Written by Max Fischer (Carleton Faculty), Scholar Correspondent for CET Taiwan, Fall 2025
Are you curious about finding out overseas in Taipei, however are frightened about abandoning America’s favourite pastime? Effectively, I’ve nice information for you.
Arriving in Taipei, I didn’t understand how fashionable baseball was on the island. Baseball is definitely thought-about by many to be the nationwide sport of the island. Baseball was initially dropped at Taiwan in the course of the Japanese colonial rule of the island, the place it was systematically promoted. Now, the Chinese language Skilled Baseball League (Taiwan) is dwelling to 6 groups from throughout the island, and annually, over 2.7 million folks attend common season video games throughout Taiwan.
This week, me, my language accomplice, and a few mates went to see the Wei Chuan Dragons face off towards the Fubon Guardians at Tianmu Stadium. Attending to the stadium from NTU was comparatively simple, it’s only a 50 minute experience on the MRT adopted by a short YouBike experience that can take you proper to the entrance of the stadium. Positioned in Shilin, Tianmu Stadium is surrounded by nice stalls, eating places, and in addition nice procuring. It’s an incredible place to spend a day or night!
Not solely did we’ve got unbelievable seats, however the enthusiasm coming into the stadium was instantly unmistakable. Like in the USA followers are extremely passionate rooting for his or her crew, however in Taipei the environment was fully totally different.
The sport itself began comparatively slowly. The Guardians scored two runs within the high of the primary, however then there have been no runs scored till the highest of the fifth. All through the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, the Guardians ran the rating as much as 9 – 1. Nonetheless, the Dragons made a considerable comeback within the backside of the eighth, scoring 4 runs. On the backside of the ninth, there was actual hope, however sadly the Dragons didn’t come by way of.
Nonetheless, it was a very nice sport! Cheerleaders led chants and dances all through the length of the sport, even throughout lively performs. All the stadium would take part, and folks waved flags bearing the Dragons’ insignia. The entire expertise was a variety of enjoyable; it was like a fusion between a baseball sport and a live performance. After each hit from the Dragons, smoke cannons would even fireplace in celebration. Though there was no level within the sport that the Dragons truly had the lead, the thrill within the stadium was palpable all through.
At round 9:55, my language accomplice pointed to a neighboring condominium constructing and advised me that at 10:00pm, the stadium isn’t allowed to have any extra chanting or music on the loudspeakers. Whereas I believed that might imply that the power within the stadium would begin to die down accordingly, I used to be mistaken. At 10:00pm, we as the group took issues into our personal fingers, folks led chants and songs encouraging the Dragons within the last moments of the sport.
Having been to many baseball video games in the USA (go Cubs!) seeing a baseball sport in Taipei was a singular and energetic expertise. I extremely suggest any followers undoubtedly make it to a sport!
