Russian baseball: In 2008 more than 500'000 baseball bats were sold in Russia.

[mies]

More than 500'000 baseball bats, 3 balls, and only one baseball glove - were sold in Russia in 2008.

Do you think baseball is becoming new popular sport in Russia?


from here:

"В 2008 году в России было продано свыше 500 тыс. бейсбольных бит, три мяча и всего одна бейсбольная перчатка."
http://www.rf-agency.ru/acn/stat_ru
http://www.rf-agency.ru/acn/reiting_ru.htm

[SMS60]

What are you thinking Mies?

Im thinking weapon of choice?

[tfcrew]

How can someone possibly know that only one baseball glove has been sold in the entire Russian Federation in one year?

http://rt.com/Top_News/2009-05-16/Baseball_slowly_gaining_popularity_in_Russia.html

[mies]

What are you thinking Mies?

Im thinking weapon of choice?

I think so too. People aren't charged for possession of baseball bats, unlike for unauthorized possession of guns.

[mies]

How can someone possibly know that only one baseball glove has been sold in the entire Russian Federation in one year?

http://rt.com/Top_News/2009-05-16/Baseball_slowly_gaining_popularity_in_Russia.html

If they are stating this - they must have certain facts. Even if 10 instead of 1 baseball bat was sold in the whole year of 2008 - does is make big difference?

[tfcrew]

I was wondering where the 1/2 million ball bats came from?
Back in the day I guess it would have been called 'The Stalingrad Slugger'.
In 'Casino' ...Nicky [Joe Pesci] and the brother succumb to execution by ball bat and it was pretty gnarly there if you saw that movie.

[mies]

I was wondering where the 1/2 million ball bats came from?

You are wrongfully supposing that such data doesn't exist. While there is known exact amount of about anything sold in Russia (or Ukraine for that matter) - toothpaste, alcohol, mineral water, sports goods, dog food, groceries, medicine, beauty products - you name it. How else do you think companies know their market shares?
I'm sure you know how these numbers are obtained and estimated. If not - I'll be happy to tell you.

[Gylden]

I think that they have just use some cheap translating software and missinterpreted what "clubbing it" means.
 

[Ronnie]

Baseball has been played in Russian and Ukraine for more than 20 years.  In 1989 there was an article in Time or Newsweek (can't remember which) that highlighted the sport and the team at the Mendeleyev Institute.  I contacted them through the Embassy in Moscow and they we able to attend the very first Roy Hobbs World Series which I organized that year in Haines City, Florida.  I was also a participant in the production of a documentary on the game of Baseball that was produced for Russian audiences and was shown on national television in 1990.

The game has grown tremendously in the FSU on the intervening years.  The idea that only three balls and one glove were sold is preposterous.  Granted most equipment is donated but significant purchases take place every season.

I would add also that two the American players, both from Chicago, who played in that first Roy Hobbs event made contacts with Russian players, coaches and interpreters (they sent a large entourage) visited Moscow the next year and married Russian women.  One is still married, the other lasted less than one year.  I guess that these were some of the first AM/RW marriages in the post Lee Harvey Oswald era.

[Makkin]

  The Russians do well in Little League and that's the building block for further play indeed. I recall a few years ago when the Russians made the Little League World Series again and they were a delight to watch. They pulled off one of the sweetest double plays I've seen by such young players and especially those with limited playing as a traditional game.


  Is a good idea to invest in Baseball due to the amount of jobs available here in the USA. The farm clubs of A,AA,AAA,and also the independent leagues offer sighning bonuses as well as fair to great income.


  I see the Russians being as good as anyone in baseball and also doing very well in the Major Leagues one day. Good thing about baseball fans like myself is that we don't care where you come from but rather we cherish your ability and menta approach to the game. Nobody will hold anything against a Russian baseball player as that's a game we accept as if it were futbal.

[Ronnie]

Russian and Ukrainian boys, many at least, have bodies built for baseball...especially pitching, but a pitcher has to start throwing while very young.  My pitching skills were developed when  I was 6 or 7 by throwing rocks a small targets...birds, glass insulators on telephone poles and beer cans found along the rural roads where I grew up.  If I were to look for a pitcher in Russia, I'd look in the small villages rather than the cities where the little leagues are located.

[RussianKeyboards.com]

What are you thinking Mies?

Im thinking weapon of choice?

Is it a possible weapon since possession of guns and rifles is illegal in Russia!