Padres, Dodgers to Play in China

BEIJING (Ticker) -- Major League Baseball is headed to China. The league and the players association announced on Wednesday the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres will play a two-game series in Beijing in March, marking the first-ever professional baseball games played in China. The MLB China Series 2008 will take place on March 15-16 at the 12,000-seat Wukesong Baseball Field.

"Major League Baseball's international growth has been nothing short of remarkable, and we are thrilled that the Padres and the Dodgers will showcase our sport to the people of China by playing in MLB China Series 2008," commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. "I would like to thank the Dodgers and the Padres, the Major League Baseball Players Association, the China Baseball Association, Wukesong Group and all the parties who have made this momentous trip possible. We are greatly anticipating this wonderful opportunity." Wukesong is also the baseball venue for the 2008 Olympics.

"China is a leader in international sport, and we know from the enthusiasm and talent the Chinese team displayed in the World Baseball Classic that China may soon become a force to be reckoned with in baseball, too," Donald Fehr, executive director of the players association, said in a statement. "We are honored that the China Baseball Association has invited us to share Major League Baseball with the people of China, and look forward with great anticipation to being in Beijing for these historic games."

The Dodgers have some history in China. The club first established relations with China in 1980 when it helped build the first practice field in Beijing and funded construction of a baseball stadium - named Dodger Stadium - 75 miles southeast of the capital in Tianjin. "The Dodgers' ties to Asia date back more than half a century," Dodgers owner and chairman Frank McCourt said. "So it's only fitting that as we celebrate 50 years in Los Angeles, we are fortunate enough to take part in this historic series."

"The American Chamber in China applauds the efforts of Major League Baseball to support the development of baseball in China," AmCham-China chairman James M. Zimmerman said. ... "Major League Baseball occupies a special place in the hearts of hundreds of millions of fans - both in the United States and internationally. We are delighted that China is now a formal part of the MLB family and we look forward to seeing more and more games being played here."