Honors Theses
Date of Award
2014
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Croft Institute for International Studies
First Advisor
Douglass Sullivan-Gonzalez
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
Over the last decade, baseball players from the Dominican Republic have had an astounding presence in the top professional league in the U.S.: Major League Baseball. Just last season (2013), over 10% of MLB players hailed from this tiny, dusty, and poor Caribbean nation, and even the most casual baseball fan is sure to recognize some of the country's greats. This begs an often asked question: Why are so many Dominicans in MLB? Combining historical accounts, contemporary ethnographic material, and primary data, this study elucidates the reasons that are driving and sustaining the Dominicanization of MLB. These are the historic socio-cultural hegemony of the sport in Dominican society, the economic incentives associated with the modern game, and the highly efficient system of recruitment and development that MLB operates in the country.
Recommended Citation
Fields, Patrick, "Plátano Power: Understanding the Rise of Dominicans in Major League Baseball" (2014). Honors Theses. 750.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/750
Accessibility Status
Searchable text
Comments
A thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for completion of the Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from the Croft Institute for International Studies and the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.