Prolog: The New Era of Baseball
Year 2042. Major League Baseball in the United States was suffering from a strike. Players were demanding higher salaries and better conditions, but the owners were not willing to give in. The strike showed signs of becoming a long-term problem.
At this time, a new professional baseball league was launched. It was the Premier Baseball League (PBL). To recruit players, PBL established baseball academies in South America, Africa, China, India, and Europe. In these academies, players could learn baseball skills and have the opportunity to become professional players.
PBL also provided a great opportunity for players from Asian countries. Players who had been excelling in Little League began to enter PBL through their respective professional leagues. They played brilliantly in PBL and prevented the dominance of Major League Baseball in the United States.
Countries that had been opposed to the fact that Major League Baseball was the only professional baseball league with the title of "World Series" began to excel in PBL. As a result, PBL became a baseball festival for the world, comparable to the FIFA World Cup.
PBL led the globalization of baseball. Baseball is no longer a sport that belongs to the United States, but a sport for the world. PBL is shining a bright light on the future of baseball.
Chapter 1: The Beginning of a Dream
Jay was born into a normal and warm family. He was a smart and capable child, and he was always praised by his teachers. However, Jay had a weak respiratory system and he often missed school because of illness.
One day, Jay's father bought him a blue glove. Jay started playing catch with his best friend, Jiho, and he felt his body becoming healthier. He realized that he loved playing baseball, and he started to dream of becoming a professional baseball player.
Jay worked hard to improve his skills. He practiced every day, and he even started to train with a professional baseball coach. As Jay's skills improved, his dream of becoming a professional baseball player became stronger.
One day, Jay was walking to school when he saw some baseball players running in unison wearing their uniforms. He was inspired by their dedication and passion, and he knew that he wanted to be just like them. Jay continued to work hard, and realized that he wanted to be a baseball player.
Chapter 2: Little League Baseball
Jay and Jiho were playing baseball in the neighborhood when they caught the eye of a college baseball catcher. Jay and Jiho called the college baseball senior "Park Manager" and wanted him to train the team.
The baseball that they loved to do without a system is now quite a team member who finds their own defensive position, and they all feel proud of their improved skills, such as a double play or a relay play from the outfield to home.
Do-il, who was playing in the catcher position, knew the seniors of the team who were training in the mountains, and both team members trained together during the summer. The seniors who were physically good were fast and the batting was very rough, but Jay and Jiho felt that it could be an opportunity for them to grow.
The seniors who recognized their efforts and skills grew up, created a club and participated in Little League. This was a turning point in Jay's and Jiho's baseball life.
Chapter 3: The Little League World Series
The Little League World Series is the most prestigious youth baseball tournament in the world. Every year, 16 teams from around the world come together to compete for the title of World Champion.
In 2042, the Little League World Series was held in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The two teams that met in the championship game were the California All-Stars and the Asia-Pacific All-Stars.
The California All-Stars were the defending champions, and they were considered to be the favorites to win again. The Asia-Pacific All-Stars, on the other hand, were a young and inexperienced team, but they were determined to make a name for themselves.
The game was close throughout, and the score was tied 2-2 at the end of the sixth inning. In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Asia-Pacific All-Stars had a chance to win the game. Jay, the leadoff hitter, stepped up to the plate with runners on first and second base.
Jay took a deep breath and swung at the first pitch. The ball flew over the head of the center fielder and into the stands for a home run! The Asia-Pacific All-Stars had won the game, and they were the new Little League World Series Champions!
Jay and his teammates were ecstatic. They had achieved their dream of becoming Little League World Series Champions. The victory was a testament to their hard work and dedication, and it would inspire other young baseball players all over the world.
Chapter 4: The Road to the Pros
Jay and Jiho were reunited in high school, where they were both scouted by the same coach who had coached them in Little League. They were both excited to be back together, and they were determined to make it to the pros.
The training was tough, but they were both up for the challenge. They knew that if they wanted to make it to the pros, they would have to work hard and dedicate themselves to their craft.
Jay and Jiho were both successful in high school. Jay was a star pitcher, and Jiho was a star hitter. They led their team to the state championship, and they were both drafted by professional teams.
Jay was scouted by the Los Angeles, a team with a large Asian-American fan base. Jiho was drafted by the Seoul, a team in South Korea.
Jay and Jiho were both excited to start their professional careers. They knew that it would be a lot of hard work, but they were determined to succeed.
Chapter 5: The Professional Debut
Jay and Jiho had different starting points, but they were both looking forward to their professional debuts with the same goal in mind. Jiho was drafted in the first round of the Asian League and quickly became one of the league's top prospects. He was a gifted hitter and shortstop, and he was considered to be a frontrunner for the Rookie of the Year award.
However, Jay soon realized that the professional game was much tougher than he had expected. He was sent down to the minor leagues after just two games, and he struggled to find his rhythm.
Jay was assigned to the minor league team in Texas. The weather was hot and humid, and the air conditioning on the bus was not working properly. Jay was miserable, but he was determined to work hard and make it back to the premier leagues.
Two years later, Jay was called up to the premier leagues. He had been a consistent starter in the minor leagues, and he was given a chance to prove himself in the big leagues. Jay pitched well in his first four starts, and he quickly became a prospect in the premier leagues.
Jiho, on the other hand, had been in a slump in second year, and he was not sure if he would ever recover back from the slump. However, Jiho never gave up. He worked hard, and he eventually broke out of his slump. He hit 20 home runs and stole 20 bases in the second half of the season, and he was named to the All-Star team.
Jiho and Jay had both achieved their dream of playing in the their leagues. They had worked hard and faced many challenges, but they had never given up. They were an inspiration to all young baseball players, and they showed that anything is possible if you set your mind to it.
Chapter 6: The World of Baseball Through Baseball Academy
The baseball strike that happened a long time ago led to the establishment of baseball academies. These academies were set up to provide players for the Premier Baseball League (PBL).
At first, Latin or Central America played a central role in supplying players to the PBL. However, over time, players from other parts of the world began to emerge. For example, a player from China's Zhangjiajie Shaolin Baseball Academy, who could jump nearly four meters, made his debut in the PBL. A player from Uganda, who was over two meters and thirty centimeters tall, also made his debut in the PBL as a pitcher. In India, a player from Mumbai's slums, who could throw the ball over 100 miles per hour, also made his debut in the PBL. In Europe, a 250-pound player from Norway's fjords made his debut in New York as a designated hitter.
The emergence of these players from all over the world helped to globalize the PBL. The rights to broadcast baseball games increased sharply and were broadcast all over the world. Baseball, which was known to be a product of American capitalism, was spread to China, India, Africa, and Northern Europe. As a result, the PBL World Championship Cup became a global festival, along with the FIFA World Cup, with an unimaginable global interest that was not felt in the MLB.
Chapter 7: Premier Baseball League
The Premier Baseball League (PBL) is a professional baseball league that consists of 32 teams from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The league was formed in 2042 following a major league baseball strike as upper league over MLB.
The PBL season runs from April to September. The league is divided into eight divisions, with each division having four teams. The four division series winners advance to the championship series, with each of best 5 game championship series winners playing in PBL World Series. The World Series is a best-of-seven series, and the winner is crowned the PBL US champion.
The PBL also has an international division, which consists of two teams from Asia, one team from Europe, one team from Africa, two teams from the Caribbean, one team from South America, and one team from Oceania. The international division champions has format of double elimination and the final winner advance to the World Championship Cup to play against the winner of PBL World Series.
The World Championship Cup is the most popular sporting event in the world, with over one billion viewers worldwide. The cup is played in a single game on the first Sunday in November. The game is played under PBL rules, and there is no pitch clock or tie breaker. The game can last for any number of innings, and can continue over midnight.
The World Championship Cup is a major cultural event, and it is celebrated by fans all over the world. The game is often seen as a symbol of Baseball pride, and it is a chance for the world to come together and celebrate the game of baseball.
Chapter 8: The Advent of the Giant Pitcher
Jay had become one of the top pitchers in the PBL. He had finished third in the Cy Young voting the previous year, and he was one of the most difficult pitchers in the league to hit. In the final stretch of the season, Jay's team was fighting for a playoff spot with the Vancouver Canadians. The Vancouver lineup had a new name: a giant 2.3-meter tall pitcher from the African League. The pitcher's release point was as close to home plate as possible, and his fastball was clocked at 110 miles per hour. He struck out almost every batter he faced.
The game was tied at 0-0 in the bottom of the ninth inning. The giant pitcher was perfect, but he started to look tired. He hit the leadoff batter with a pitch, and he started to shake. His windup was long, so the runner was easy to steal bases from. He struck out the next two batters, but the speedy runner stole second and third base. With two outs and the strike, the batter swung at the giant pitcher's fastball and missed. The catcher didn't catch the ball, and the batter slid headfirst into first base safely. The scoreboard finally read 1, and the players on the bench ran out to celebrate the victory.
Chapter 9: The Big Power Hitter
The league was now in the final stretch, with each division champion having a magic number of 1. Jay's Los Angeles had one game left against Mexico City, with a magic number of 1. Mexico City had a 250-pound power hitter from Norway. This power hitter was a central hitter who appeared like a shooting star in the international tournament of the previous year's playoffs and put Norway in the Final 4. He had a very fast bat speed and power, so even if he missed the ball on bat’s center, it would often become a home run.
The game was tied at 10-10 in the bottom of the eighth inning. Los Angeles took the lead with a run in the bottom of the 8th inning. In the top of the ninth inning, Mexico City got a runner on base with two outs. Los Angeles' manager came out and replaced the pitcher. The crowd was buzzing. Jay, who had started the game three days ago, went to the mound to face the last batter. The opposing batter was Norway's big power hitter. Jay was either not fully warmed up or was carefully facing the batter, and he kept throwing balls. In the third ball, the ball was hit by the bat and flew away. Fortunately, it was a foul ball that narrowly missed the home run pole. Jay, who was surprised, slipped his foot on the mound and threw a very slow ball.
Suddenly, a surprising scene unfolded. The big power hitter, who had been able to hit any fast ball, sat down at the plate. Yes, this batter lost his balance with the very slow ball. Jay's decisive pitch in the midst of the buzzing of fans was a very slow ball at 40 miles per hour. The ball hit the strike zone and the game ended, and Los Angeles went to the playoffs with erazing the magic number.
Chapter 10: The Magic Circle Slider
The playoffs in fall baseball has begun. Jay's Los Angeles team in the US division of PBL will play a division series against Las Vegas in Nevada, and Jiho's Asia A team will play a double-elimination first round against Argentina in South America.
The dome stadium in the desert city of Las Vegas is a place where you can often see a variety of pitches because there is almost no wind resistance. Jay started in the fourth game in Las Vegas. Jay had been preparing a special pitch for this day. It is a pitch called the magic circle slider, which falls and then rises from home plate like a frisbee.
Despite so much practice, he had only failed in actual game, but he somehow felt like it would be possible in this Las Vegas dome. The low air resistance and the high heat of the ground keep the falling ball for a while, and the wind from the air conditioner installed around the stands to cool the hot weather makes the frisbee possible. Jay's last pitch soars like a miracle and goes into the catcher's mitt, ending the game.
Chapter 11: Shaolin Baseball
Jiho's Seoul team was playing in the international championship final against China, who had come up through the loser's bracket. The team's players were known for their ability to fly almost like in Chinese action movies. The outfielders could jump almost 4 meters in the air, and the infielders' hustle plays were like watching kung fu. Home runs were often stolen, and balls that seemed to be going out of the infield were retrieved by Shaolin baseball players, who would often tag out the opposing players who had passed the base.
In the 11th inning, Jiho of Seoul hit an infield single and then attempted to steal second base. He stole second base by stealing the timing of the pitcher, and then he beat the disorganized Shaolin infielders to third base. The moment the ball hit the bat, it flew strongly to the right field. The Shaolin outfielder caught the ball and threw it home, turning around one circle. Jiho, who was running to third base, headed home with all his might. The ball seemed to arrive at the catcher's mitt first, but Jiho's body was obliquely avoiding the catcher's tag and brushed past home plate.
The International League used to be held in California, Texas, and Florida, which have a large multicultural population in the United States. The moment the stadium erupted with cheers, Jiho's Seoul team finally headed to New York, where the World Championship Cup will be held.
Chapter 12: World Championship Cup Final
The World Championship Cup is an annual single-elimination tournament held on the first Sunday of November. It is usually held in warm-weather locations such as Southern California, Florida, Arizona, Texas, and Nevada, but this year it was held in New York City, which had just completed a new dome stadium. Despite the cold winter weather in New York, the dome stadium was packed with fans, and the indoor temperature was 70 degrees Fahrenheit, perfect for baseball.
The game between the US World Series champions, Jay's Los Angeles, and the International League champions, Jiho's Seoul team, began at 2:00 PM after a pre-game performance by a popular pop star. As soon as the players were introduced, Jay and Jiho looked at each other and clenched their fists, shouting "Let's go!"
The dome stadium was in a festive atmosphere throughout the game. The stands were filled with cheering and applause, and the fans shouted "MVP" whenever a player made a spectacular play. Outside the stadium, the first snow of the season was falling, turning the streets of New York white. Over 100 million people around the world were watching the game on TV, and the streets of Seoul, South Korea, were filled with people cheering for Jiho. In Los Angeles, Jay's home stadium, fans gathered to watch the game on a large screen and cheer for their team.
The World Championship Cup was more than just a single-elimination tournament. It was a global celebration of baseball.
Chapter 13: Jiho's Late Debut in PBL
Jiho's Seoul team reached the World Championship Cup, and Jiho's performance in the game was a showcase. He hit a home run, a single, and a stolen base, and he was offered a contract by the New York team, which hosted the World Championship Cup. Unlike Jay, who was scouted by PBL right after graduating from high school, Jiho was able to make his PBL debut at a later age through the World Championship Cup.
The moment Jiho saw his number 17 on the scoreboard before the game was a dream come true for him. When his name was called out as he stepped up to the plate, the fans all stood up and clapped in celebration. As he hit the ball over the fence for a home run, Jiho raised his fist in the air and cheered back at the cheering fans.
In the middle of the game, Jiho made a spectacular play in defense and got an out. As he walked back to the dugout, his eyes were filled with tears of joy at having achieved his dream.
After the game, Jiho said in an interview, "The important thing is to never give up on your dreams."
Epilogue: For The Love of the Game
I remember watching baseball games as a child, with my hands sweating. I would cheer and despair at every turning point of the game, and when the winning players gathered on the mound to celebrate in the final, I would feel a sense of humility when I saw the players who had lost, hanging their heads in the dugout. The memories of that time, when I would sweat and play the game and quench my thirst with soda with my teammates, are now old memories, but I still have the love and love of baseball.
When I visited the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, I was impressed by the fast pitch, the hitting ball distance, and runner’s speed of modern baseball, which were recorded there. It is said that the most watched single event is the Cricket World Cup final, which is similar to baseball, after the World Cup final, the European Football Championship final, UEFA Champions League final, and the Olympic 100-meter final.
I wrote this article with the hope that baseball will become a sport that people around the world will be interested in, like the World Cup of soccer, and that this baseball game will be a sport that is loved by many people for a long time.