Hu Chin-Long roused the crowd when he stole third base. (Getty Images)
(ATR) Los Angeles Dodgers' manager Joe Torre says he enjoyed his stay in Beijing, despite his club's inability to win either of the first Major League Baseball exhibition games played in China.
The Dodgers tied the San Diego Padres 3-3 on March 15 before losing 6-3 the next day at Wukesong Sports Center Baseball Field, venue for baseball at this summer's Olympic Games.
"The fans that were here had a lot of energy," said Torre. "I think they had a good time, hopefully they learned something and found it interesting enough to want to come back and see more. Hopefully the Olympics baseball competition goes off very positively. That's an exciting time, the participation in the Olympics is something we all look forward to and I wish the city a great deal of luck."
Taiwan-born Dodger shortstop Hu Chin-Long led off the second game before a crowd that filled more than three-quarters of the 12,000-seat temporary venue. It was near capacity for Saturday's 3-3 tie.
Former major league player and manager Jim Lefebvre is now manager of China's Olympic baseball team. He was among the crowd at the two-day MLB China 2008 spring training exhibition in Beijing. (ATR/B.Mackin)
The close-cropped natural grass field was sprayed green for aesthetic reasons, but its condition was not a factor.
"A cozy little stadium," said Dodgers' catcher Danny Ardoin, a 14-year veteran. "By no means it's probably a big league-calibre stadium. For the first time having a big league game, they did well."
First pitch Sunday was delivered by Chinese action movie star Jet Li, but the biggest cheer of the day was reserved for Hu after he stole third and eventually scored the game's first run.
Among those in attendance was former major league player and manager Jim Lefebvre, who will manage China's entry in the Olympic baseball competition.
"We've got to introduce the game to the Chinese people. Once we do that and we get everything in place, this game is going to take-off," said Lefebvre, a U.S. citizen. "It should open the eyes to a lot of people as far as the future of baseball is concerned."
Fans who braved a gauntlet of scalpers after arriving from the nearby subway station were treated to between-innings performances by a squad of scantily clad cheerleaders with bikini bras, bare midriffs and cowboy hats. Floodlights eventually came on before 3 p.m. under hazy skies.
There were hundreds of foreigners, including Americans, Australians and Canadians. But the predominantly Chinese crowd, which did the wave and used thunder-sticks to make noise throughout the afternoon, seemed puzzled by the seventh-inning stretch and the ritual singing of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." Dodger manager Joe Torre enjoyed Beijing and wishes the city luck. (Getty Images)
For Ardoin, the immersion in Chinese culture will be remembered long after the historic pair of games fades.
"The greatest experience was dealing with the traffic and the way that people just walk in front of cars and the cars don't slow down for people," he said.
With reporting by Bob Mackin in Beijing. For general comments or questions, click here The Golden 25 special edition magazine is now available in PDF. Click here to see who will be most influential in the Olympic Movement in 2008.
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