China's Olympic Baseball Field Construction

Recently I have received a few emails asking how the fields are coming along in China.  The questions asked most are "Which MLB teams are going to play in china?"  Not if or can they play...when! 

This photo shows how they "hand plant the grass...this is normally done by machine but...not in china!

I am sure the questions have a lot to do with MLB and there desire to play exhibition games on these fields next Spring.  The entourage touring the facilities this week speaks volumes as it relates to the goals of MLB's future growth internationally.  Bob Dupuy, Tim Brosnan, Jimme Lee Solomon, Sandy Alderson, Paul Archey, Kevin McClatchy and a host of others are meeting with local dignitaries to discuss baseballs future in the country.  We met last week in New York and discussed numerous challenges and strategies for the development of fields across china.  We have even started a Baseball Field Guideline book that will be translated into Mandarin.   It is unlike any other country I have been in as it relates to sports.  They love basketball and MLB wants them to love baseball too.  There are plenty of people to share among the wide world of sports, but first we need facilities to play games. There is only a handful of baseball fields across china...its going to take some time but I think the people will really like the game ....because they love working on the fields.

This is where the Beijing Tigers play(Lu Chong) which is south of Beijing about 30 minutes. Most fields are all clay infields as natural grass is tough to maintain.  This one actually has a synthetic outfield turf.  Tianjin is about 2 hours from Beijing and it is where Peter O Malley built a field for the national team years ago.  It also still stands but needs some work.