Baseball In Jamaica

[johng]

For those of you in the US and Canada this might be interesting to know. There is a grassroots effort going on to start Baseball Jamaica and introduce the American past time sport there. Cricket has long been popular in JA but baseball has not although Cuba and many other caribbean nations are quite good at it. Jamaican athletes are world class as has been seen with track and field, soccer, and even Bobsled. As is often the case in Jamaica there is a major lack of funds and equipment available for the kids many of whom play barefooted and use rocks as baseballs. Many of you probably at one time or other had your kids play baseball / softball in Little League, Babe Ruth, High school, college. Perhaps you have old equipment no longer needed. How about when headed to Jamaica next time packing a few items to leave on the island. Old cleats, gloves, balls, anything baseball related would be appreciated by the kids (girls softball too). I will contact my friends that are leading the cause and see if there can be a drop off point in Negril as a clearinghouse for equipment. Stuff that your kids have no longer need of would be greatly appreciated. One man's trash is another man's treasure.

[Accompong]

http://baseballjamaica.com/index.html

Here is a link to the non-profit group that is taking donations over the Internet for those who want to contribute money as well.

Peace and Guidance

[rustedduck]

Great idea. Let us know about the Negril drop point.

[Weathermon & Mi Lady]

I'm waiting for "Cricket America" to start!

[RockRobster]

For those of you in the US and Canada this might be interesting to know. There is a grassroots effort going on to start Baseball Jamaica and introduce the American past time sport there. Cricket has long been popular in JA but baseball has not although Cuba and many other caribbean nations are quite good at it. Jamaican athletes are world class as has been seen with track and field, soccer, and even Bobsled. As is often the case in Jamaica there is a major lack of funds and equipment available for the kids many of whom play barefooted and use rocks as baseballs. Many of you probably at one time or other had your kids play baseball / softball in Little League, Babe Ruth, High school, college. Perhaps you have old equipment no longer needed. How about when headed to Jamaica next time packing a few items to leave on the island. Old cleats, gloves, balls, anything baseball related would be appreciated by the kids (girls softball too). I will contact my friends that are leading the cause and see if there can be a drop off point in Negril as a clearinghouse for equipment. Stuff that your kids have no longer need of would be greatly appreciated. One man's trash is another man's treasure.

Funny this post came up......I was just talking to Kingsley James in April about how I've been trying for the last 20 years to get some interest in baseball in JA, especially MoBay and Negril and there has been very very little interest among the youth. Their parents grasp the concept that this could be a bigtime thing for the youth...but the youth don't seem to care.....its all cricket....all the time...happy to help with MORE donations, though....Probably easier for me to send a barrel of gear...I've been playing or coaching baseball for over forty years....literally a ton of gear in the garage...probably twenty aluminum bats of all sizes....youth gloves...youth catcher gear....I have some contacts with Rawlings...but I just haven't been convinced enough of the demand for baseball in JA to call in those favors, yet. If somebody wants to pay the freight, they can have my 1978 Jugs machine....with tripod it weighs over 200 pounds...just sayin...

[Marko]

mi experience is that Jamaican kids want to play football, cricket, netball and basketball.........
a buddy brought down a baseball glove once and none of the boys wanted it......
hope it takes off in Jamaica........in the Dominican Republic all young boys play baseball........

Cool Runnings, Marko

[johng]

Hi RockRobster,

I contacted my friend who is charge of starting the baseball program in JA to see if he is interested in your pitching machine, equipment and how the shipping could be paid for. as soon as I hear from him I will let you know. But thanks for the kind gesture!! Is there still a soccer / football field in Negril? There used to be one toward the Hedonism end of the beach near where Cosmo had a little restaurant. Might be interesting to run a clinic in Negril sometime when a few Americans with experience are there at the same time to coordinate. I do think that the current grassroots group is serious about making baseball popular and that with the access to American culture the kids have more than likely been exposed to baseball one way or the other. 90 miles away in Cuba they have the best baseball in the carib, DR, PR all putting out great players. They have even committed to a Baseball Academy based on the European Models in Holland, Italy, Germany that are affiliated with MLB and that are producing players that have started to make it in the majors, in its effort to make BB a mainstream sport universally.

[Vince]

We have some baseball cleats if anyone is interested.We probally have 4 kids pair as of now.We have mi boy and girl playing baseball.So if anyone is intrested in our stuff.Let mi know.Wish it would take of though.But I believe they love there cricket though!!!

[johng]

I'm waiting for "Cricket America" to start!

FYI http://www.espncricinfo.com/usa/cont...ry/261614.html

[Ras Walleye]

In all the history of baseball only 4 Jamaicans have played in the major leagues.