PJ543

Baseball is the most popular sport in Taiwan, it is started from 1906. At that time, Taiwan is under Japan rule. Baseball is popular at Japan schools and Taiwan student get chance to play baseball. In 1931, a local team from Chia-Yi county even run into Japan senior high school final competition (Summer Kōshien), it becomes quite famous since Taiwan team win lots of Japan student, claimed 2nd place from 613 Japan teams. After that, Taiwan parents start to accept baseball because of playing ball makes compromise when Taiwan is occupied by Japan.

Taiwan baseball league-CPBL (Chinese professional baseball league) is established in 1990. Starting by 4 teams Dragon, Lion, Tiger and Elephant are very successful since many players are famous since they are represented Taiwan school before and won lots of world baseball competition. However after 5 times game fixing scandal, famous players even mean to loss games because of mafia threatening or bribing. Audience lost their patience and box office was reduced to 30% only.

2013 World Baseball Classic is a salvation for CPBL. Taiwan team won Nederland and Australia and got qualified to the final 8. Even though Loss Korea (2:3) and Japan (3:4), the fans are back to the field and enjoy the game because of the sincere brave hearts of every younger fighter. Lamigo Monkey team is a TaoYuan team, they upgraded the stadium facility, renewed a bigger screen to introduce players and installed comfortable seats for audience. Besides, there are more than 20 local food stalls from small sausage in large sausage to oyster noodles. The baseball game is not only for male, they even have nursery room for mother and kids.

Besides, there are over 20 cheerleaders. They are the biggest cheerleader team in Taiwan. Not only over 10 different cheer dance and songs for Lamigo team, but they also show over dozen dances for each player by individual song. For example, one player-Yip, he is a very shy boy and cannot make a simple conversation after he won the player of the game, so the cheering song for Yip is 12 beats dance and follow up with standing transfixed and silence 5 seconds with putting fingers crossing in front of mouth. You will be very busy and fun if you dance following up with Lamigirls.

Lamigo holds verity of party-event game. In the middle of June, they invite over 10 music groups to do live show before and after baseball game. In the 1st week of September, it’s Taiwan Armed Forces Day. They even invite air force Dassault Mirage 2000 fly to their game-opening event.

The Lamigo manager says that run a baseball team business should like run a live music festival. It's a good way to increase more fans and their families. The baseball stadium is near TaoYuan high speed rail station. There is free shuttle bus for audiences. The season game schedule can be found in CPBL official website. Usually there are 4 games each week from end of March to beginning of October. No matter you like baseball or not, don’t miss the Taiwan summer event-Baseball.