Group E Regensburg, Germany
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Regensberg Stadium Information:
Armin Wolf Baseball Arena Donaustauferstr 258 93055
Regensburg, Germany
Tickets on sale at
Stadium Information and Map Found Here:
Culture:
Germany is located in Central Europe and is home to over 82 million people, making it the most populated country in the European Union. Germany consists of 16 states with its capital city of Berlin. Although the country was divided after World War II into Western and Eastern Germany, they unified in 1990. Christianity, Protestant, and Catholicism are the main religions practiced in Germany, while German is the official language. Germany is home to the world’s fourth largest economy, and is well known for being the world’s largest exporter of goods and second largest importer. German brands that are widely recognized across the world include Mercedes Benz, BMW, Audi, Porsche, Adidas and Volkswagen. Popular German cuisine consists of pork, beef, and poultry, which are all most often eaten in sausage form. Potatoes, cabbage, carrots, and spinach are the most popular vegetables. German cuisine also differs from region to region, with influence coming from Switzerland, Austria, Greece, China, and Turkey, to name a few.
Regensburg is located in Bavaria Germany and is home to rougly 125,000 German citizens. The city is located on the Danube and Regen rivers. One of Germany’s oldest cities, Regensburg is well known for its gothic nature, with many medieval buildings and structures that give the city its character. Regensburg was a large airplane manufacturer during World War II, prompting heavy Allied attacks on the city. It is now primarily known for producing electronics, wood products, and BMW motor vehicles.
History of Baseball:
One of Germany's first big baseball events was in 1936, when they took the field against the United States in the Olympics at Olympic Stadium in Berlin. Baseball’s presence then became stronger during World War II when American armed forces started influencing the game to the Germans. The first German baseball club was the Frankfurt Juniors in 1949 and the first national baseball federation in Germany was the Allgemeine Baseball-Föderation Deutschland, often referred to as the Baseball-Budesliga, in 1951. The ABFD lasted 20 years until its collapse in 1970. However, Baseball Bundesliga resurfaced in 1982 and baseball saw a reemergence in popularity between 1985 and 1995, with the number of German baseball players jumping from 700 to 20,000. The Baseball Bundesliga still operates today and is part of the ten baseball organizations that now exist in Germany, with over 30,000 German ballplayers participating in the sport today. Germany has participated in the Baseball World Cup in 1972 and 1973, but failed to win any games.
Visiting Teams:
USA
Culture:
The United States, although very diverse, considers English to be its official language. However, there is a wide variety of other languages spoken here, including a large portion of Spanish speaking people, along with certain areas of the country seeing Navajo, French, and other foreign dialects. The US is home to many different religious beliefs, with the most frequently seen religions being Christianity, Protestant, and Roman Catholicism. Americans are well known for the passion for sports, especially baseball, football, basketball, and hockey. Popular culture, such as entertainment, movies, music, and television are extremely admired in the US. The US takes special pride in its nationalism, its military, and the celebration of national holidays.
American cuisine often differs depending on the region of the country. Barbequed foods are very popular in the US, with pork, turkey, chicken, and beef being very popular, along with side dishes like potatoes, corn, squash, and other vegetables. Other popular dishes include pizza, hot dogs, fried chicken, and hamburgers, which are all derived from immigrants and are often seen at ballparks and other sporting venues around the country.
History of Baseball:
Baseball is considered America’s pastime and national sport. It was first introduced by English and Irish immigrants, and then developed into the modern version of baseball we know today. The first governing body for baseball in the United States was the National Association of Base Ball Players which consisted on 16 teams, and then formed into the National Association of Professional Base Ball players in 1871. This league quickly turned into the National League in 1876. This league was owned and operated by white men, who banned African Americans from playing in their leagues, which prompted the formation of Professional Negro Leagues. The American League arose in 1901 and eventually joined with the National League in 1903 to form the National Association of Professional Base Ball Leagues. The World Series, the Championship of American professional baseball was first played in 1904 and is still played today in MLB. Jackie Robinson was the first to break the color barrier when he was signed in 1947 when he was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League, which the opened the door for minority players to play in the American and National League, leading to what we see as one of the most diverse and globalized sport leagues in the world today. Robinson is seen as a pioneer, a leader, and a hero in the eyes of the baseball world today.
Today, the National and American Leagues have joined to form what is probably the most popular baseball league in the world, Major League Baseball. Although it has had issues with free agency, the lack of a salary cap which has created astronomical player contracts, and the most recent issue of performance enhancing drugs tainting the game, it still remains one of the most popular baseball league in the world. Those that are considered best players from around the world play in America, with the Major League Baseball pulling talent from countries all over the world in an attempt to globalize the sport.
China
Culture:
China is one of the oldest civilizations, developing over 5,000 years ago. Located in Eastern Asia, China contains over 5,000 islands off of its main coast and is the most populated country in the world, with 1.3 billion citizens. The population here consists of 93% Han Chinese people, as well as 55 other ethnic minorities, including Mandarin and Cantonese. China is home to a wide variety of Asian dialects, with the most popular being Mandarin and Cantonese. China is known for its history of past and present communism. Throughout its vast history, China has seen many dynasties establish bureaucratic control, with the Han dynasty establishing military power and the Zhou Dynasty being the longest where the roots of Chinese culture, literature, and philosophy developed. Chinese culture maintains strong philosophies, traditions, and values. One of China’s most famous landmarks that can be seen from space by the naked eye is the Great Wall of China, which was built to keep enemies out, stretching 4,160 miles across China.
The Chinese are known for keeping a healthy diet, consisting of mainly a rice or noodle dish, accompanied with soup, vegetables, seafood, meats, and dumplings. Tea is one of the most common beverages drank by the Chinese, along with bottled water, beer, and rice wine.
History of Baseball:
Baseball was first introduced to the Chinese in 1863, with the influence stemming from American medical missionary Henry William Boone when they established the Shanghai Baseball Club. Baseball was then played sparingly throughout the early 1900’s with organized games against American university clubs until Mao Zedong broke up the league and prohibited baseball from being played in China. In 1974 the Chinese Baseball Association was formed, which was then formed the Chinese Baseball League in 2002. The CBL has created a strong relationship with the Nippon League of Japan, where baseball is more of a mainstay and a newfound talent pool for Major League Baseball in the United States. China has participated in the World Baseball Classic, and hopes to gain more national interest, with the more popular Chinese sports being soccer, basketball, and ping pong.
Venezuela:
Culture:
Venezuela is a Federal Republic located in Northern South America and is inhabited by roughly 26 million people. The Venezuelan population is made up of Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, and indigenous people that speak primarily Spanish, with a mixture of several indigenous dialects. Venezuelan people take pride in their country in heritage, especially in Simon Bolivar, a native of Venezuela, who helped liberate South America. The people of Venezuela value family and place strong importance on hospitality and etiquette. Christopher Columbus first discovered the land in 1498 and a few years later Alonso de Ojeda named it Venezuela or “Little Venice”.
Present day Venezuelan cuisine is derived from a combination of African, European, and native Indian cuisine. Corn, wheat, fish, seafood, beef, beans, and rice are some of the most popular Venezuelan foods. Fresh vegetables and fruits, such as plantains, avocado, mango, papaya, coconut, and melon, are locally farmed and consumed by Venezuelan natives. Some popular ballpark food and drink at Venezuelan baseball games include Polar Ice drinks, arepas, fried plantain strips, and parrilla.
History of Baseball:
Venezuelan’s were first introduced to baseball in the late 1800’s, with the formation of their first club, Caracas BBC in 1895. The game was initiated by Venezuelan’s who had studied at American Universities. The sport really took off in the 1940’s when the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League was founded. This league still operates today, viewed as the top baseball league in Venezuela and is an affiliate of the minor leagues in the United States, serving as a new hotbed for baseball talent. Some noticeable Venezuelan stars in the MLB today include Miguel Cabrera, Bobby Abreu, Francisco Rodriguez, Omar Vizquel, and White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen. Baseball is played with a particular passion in Venezuela, with an atmosphere similar to European soccer, with fans constantly yelling, dancing, singing, throwing beer, and using whistles and other noise makers to show their enthusiasm for the game. Venezuela has participated in the Baseball World Cup sporadically since 1941, winning the tournament several three times.
