Baseball United

The United International Baseball League (UIBL) was founded on July 26, 2022, with a mission of bringing professional baseball to India, Pakistan, and the Middle East. Baseball Hall-of-Famers Mariano Rivera and Barry Larkin were announced as founding stakeholders. Rather than build new baseball fields, the league plans to redevelop existing cricket fields into baseball diamonds.{{cite news |title=New baseball league announces Dubai International Stadium as official venue for inaugural showcase |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2145291/sport |agency=Arab News |date=Aug 18, 2022 |access-date=June 5, 2023 |archive-date=June 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605182419/https://www.arabnews.com/node/2145291/sport |url-status=live }}

On August 18, 2022, the UIBL announced that it would play nine of its inaugural games at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. In November, the UIBL rebranded as "Baseball United."{{cite web |date=Nov 5, 2022 |title=Baseball Hall of Famers Barry Larkin, Mariano Rivera take on larger role with "Baseball United" |url=https://calltothepen.com/2022/11/05/barry-larkin-mariano-rivera-baseball-united/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605182429/https://calltothepen.com/2022/11/05/barry-larkin-mariano-rivera-baseball-united/ |archive-date=June 5, 2023 |access-date=June 5, 2023 |website=Fansided}}

Baseball United partnered with Pakistan Federation Baseball to organize the West Asia edition of the 2023 Asian Baseball Cup in Islamabad.{{cite news |title=Baseball United grows the game in Pakistan as West Asia Cup takes place |url=https://insidersport.com/2023/01/30/baseball-united-pakistan/ |website=Insider Sport |date=Jan 30, 2023 |access-date=June 5, 2023 |archive-date=June 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605182420/https://insidersport.com/2023/01/30/baseball-united-pakistan/ |url-status=live }} In April 2023, active MLB shortstop Elvis Andrus joined the league's ownership group.{{cite news |date=April 17, 2023 |title=2-time MLB All-Star Elvis Andrus joins Baseball United ownership group |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2288136/sport |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605182423/https://www.arabnews.com/node/2288136/sport |archive-date=June 5, 2023 |access-date=June 5, 2023 |agency=Arab News}} The league has since announced other current and former MLB players as "co-owners," including Ronald Acuña Jr., Albert Pujols, Félix Hernández, and Ryan Howard.{{Cite web |title=About {{!}} Baseball United |url=https://baseballunited.com/about |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602063111/https://baseballunited.com/about |archive-date=2 June 2024 |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=baseballunited.com}}{{Cite web |title=Baseball’s Best Player Ronald Acuña Jr. Joining Baseball United Ownership Group |url=https://baseballunited.com/news/baseballs-best-player-ronald-acuna-jr-joining-baseball-united-ownership-group |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=baseballunited.com |language=en}}

On May 15, 2023, the league announced its first franchise as the Mumbai Cobras.{{cite news |author1=Nick El Hajj |title=Dubai-based professional baseball league announces first franchise, Mumbai Cobras |url=https://apnews.com/article/dubai-baseball-united-middle-east-south-asia-285c1eed0514342fd5852a5d75832c2b |work=Associated Press News |date=May 15, 2023 |access-date=June 5, 2023 |archive-date=June 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605182419/https://apnews.com/article/dubai-baseball-united-middle-east-south-asia-285c1eed0514342fd5852a5d75832c2b |url-status=live }} Former Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Chris Sabo was named the team's first manager.{{cite news |title=Former MLB All-Star Chris Sabo named manager of Baseball United's first franchise |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2309641/sport |agency=Arab News |date=May 24, 2023 |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-date=June 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604181043/https://www.arabnews.com/node/2309641/sport |url-status=live }}

On May 30, 2023, the Karachi Monarchs was announced as the second team in the league. The Monarchs name references both the Karachi Kings cricket team and the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro leagues.{{cite news |date=May 30, 2023 |title=Baseball United names Karachi Monarchs as its second franchise |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2313091/sport |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605182421/https://www.arabnews.com/node/2313091/sport |archive-date=June 5, 2023 |access-date=June 5, 2023 |agency=Arab News}}{{cite news |title=Dubai-based baseball league announces Karachi Monarchs, Pakistan's first professional team |url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-sport/dubai-based-baseball-league-announces-karachi-monarchs-pakistans-first-professional-team |agency=Arabian Business |date=May 30, 2023 |access-date=June 5, 2023 |archive-date=June 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605182419/https://www.arabianbusiness.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-sport/dubai-based-baseball-league-announces-karachi-monarchs-pakistans-first-professional-team |url-status=live }} On June 5, 2023, Karachi appointed Hall of Famer Adrian Beltre and former MLB Most Valuable Player Miguel Tejada as its general manager and manager, respectively.{{cite news |author1=Enrique Rojas |date=June 5, 2023 |title=Adrián Beltré nombra a Miguel Tejada mánager en Pakistán |trans-title=Adrián Beltré appoints Miguel Tejada as manager in Pakistan |url=https://espndeportes.espn.com/beisbol/nota/_/id/12154720/adrian-beltre-nombra-a-miguel-tejada-manager-en-pakistan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605182420/https://espndeportes.espn.com/beisbol/nota/_/id/12154720/adrian-beltre-nombra-a-miguel-tejada-manager-en-pakistan |archive-date=June 5, 2023 |access-date=June 5, 2023 |language=es |agency=ESPN Deportes}} On August 4, 2023, Baseball United announced the Dubai Wolves and Abu Dhabi Falcons as the third and fourth baseball teams.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-04 |title=Baseball United announces Dubai Wolves and Abu Dhabi Falcons as its latest two franchises |url=https://arab.news/c8bt7 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024154819/https://www.arabnews.com/node/2349496/sport |archive-date=2023-10-24 |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=Arab News |language=en}} The two teams were renamed the Arabia Wolves and the Mid East Falcons, respectively, in 2024.{{Cite web |date=March 26, 2024 |title=Baseball United Expands Reach of its Middle East Franchises |url=https://baseballunited.com/news/baseball-united-expands-reach-its-middle-east-franchises |access-date=2024-08-13 |website=Baseball United |language=en}}

The league's draft took place on October 23, 2023. Karan Patel, a right-handed pitcher who reached Double-A in the Chicago White Sox organization,{{Cite web |title=Karan Patel College, Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=patel-000kar |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} was selected first overall by the Mumbai Cobras. Former MLB players drafted included Robinson Canó, Bartolo Colon, Pablo Sandoval, Didi Gregorius, and Andrelton Simmons.{{cite news |last1=Connon |first1=Sam |title=Robinson Canó, Bartolo Colon Among Former MLB Players Drafted to New League in Dubai |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/news/robinson-cano-bartolo-colon-pablo-sandoval-among-former-mlb-players-drafted-to-new-baseball-league-in-dubai |access-date=23 October 2023 |work=Fastball |publisher=Sports Illustrated |date=23 October 2023 |language=en |archive-date=23 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231023205939/https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/news/robinson-cano-bartolo-colon-pablo-sandoval-among-former-mlb-players-drafted-to-new-baseball-league-in-dubai |url-status=live }}

On March 26, 2024, the league announced a fifth franchise based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia that did not have a nickname.{{Cite web |title=Baseball United Signs Historic Partnership to Bring Professional Baseball to Saudi Arabia |url=https://baseballunited.com/news/baseball-united-signs-historic-partnership-bring-professional-baseball-saudi-arabia |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=baseballunited.com |language=en}} On August 1, 2024, the league announced that its first full season is scheduled from October 23, 2025 to November 23, 2025. The five teams would each play 12 games. The timing and length of the season is similar to existing winter league baseball competitions. Additionally, the league stated that the first four announced teams would compete in the Baseball United Cup from February 22, 2025 to March 1, 2025. The cup has a round robin format, followed by a four-team playoff. Baseball United also announced it would organize the Baseball United Arab Classic, an international baseball tournament between various West Asian teams, scheduled for November 7 to November 10, 2024 in Dubai.{{cite news |title=Schedule of 2024 Baseball United Arab Classic unveiled |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2574705/sport |agency=Arab News |date=10 October 2024}}{{cite news |title=Baseball United charting a course for professionalism in the region, says Kash Shaikh |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2569266/sport |access-date=12 October 2024 |agency=Arab News |date=30 August 2024}}

Five teams (representing cities from various Asian countries) are expected to compete in the first season:{{Cite web |last= |date=August 4, 2023 |title=Baseball United Announces Dubai Wolves And Abu Dhabi Falcons As Its Latest Two Franchises |url=https://menafn.com/1106785135/Baseball-United-Announces-Dubai-Wolves-And-Abu-Dhabi-Falcons-As-Its-Latest-Two-Franchises |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805052915/https://menafn.com/1106785135/Baseball-United-Announces-Dubai-Wolves-And-Abu-Dhabi-Falcons-As-Its-Latest-Two-Franchises |archive-date=2023-08-05 |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=menafn.com |language=en}}

Critics, primarily in the United States, have stated that the formation of Baseball United and its partnerships with prominent MLB players is an example of sportswashing.{{Cite web |last=Russ |first=Maxwell |title=Sportswashing and The UAE’s Baseball United League |url=https://sports-entertainment.brooklaw.edu/sports/sportswashing-and-the-uaes-baseball-united-league/ |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=sports-entertainment.brooklaw.edu |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Linbergh |first=Ben |date=November 17, 2023 |title=Effectively Wild Episode 2086: Eyewash, Greenwash, Sportswash, Tell ’im Wash |url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/effectively-wild-episode-2086-eyewash-greenwash-sportswash-tell-im-wash/ |access-date=August 9, 2024 |website=FanGraphs}}

• Asia Series
• History of baseball outside the United States

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{{Baseball United}}

{{Baseball leagues}}

{{Professional Baseball}}

{{Emirati Sport leagues}}

Category:2022 establishments in the United Arab Emirates

Category:Sports leagues established in 2022

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Category:Professional sports leagues in the United Arab Emirates

Category:Winter baseball leagues