Baseball becomes a hit with students

A player adjusts her teammate's leg guard during a softball game. Baseball and softball are becoming popular among students in UIBE. [GUAN XIN/CHINA DAILY]

The history of baseball in China can be traced to 1895, when the nation's first baseball team, a college one, was set up in Beijing.

Baseball was first listed as a sport of the National Games in 1959, which attracted 23 teams. But baseball was subsequently banned during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76).

Baseball began its resurgence in the country after China was awarded the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Before the Olympics, two "spring training" exhibition games between Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres were played at Wukesong Baseball Field in Beijing, the host venue for the sport during the 2008 Games. The exhibition games on March 15 and 16, 2008, showed off MLB clubs to fans in China for the first time.

Now baseball is seeking further development in the most populous country with the help of young people under the auspices of MLB.

Since opening its China office in Beijing in 2007, MLB has launched a program for grassroots baseball education in China.

"MLB started the MLB College Club program in 2009," said Leon Xie, managing director of MLB China.

"The program now offers training facilities and playing fields to 75 colleges and universities throughout China. It also helps organize matches for them."

The college club program that Xie introduced has included tens of thousands of students across the country. It started to include the college league in Beijing and Shanghai in 2010. With its help, the college league in Beijing this year, which is its 20th season, has a record 43 teams taking part. Four years ago, the number was only 27. The Shanghai league also attracted 16 teams this year.

"Those student players brought baseball to more places in the country after their graduation," Xie said. "They are the ones to sow the seeds of baseball. Then the blossoms bloomed everywhere, which showed the importance of promoting baseball among students."