Migraines and culture shock in the Pacific Rim

My apology for the radio silence. I’ve entered a new world, so it’s time to check-in. I write from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

I came from the Caribbean and Latin America where the first quarter of my Watson Fellowship immersed me into the economic aspects of international baseball. On a daily basis, I interacted with, supported, and observed the aspects of the game that make it a business. These aspects included the extensive institutions that exist to cultivate 14 and 15 year old boys into 16 year old professional baseball players.

I started in the Dominican Republic. Whereas players from the United States received an average signing bonus of $542,715 in 2009, big league clubs spent about $94,000 for each Dominican.[1] Since MLB teams can sign five Dominicans for the price of one domestic player, they sign many Dominicans to fill their MLB Academies.

Since it usually takes a five-tool player a bit of luck and a ton of hard work to make it to the big leagues, MLB clubs prefer to sign five players for the price of one. The economic incentives of the region influenced all the baseball I have seen since July.

After five months on islands in the Caribbean Sea south of, accessible to, and influenced by the continental U.S., I flew to Australia. In the airport car park, I tried to enter the driver’s seat of the car despite my pursuit for the passenger’s. And, after a grueling 30 minutes spent with multiple border police in immigration at Sydney’s airport, it became clear that I’d entered a new place. I am soaking up the culture shock. I am fairly convinced all the clean trains, tailored sport coats, and shiny shoes gave me a migraine today. I zapped it with three ibuprofen and a ‘long black.’ That’s what they call an Americano down here.

Back to the airport. We left, and next thing I know I am zooming ‘home’ on a Sydney highway as my host, Steve Taylor, begins to delve into all things women’s baseball in New South Wales.

Casually discussing women’s baseball continues to shock me.

I have spent the last five months attempting to validate and prove both myself and my lack of fear of the baseball to everyone I have met. After a 14-hour flight, I woke up in the country that boasts some of the best women’s baseball infrastructure in the world. Leagues and teams are commonplace.

It feels like a revolution.

I’m in Sydney until Saturday when I head to Canberra—Australia’s capital—for the 2015 Australia Women’s Baseball National Tournament. I am eager to see level of play at the tournament. I hope to meet some of the movers and shakers of the women’s baseball world. I already met the ‘best pitcher in New South Wales.’ At 5’10” Brittany who throws mid-80s and I’m told she has a curveball that bites. Updates to come.

My new surroundings mark a huge transition in my research. Whereas Latin America immersed me in the business, Australia has and will immerse me in the recreational.

I’m no longer in an isolated international market where the 30 MLB teams face entirely different rules and scenarios than they do in the States. I’m kilometers and hemispheres away where women play baseball, the water in the toilet spins the opposite direction, and five years ago MLB dropped a chunk of cash to revive the Australian Baseball League that organizes play for just six teams.

All six teams boast delightful names. The Sydney Blue Sox have a beautiful stadium—I’m told it’s the fanciest in Australia.

Since it’s summer and located in an English-speaking country, this ‘winter league’ has a resemblance to spring training. Cheap tickets, good weather, and accessible players.

In terms of what’s to come, after five days spent at Women’s Nationals in Canberra, I head to Melbourne to join the Geelong Baycats Master’s team. I will be the only woman on the team, and I have no idea what to expect. I just know I am joining the team in time to play the five regular season games that make me eligible for the post-season. Off to pursue a championship….

Lots of love,

Emily

Your Baycat second basewoman, catcher, and clean-up hitter

[1] http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=1611 & http://www.ibtimes.com/huge-salaries-poverty-stricken-country-economics-baseball-dominican-republic-1546993