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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC WINTER LEAGUE: See tomorrow's baseball stars today

BY HUGO MARTIN | Los Angeles Times

October 12, 2008

Baseball has been very, very good to the Dominican Republic. Or maybe we should say the Dominican Republic has been very, very good to U.S. baseball, producing some of this country's best players, such as the darling of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Manny Ramirez, and Mets players Pedro Martinez and Jose Reyes. More than 100 players from the Caribbean nation now don Major League Baseball uniforms.

Baseball is more than a pastime in the Dominican Republic. It's a way of life that began during Cuba's Ten Years' War (1868-1878), when Cubans fled to the Dominican Republic, taking the sport with them. It's by far the most popular pastime of its 10 million people.

For U.S. baseball fans, a trip to the Dominican Republic is like baseball heaven, with good cigars and lots of sunshine.

WHEN TO GO

As the U.S. season ends, the six-team Dominican winter league is kicking off, running from October through January. The winner reaches the Caribbean Series against Mexican and Venezuelan teams.

All 50 games of the Dominican winter season are open to visitors itching to see stars of the future. Spectators also can see some stars of today. Several major league players from the Dominican Republic return home each winter to hone their skills.

TEAMS TO WATCH

Most major league teams have facilities there, including the Dodgers, whose baseball academy - Campo Las Palmas - has run for 20 years. The Mets opened an $8 million baseball academy east of Santo Domingo in July. It's home to the Dominican Summer League Mets, one of 37 minor league affiliates based in the country.

The winter league teams compete in Santiago, Santo Domingo, San Francisco de Macoris, San Pedro de Macoris and La Roman.

TICKETS

With the favorable conversion rate, winter league tickets sell for about $20.

Visit the tourism office's Web site, godominicanrepub lic.com or call 888-374-6361. If you're fluent in Spanish, visit teams' Web sites or buy tickets at lidom.com/equipos.htm.