Baseball in India: Difference between revisions

What links here Related changes Page information Get shortened URL
Created by JBW
Last edited May 5, 2025
VisualWikitext
>JBW
m Reverting block-evading editing
 
cleaned up section for accuracy
 
Line 26: Line 26:


== History ==
== History ==
Baseball was played in [[Manipur]] as early as [[World War II]] when the [[US Army Air Force]] flew supplies to China over the [[Himalayas]], known as "[[Flying the Hump]]", and the locals learned the game from the [[airman|troops]] stationed there.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseballebm.com/single-post/2016/09/09/Gaining-Ground|title=Gaining Ground {{!}} European Baseball & Softball Magazine/Home|website=European Baseball &amp; Softball Magazine/Home|language=en|access-date=2018-07-09}}</ref>
[[File:An Airbase Baseball Game (BOND 0296).jpg|thumb|1944 U.S. military game in the [[Alipore]], [[Kolkata]] air base]]
Baseball was [[Sports in Manipur#Baseball|played in Manipur]] as early as [[World War II]] when the [[US Army Air Force]] flew supplies to China over the [[Himalayas]], known as "[[Flying the Hump]]", and the locals learned the game from the [[airman|troops]] stationed there.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseballebm.com/single-post/2016/09/09/Gaining-Ground|title=Gaining Ground {{!}} European Baseball & Softball Magazine/Home|website=European Baseball & Softball Magazine/Home|date=9 September 2016 |language=en|access-date=2018-07-09}}{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>


The Amateur Baseball Federation of India was founded in 1983 and India's first national baseball championship occurred in 1985, taking place in [[New Delhi]]. That same year, it joined both the [[International Baseball Federation]] along with the [[Baseball Federation of Asia]]. In 2006, [[MLB International]] sent Envoy coaches to India to train local coaches and players in partnership with First Pitch, an India-based grass-roots baseball organisation.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/content/printer_friendly/mlb/y2006/m07/d17/c1560943.jsp|title=MLB International Envoy Program to send coaches to India|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714214539/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20060717&content_id=1560943&vkey=pr_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|date=17 July 2006|archivedate=14 July 2014}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Its-just-not-cricket-US-exports-baseball-to-India/articleshow/322761.cms|title=It's just not cricket: US exports baseball to India|last=Rajghattal|first=Chidanand|date=5 November 2006|newspaper=[[Times of India]]|agency=TNN}}</ref>
The Amateur Baseball Federation of India was founded in 1983 and India's first national baseball championship occurred in 1985, taking place in [[New Delhi]]. That same year, it joined both the [[International Baseball Federation]] along with the [[Baseball Federation of Asia]]. In 2006, [[MLB International]] sent Envoy coaches to India to train local coaches and players in partnership with First Pitch, an India-based grass-roots baseball organisation.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/content/printer_friendly/mlb/y2006/m07/d17/c1560943.jsp|title=MLB International Envoy Program to send coaches to India|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714214539/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20060717&content_id=1560943&vkey=pr_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|date=17 July 2006|archivedate=14 July 2014}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Its-just-not-cricket-US-exports-baseball-to-India/articleshow/322761.cms|title=It's just not cricket: US exports baseball to India|last=Rajghattal|first=Chidanand|date=5 November 2006|newspaper=[[Times of India]]|agency=TNN}}</ref>
 
[[File:Joe logan in India.jpg|left|thumb|Kids learning baseball as part of an [[United States Department of State|American State Department]] program]]
The first [[ballpark]] in India was opened on 5 February 2017 at a farmhouse on the [[Gurgaon]]-[[Delhi]] border by Grand Slam Baseball and recognised by [[World Baseball Softball Confederation|WBSC]] President [[Riccardo Fraccari]].<ref name=":4" /> Built by social entrepreneur and baseball enthusiast Raunaq Sahni, India's first and only regulation-size baseball ground is named Field of Dreams in homage to the [[Field of Dreams|1989 American film of the same name]].<ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=Field of Dreams: Giving wings to India's baseball aspirations |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/field-of-dreams-giving-wings-to-indias-baseball-aspirations/articleshow/56990335.cms |website=[[The Times of India]] |last=Kohli |first=Sharad |date=6 February 2017 |accessdate=9 July 2018}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{cite web |title=WBSC President welcomes India's first-ever Baseball Stadium|url=http://www.wbsc.org/wbsc-president-welcomes-indias-first-ever-baseball-stadium/ |website=[[World Baseball Softball Confederation|WBSC]] |accessdate=9 July 2018 |date=2 September 2017}}</ref> Sahni had set up Grand Slam Baseball in 2013 as a grass-roots sports initiative to help organise tournaments and coaching programmes for youths across the country. Before the birth of Grand Slam Baseball, the sport was mostly played among [[expatriate|expats]] and among government school players. Grand Slam Baseball changed this by starting pay-for-play programmes at elite private schools in [[National Capital Region (India)|Delhi-NCR]] while also sponsoring an equal number of government school players.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/other-sports/story/major-league-baseball-field-of-dreams-grand-slam-baseball-959930-2017-02-09|title=Major League Baseball coaches train kids in India's first pro-baseball field in Delhi|last=Gupta|first=Shivani|date=9 February 2017|website=[[India Today]]|language=en|access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/chasing-a-home-run-india-takes-its-first-steps-towards-baseball-4933290/|title=Chasing a Home Run: India takes its first steps towards baseball|date=12 November 2017|website=[[The Indian Express]]|last=Amsan|first=Andrew|language=en-IN|access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://littleindia.com/batter-bringing-baseball-billion/|title=Batter Up! Bringing Baseball to a Billion|date=16 November 2017|first=Aswati|last=Anand|website=Little India: Overseas Indian, NRI, Asian Indian, Indian American|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref>
The first [[ballpark]] in India was opened on 5 February 2017 at a farmhouse on the [[Gurgaon]]-[[Delhi]] border by Grand Slam Baseball and recognised by [[World Baseball Softball Confederation|WBSC]] President [[Riccardo Fraccari]].<ref name=":4" /> Built by social entrepreneur and baseball enthusiast Raunaq Sahni, India's first and only regulation-size baseball ground is named Field of Dreams in homage to the [[Field of Dreams|1989 American film of the same name]].<ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=Field of Dreams: Giving wings to India's baseball aspirations |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/field-of-dreams-giving-wings-to-indias-baseball-aspirations/articleshow/56990335.cms |website=[[The Times of India]] |last=Kohli |first=Sharad |date=6 February 2017 |accessdate=9 July 2018}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{cite web |title=WBSC President welcomes India's first-ever Baseball Stadium|url=http://www.wbsc.org/wbsc-president-welcomes-indias-first-ever-baseball-stadium/ |website=[[World Baseball Softball Confederation|WBSC]] |accessdate=9 July 2018 |date=2 September 2017}}</ref> Sahni had set up Grand Slam Baseball in 2013 as a grass-roots sports initiative to help organise tournaments and coaching programmes for youths across the country. Before the birth of Grand Slam Baseball, the sport was mostly played among [[expatriate|expats]] and among government school players. Grand Slam Baseball changed this by starting pay-for-play programmes at elite private schools in [[National Capital Region (India)|Delhi-NCR]] while also sponsoring an equal number of government school players.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/other-sports/story/major-league-baseball-field-of-dreams-grand-slam-baseball-959930-2017-02-09|title=Major League Baseball coaches train kids in India's first pro-baseball field in Delhi|last=Gupta|first=Shivani|date=9 February 2017|website=[[India Today]]|language=en|access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/chasing-a-home-run-india-takes-its-first-steps-towards-baseball-4933290/|title=Chasing a Home Run: India takes its first steps towards baseball|date=12 November 2017|website=[[The Indian Express]]|last=Amsan|first=Andrew|language=en-IN|access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://littleindia.com/batter-bringing-baseball-billion/|title=Batter Up! Bringing Baseball to a Billion|date=16 November 2017|first=Aswati|last=Anand|website=Little India: Overseas Indian, NRI, Asian Indian, Indian American|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref>


In July 2019, [[ Major League Baseball]] (MLB) announced plans to open an office in New Delhi to promote the growth of baseball in India. The league also announced to plans to stream one regular season game a week on Facebook in India.<ref>{{cite web |title=MLB to open New Delhi office in bid to gain India foothold |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-baseball-mlb-india/mlb-to-open-new-delhi-office-in-bid-to-gain-india-foothold-idUSKCN1TX2NT |website=Reuters |accessdate=24 September 2019 |language=en |date=3 July 2019}}</ref> MLB also stated that it would relaunch ''Million Dollar Arm'' holding tryouts in India between September and December 2019. MLB also announced the launch of First Pitch, a grassroots program for primary school children from 300 schools across New Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai to learn baseball through workshops by MLB coaches.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/other-sports/major-league-baseball-looks-to-spread-baseball-in-india-delhi-capitals-mohammed-kaif-jim-smalls-million-dollar-arm/article28262988.ece|first=Bhrigu|last=Bagga|title=MLB and Delhi Capitals look to spread baseball in India|work=[[Sportstar]]|publisher=The Hindu Group|date=2 July 2019}}</ref> MLB has said that there may be collaboration with [[Board of Control for Cricket in India|BCCI]] to increase the spread of both cricket and baseball. <ref>https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/sports-news-major-league-baseball-may-take-crickets-help-to-spread-footprint-in-india/359420""We could work together with the BCCI and give them a value proposition in the United States. When India goes to play cricket in the US, they play in baseball stadiums. So there can be synergy," Small explained."</ref>
In July 2019, [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) announced plans to open an office in New Delhi to promote the growth of baseball in India. The league also announced to plans to stream one regular season game a week on Facebook in India.<ref>{{cite web |title=MLB to open New Delhi office in bid to gain India foothold |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-baseball-mlb-india/mlb-to-open-new-delhi-office-in-bid-to-gain-india-foothold-idUSKCN1TX2NT |website=Reuters |accessdate=24 September 2019 |language=en |date=3 July 2019}}</ref> MLB also stated that it would relaunch ''Million Dollar Arm'' holding tryouts in India between September and December 2019. MLB also announced the launch of First Pitch, a grassroots program for primary school children from 300 schools across New Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai to learn baseball through workshops by MLB coaches.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/other-sports/major-league-baseball-looks-to-spread-baseball-in-india-delhi-capitals-mohammed-kaif-jim-smalls-million-dollar-arm/article28262988.ece|first=Bhrigu|last=Bagga|title=MLB and Delhi Capitals look to spread baseball in India|work=[[Sportstar]]|publisher=The Hindu Group|date=2 July 2019}}</ref> MLB has said that there may be collaboration with [[Board of Control for Cricket in India|BCCI]] to increase the spread of both cricket and baseball.<ref>https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/sports-news-major-league-baseball-may-take-crickets-help-to-spread-footprint-in-india/359420""We could work together with the BCCI and give them a value proposition in the United States. When India goes to play cricket in the US, they play in baseball stadiums. So there can be synergy," Small explained."</ref>


== Million Dollar Arm ==
== ''Million Dollar Arm'' ==
In 2007, struggling MLB agent [[J.B. Bernstein]] decided to start a competition in India titled ''Million Dollar Arm'', a talent search for the best throwing arms in India. He gained his inspiration after watching [[ESPN]]'s broadcast of a cricket match featuring [[bowling (cricket)|bowlers]] that bowled at speeds as high as 150&nbsp;km/h and realising that India was one of the largest untapped environments for baseball. Despite being inspired by cricketers, the two winners were 19-year-old [[javelin throw]]ers [[Rinku Singh]] and [[Dinesh Patel]]. Although he did not reach the million-dollar mark, Singh won [[US dollar|$]]1,00,000 for the fastest delivery of the contest and Patel won $5,000. They were also invited to the [[United States]] to train and try out for [[Major League Baseball]] teams. Eventually, both [[Pitcher (baseball)|pitchers]] were signed by the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] organisation and became the first two Indians to play [[professional baseball]].
In 2007, struggling MLB agent [[J.B. Bernstein]] decided to start a competition in India titled ''Million Dollar Arm'', a talent search for the best throwing arms in India. He gained his inspiration after watching [[ESPN]]'s broadcast of a cricket match featuring [[bowling (cricket)|bowlers]] that bowled at speeds as high as {{convert|150|kph|mph|abbr=on}} and realising that India was one of the largest untapped environments for baseball. Despite being inspired by cricketers, the two winners were 19-year-old [[javelin throw]]ers [[Rinku Singh (wrestler)|Rinku Singh]] and [[Dinesh Patel]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tucker |first=Reed |date=2014-05-11 |title=The wacky but true story behind ‘Million Dollar Arm’ |url=https://nypost.com/2014/05/11/the-wacky-but-true-story-behind-million-dollar-arm/ |access-date=2025-03-09 |language=en-US}}</ref> Although he did not reach the million-dollar mark, Singh won [[United States dollar|US$]]100,000 for the fastest delivery of the contest and Patel won US$5,000. They were also invited to the United States to train and try out for [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) teams. Eventually, both [[Pitcher (baseball)|pitchers]] were signed by the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] organisation and became the first two Indians to play [[professional baseball]].


Patel ended up having a successful 2009 season for [[Gulf Coast League Pirates|Pirates' Gulf Coast League team]], finishing with a 1–0 [[win–loss record (pitching)|record]] and a 1.42 [[earned run average|ERA]] in 6⅓ innings. His 2010 season was not successful with his ERA going up to 8.59 in 7⅓ innings. He was released after the season and returned to India where he now teaches baseball and has prepared kids for subsequent seasons of ''Million Dollar Arm''.
Patel ended up having a successful 2009 season for [[Gulf Coast League Pirates|Pirates' Gulf Coast League team]], finishing with a 1–0 [[win–loss record (pitching)|record]] and a 1.42 [[earned run average|ERA]] in {{frac|6|1|3}} [[innings pitched]]. His 2010 season was not successful, with his ERA going up to 8.59 in {{frac|7|1|3}} innings. He was released after the season and returned to India to teach baseball and prepare kids for subsequent seasons of ''Million Dollar Arm''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-05-15 |title=Crasnick: Baseball changed lives of Singh, Patel |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/10935566/million-dollar-arm-remarkable-journeys-rinku-singh-dinesh-patel |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>


The screen rights to their story were purchased in 2009, and in 2014 Disney released the film titled ''[[Million Dollar Arm]]''. It made $3.9 [[Indian numbering system|crore]] off a budget of $2.5 crore.
The screen rights to their story were purchased in 2009, and in 2014 Disney released the film titled ''[[Million Dollar Arm]]''. It made $3.9 [[Indian numbering system|crore]] off a budget of $2.5 crore.
== See also ==
* [[Baseball United]], a Middle Eastern and South Asian baseball league
* [[India national Baseball5 team|Baseball5 in India]]
* [[Softball in India]]


==References==
==References==
Line 48: Line 55:


{{Sport in India}}
{{Sport in India}}
{{World baseball}}


[[Category:Baseball in India| ]]
[[Category:Baseball in India| ]]
[[Category:History of baseball outside the United States|India]]

Latest revision as of 09:27, 5 May 2025

CountryIndia
Governing bodyAmateur Baseball Federation of India
National team(s)Men
Women
First playedEarly 1940s
National competitions
International competitions

Template:HistBaseball nav Baseball is played in local clubs, schools and at the university level in India.

History[edit | edit source]

1944 U.S. military game in the Alipore, Kolkata air base

Baseball was played in Manipur as early as World War II when the US Army Air Force flew supplies to China over the Himalayas, known as "Flying the Hump", and the locals learned the game from the troops stationed there.[1]

The Amateur Baseball Federation of India was founded in 1983 and India's first national baseball championship occurred in 1985, taking place in New Delhi. That same year, it joined both the International Baseball Federation along with the Baseball Federation of Asia. In 2006, MLB International sent Envoy coaches to India to train local coaches and players in partnership with First Pitch, an India-based grass-roots baseball organisation.[2][3]

Kids learning baseball as part of an American State Department program

The first ballpark in India was opened on 5 February 2017 at a farmhouse on the Gurgaon-Delhi border by Grand Slam Baseball and recognised by WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari.[4] Built by social entrepreneur and baseball enthusiast Raunaq Sahni, India's first and only regulation-size baseball ground is named Field of Dreams in homage to the 1989 American film of the same name.[5][4] Sahni had set up Grand Slam Baseball in 2013 as a grass-roots sports initiative to help organise tournaments and coaching programmes for youths across the country. Before the birth of Grand Slam Baseball, the sport was mostly played among expats and among government school players. Grand Slam Baseball changed this by starting pay-for-play programmes at elite private schools in Delhi-NCR while also sponsoring an equal number of government school players.[6][7][8]

In July 2019, Major League Baseball (MLB) announced plans to open an office in New Delhi to promote the growth of baseball in India. The league also announced to plans to stream one regular season game a week on Facebook in India.[9] MLB also stated that it would relaunch Million Dollar Arm holding tryouts in India between September and December 2019. MLB also announced the launch of First Pitch, a grassroots program for primary school children from 300 schools across New Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai to learn baseball through workshops by MLB coaches.[10] MLB has said that there may be collaboration with BCCI to increase the spread of both cricket and baseball.[11]

Million Dollar Arm[edit | edit source]

In 2007, struggling MLB agent J.B. Bernstein decided to start a competition in India titled Million Dollar Arm, a talent search for the best throwing arms in India. He gained his inspiration after watching ESPN's broadcast of a cricket match featuring bowlers that bowled at speeds as high as 150 km/h (93 mph) and realising that India was one of the largest untapped environments for baseball. Despite being inspired by cricketers, the two winners were 19-year-old javelin throwers Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel.[12] Although he did not reach the million-dollar mark, Singh won US$100,000 for the fastest delivery of the contest and Patel won US$5,000. They were also invited to the United States to train and try out for Major League Baseball (MLB) teams. Eventually, both pitchers were signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates organisation and became the first two Indians to play professional baseball.

Patel ended up having a successful 2009 season for Pirates' Gulf Coast League team, finishing with a 1–0 record and a 1.42 ERA in ​6 1⁄3 innings pitched. His 2010 season was not successful, with his ERA going up to 8.59 in ​7 1⁄3 innings. He was released after the season and returned to India to teach baseball and prepare kids for subsequent seasons of Million Dollar Arm.[13]

The screen rights to their story were purchased in 2009, and in 2014 Disney released the film titled Million Dollar Arm. It made $3.9 crore off a budget of $2.5 crore.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Gaining Ground | European Baseball & Softball Magazine/Home". European Baseball & Softball Magazine/Home. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 2018-07-09.[dead link]
  2. ↑ "MLB International Envoy Program to send coaches to India". 17 July 2006. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
  3. ↑ Rajghattal, Chidanand (5 November 2006). "It's just not cricket: US exports baseball to India". Times of India. TNN.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "WBSC President welcomes India's first-ever Baseball Stadium". WBSC. 2 September 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  5. ↑ Kohli, Sharad (6 February 2017). "Field of Dreams: Giving wings to India's baseball aspirations". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  6. ↑ Gupta, Shivani (9 February 2017). "Major League Baseball coaches train kids in India's first pro-baseball field in Delhi". India Today. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  7. ↑ Amsan, Andrew (12 November 2017). "Chasing a Home Run: India takes its first steps towards baseball". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  8. ↑ Anand, Aswati (16 November 2017). "Batter Up! Bringing Baseball to a Billion". Little India: Overseas Indian, NRI, Asian Indian, Indian American. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  9. ↑ "MLB to open New Delhi office in bid to gain India foothold". Reuters. 3 July 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  10. ↑ Bagga, Bhrigu (2 July 2019). "MLB and Delhi Capitals look to spread baseball in India". Sportstar. The Hindu Group.
  11. ↑ https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/sports-news-major-league-baseball-may-take-crickets-help-to-spread-footprint-in-india/359420""We could work together with the BCCI and give them a value proposition in the United States. When India goes to play cricket in the US, they play in baseball stadiums. So there can be synergy," Small explained."
  12. ↑ Tucker, Reed (2014-05-11). "The wacky but true story behind 'Million Dollar Arm'". Retrieved 2025-03-09.
  13. ↑ "Crasnick: Baseball changed lives of Singh, Patel". ESPN.com. 2014-05-15. Retrieved 2025-03-09.

External links[edit | edit source]

Template:World baseball

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Baseball_in_India&oldid=456795"
Discover more