Dominican Baseball Team Receives Awards as World Baseball Classic Champions

Dominican Baseball Team Receives Awards as World Baseball Classic Champions
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 11/29/2013

President Danilo Medina expressed pride and gratitude from the Dominican people to the National Baseball Team for their great victory in winning the World Classic of Baseball.

President Medina was visibly moved as he spoke with the players, executives and leaders who made this baseball event possible. He said this triumph is a true achievement.
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He pointed out that this triumph camw at a time when the country was going through a difficult period. President Medina was speaking directly to members of the Major League baseball team that who victoriously led the stellar team into the 3rd Baseball Classic this past March. This event was held in recognition of the team at the Las Cariátides Hall of the National Palace and included a victory ball and parade.

President Medina was visibly moved as he spoke with the players, executives and leaders who made this baseball event possible. He said this triumph is a true achievement.

The day’s event, led by President Medina, included a lunch attended by the baseball stars of the National Team, executives, sports writers and national and international sports media.

The President Speaks

“As you all know, I became President in August, at which time I had to undertake a series of fiscal reforms. It was thought that when they went into effect, there would be social turmoil across the country. And since God decides everything, unexpectedly, the owners of supermarkets said in January that they were not going to raise prices, something people were expecting to occur in February or March,” said the Dominican President.

“In the first three months,” he continued, “things were very bad, but then the World Baseball Classic began and it turned things around.”

“Little by little, it started to give hope to the entire country. As we started winning game after game, we ended up taking the crown. This turned the Dominican Republic into a triumph that filled us with pride and optimism all around the country,” said the Head of State.

He added that the impact of winning the World Classic was so huge that at the Ibero-American summit he attended, the participating dignitaries congratulated him. When he asked why, they responded: “For the World Baseball Classic the Dominican Republic won.”

He said that with this victory, the DR has achieved world recognition “and you made this happen. Each one of you contributed what you had to contribute. This is what makes us realize that when Dominicans set their mind on something, they get it done.”

President Medina said for this reason he has so much faith in the Dominican Republic’s “healthiest of the Dominican people.” He said there are people in the country with the potential to make the DR a place that guarantees happiness and wellbeing for all its citizens. “And what you have done with this victory, takes us down that road.”

Emotions at an unprecedented event

This Dominican Federation of Baseball (FBD) event was full of emotion and joy as awards were given for the III World Classic of Baseball to the winning baseball players who contributed to the triumph of this past March. The FBD also gave an award to President Danilo Medina and his personal assistant Carlos Pared Pérez.

This festive event at the Cariátides Hall was decorated for Christmas, furthering raising the celebratory mood.

Moisés Alou, general manager of the Dominican team, gave a rousing speech in which he thanked President Medina for holding this event to recognize and pay homage to “the true triumphant heroes of Dominican Republic.”

Meanwhile, team director and manager Tony Peña stressed that more than just a baseball team, this group of men have also become “dedicated soldiers who elevate the name and reputation of the Dominican Republic.”

One of the most emotional moments was when superstar Robinson Canó led a prayer, directed by Santiago Casilla, in which all the players prayed to God for the future and present of the Dominican Republic.

Héctor (Tito) Pereyra, president of the Dominican Federation of Baseball said, “there must be special recognition of President Danilo Medina, for the work he has done to benefit all Dominicans.” Although he acknowledged that the Head of State is not looking for praise, “You, sir, like the other stars here, deserve the praise.”

He added that since Medina has been in power, the Dominican Republic has become a big school, “where the elderly, who could not read, are now reading.”

“You, Mr. President, did not hesitate to support the Dominican team in its bid for the World Classic that resulted in this victorious title,” said Mr. Pereyra.

The baseball players who received awards at this event were: Eric Aybar, Lorenzo Barceló, Robinson Canó, Juan Cedeño, Santiago Casilla, Ángel Castro, Nelson Cruz, Samuel Deduno, Edwin Encarnación, Octavio Dotel, Kelvin Herrera, Francisco Peña, Robinson Canó, Atahualpa Severino, Carlos Santana, Alfredo Simón, Wandy Rodríguez, Ricardo Nanita, and others.

World Classic of Baseball Site >>