well as long-time major league stars and New York Yankees’ Didi Gregorius and Robinson Cano. The teams are overseen by executives and honorary general managers, including Nick Swisher, who is assigned as the GM for the Falcons, and Felix Hernandez, who holds the title for the Wolves.
The coaches on the field and representing Baseball United in the outreach programs all have experience both playing and coaching in MLB, as well as with starting National programs around the world. One of many examples of this includes John Mclaren, former Manager of the Seattle Mariners and head coach of China’s team in the World Baseball Classic (WBC).
The Baseball United league and schedule consist of a weekend series. Currently, four teams compete: the Wolves and Falcons, the Mumbai Cobras, featuring former MLB shortstop Andrelton Simmons, and the Kurachi Monarchs. The Monarchs will have the ageless wonder and 2005 American League Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon, who will toss his arsenal of pitches at opposing hitters.
Baseball United has the makings of something very special. They are giving fans in the Middle East an opportunity to watch top-quality, professional baseball and interact up close with some legends of the game. The purpose of this project is to plant the seeds for growth. With their vision and level of support, it would seem\inevitable that the sport of baseball is about to be recognized and played far and wide in that region and beyond.
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