Petaluman going to bat for Dominican Republic

Baseball is an integral part of the culture of many Latin American countries, but nowhere more so than in the Dominican Republic.

The country where youth baseball players often lack shoes, let alone baseball cleats, has produced baseball luminaries like Juan Marichal, David Ortiz, Robinson Cano, Sammy Sosa, Albert Pujols, Pedro Martinez and many more Major Leaguers. The Dominican Republic winter league produces some of the best baseball outside the U.S. Major Leagues.

Petaluman Isaias Franco will fly into the baseball-bonkers country next week and he won’t be landing empty handed. He is bringing along a garage full of donated baseball equipment to be distributed to young players attending a baseball academy created by his friends, former Major Leaguers Pedro Liriano and Ramon Ortiz, in the small town of Cotuí, about an hour’s drive from Santo Domingo.

Franco, a special education teacher at Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley has been gathering the equipment - gloves, bats, helmets, balls, hats, pants, cleats and more - since April.

“The response has been amazing,” he said.

Contributions came from Little Leagues, high schools, businesses and may individuals.

“The original goal was for 100 gloves so that there would be one glove for each two kids,” Franco said. “We have close to 200 - darn near enough for every kid to have their own glove.”

Franco was also able to collect a lot of baseball gear by setting up a table in front of Albert Park in San Rafael prior to the San Rafael Pacifics’ home-opening baseball game earlier this month.

It is a little late for equipment donations at this point, but Franco could use some help paying transportation costs.

“My baggage fees cost more than my ticket,” he noted.

The project ties together two of Franco’s top interests - helping others and baseball. He has volunteered with numerous organizations in Marin County and he truly loves baseball. He played in high school and later with a few independent teams. He also helped young players get connected with sports conventions where they were able to market their autographs and other baseball memorabilia. It was that connection that brought the Marin school teacher into contact with Liriano and Ortiz.

When the players retired and returned to their hometown of Cotuí, they kept in touch with Franco and the Petaluman came up with the idea of the equipment donation. He took the idea to the players who were in the process of setting up their academy, and the communications began.

“Technology played a big part in making it happen,” Francio noted. “We were in constant contact through Skype, Facebook and other technology. We were constantly communicating.”

According to Franco, the project goes well beyond baseball.

Franco said the idea is to provide not just bats and balls, but hope to the kids.

“It is more than a gift. It is giving to the community,” he explained. “For some of the kids, it will be a life-changing experience. I can’t wait to see their faces when they get the equipment.”

While he is in the country, Franco will lay the ground work for another project - bringing 30 Americans back in December for a fantasy camp that will allow visitors to play with the many former Major Leaguers who have returned to their homeland.

“It will give them a chance to experience the Dominican culture, have a great vacation and play baseball,” Franco said.

(Contact John Jackson at johnie.jackson@arguscourier.com.)