Day 19: China Blue

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre (left) and vice president of the San Diego Padres Dave Winfi eld (right) pose for photos with young Chinese baseball players during a press conference in Beijing. (Photo: AP) read story at China Daily

Major League Baseball announced on 1/24/08 that the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres will be the first MLB teams to play the sport in China. Hosted by the China Baseball Association, the games will be held on March 15 & 16 in Beijing at the Wukesong Baseball Field, which will be the venue for the 2008 Olympic Games.



From MLB.com...

"Major League Baseball's international growth has been nothing short of remarkable, and we are thrilled that the Padres and the Dodgers will showcase our sport to the people of China by playing in MLB China Series 2008," Commissioner Bud Selig said. "I would like to thank the Dodgers and the Padres, the Major League Baseball Players Association, the China Baseball Association, Wukesong Group and all the parties who have made this momentous trip possible. We are greatly anticipating this wonderful opportunity."

...International ventures are nothing new for the two franchises. Most recently, the Dodgers played the Mets in a Mexico City exhibition series in 2003, and established relations in China in 1980 by building the first practice field in Beijing and funding construction of a baseball stadium, named Dodger Stadium, in Tianjin, 75 miles southeast of the capital.

"The Dodgers' ties to Asia date back more than half a century, so it's only fitting that as we celebrate 50 years in Los Angeles, we are fortunate enough to take part in this historic series," said Dodgers owner and chairman Frank McCourt. "The opportunities to expand this great game into China are limitless, and we hope this trip will solidify the Dodgers' role at the forefront of the globalization of baseball."

View a Joe Torre video concerning the games in China

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Today's Baseball Song of the Day is "China Blue" (30 second listen) in honor of the Dodgers traveling and playing two exhibitions games in China. The track is from ex-Free and Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers, who in 2000 put out a terrific solo album titled "Electric." China Blue opens with an asia-styled guitar riff and reminds one of the long trip over the oceans and around the world to a land foreign and yet wonderfully new to us all. With the ever-expanding roster of International players into the major leagues, one can only assume that in a matter of a few short years, MLB will follow in the footsteps of the NBA and will soon see players arising out of the blue from China.


BSOD 19: China Blue
Artist: Paul Rodgers
Album: Electric
Released: 2000


To hear a sample of the song, click on the album, and on the page that appears, there are links to listen to the song.

And will you wait for me
as I cross the raging sea
and i wait for you
China Blue

And will the stars looking down
remember the sound
of your tears and the wind
China Blue

Oh the seasons may change
from the green to the gold
but my heart will remain
true to you

Save your smile for the sun
and your sighs for the moon
I'll save my love for you
China Blue

Oh the seasons may change
from the green to the gold
but my heart will remain
true to you