This isn't the first time that the Dodgers have come to Taiwan. Their last visit was in 1993, when they played three games (all in Taipei) against the then six teams of the CPBL. The Dodgers won the first game 4-2 over a combined team featuring players from the Weichuan Dragons and Jungo Bears. Game two went to the CPBL, who were represented by the President Lions and China Times Eagles. The locals won 1-0, scoring the lone run of the game in the bottom of the 10th inning. The CPBL then went on to take the series, winning game three by a score of 6-5. The Mercury Tigers and Brother Elephants were Taiwan's reps for this one.
The players that the Dodgers brought over here in '93 included many recognizable names. That squad, managed by Tommy Lasorda, featured players such as Orel Hershiser, Tom Candiotti, Mike Piazza, Darryl Strawberry, and a young Pedro Martinez. The team also included two players, Steve Wilson and Jonathan Hurst, who would later come to Taiwan as import players (in the TML and CPBL) and have a significant impact on Taiwanese baseball.
Some of the local players who impressed during this series were Lin Chong-Chiu of the Tigers, Huang Ping-Yang of the Dragons, and the Lions Hsieh Chang-Heng.
Here's a recent news report that shows some clips from these games (fast forward to the 1:30 mark).
Source: CPBL magazine, Issue 335
pic: Tommy Lasorda
No comments:
Post a Comment