Over a century ago 30 male students were sent to the United
States to study by the government of the Qing Dynasty. On their
return they formed the "Oriental Baseball Club," marking baseball's
initial trip to Chinese shores.
The New York Yankees wrote a new chapter in Sino-US baseball
cooperation yesterday in Beijing, by reaching a strategic alliance
agreement with the China Baseball Association (CBA).
The agreement, the first such between a Major League Baseball
(MLB) club and the CBA, allows the Yankees to send staff including
coaches, trainers, doctors and scouts to China, while Chinese
players will train at facilities overseas. The financial terms of
the deal were not disclosed by Yankees executives, but it was
indicated that a "significant" investment was involved.
"We will provide our best talents, best knowledge, full
commitment of our financial and personnel resources to this great
strategic alliance," said Yankees president Randy Levine at a news
conference.
Levine, general manager Brian Cashman and a contingent of
Yankees senior staff including corporate sales and sponsorship
executives arrived in Beijing this week for talks with Chinese
baseball officials, before heading to Japan for further meetings
with strategic partners.
Levine said their principal efforts in the near future would
focus on helping the Chinese national team, which is busy preparing
for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The team has already
hired two former MLB All-Stars, Jim Lefebvre and Bruce Hurst, as
manager and pitching coach.
"Right now it is about improving the game," the president said.
"We will have the coaches, trainers, scouts over here in the next
few months."
Helping China's baseball reach a competitive level is seen as a
stepping stone for the Yankees, one of the most recognized sporting
brands in the world, who could thus penetrate the Chinese market.
Construction of baseball academies is already being discussed
between the Yankees and the CBA, and Levine said such academies
could be built "in the near future".
"It's not all about the Olympic Games," he said. "We want to be
here long-term."
Other possible marketing moves include having Chinese
mainlanders playing in the United States and holding MLB games in
China.
The Chinese camp is also expecting all-round cooperation,
calling the Yankees "a sporting and financial model".
"CBA looks forward to expanding this wonderful game throughout
China and developing many excellent players," said CBA president Hu
Jianguo.
With baseball in China still in its infancy, Levine said it is
still too early to talk about any immediate marketing moves, but he
believed the future is bright.
"This is a great, great market. It's growing and we're
confident... that there will be ample opportunities for all parties
to reap the benefits."
The Yankees are the first MLB club to partner the CBA since an
agreement was reached between the MLB and the CBA six years ago in
a bid to help the development of China baseball.
"It's a tremendous opportunity for us," said MLB manager
director Jim Small. "Having the Yankees to be the first is
important because they are our best franchise."
(China Daily January 31, 2007)
