Ever since Taiwan captured its fi rst Little League Baseball world series title in 1969, baseball has been a sport in which the Taiwanese people have taken deep pride. Over the next twenty-seven years Taiwan appeared in the annual tournament twenty-one times and captured seventeen titles. I have followed Taiwanese national teams since I was small. Like many fellow islanders, I watched live Little League tournament games on television late into the night as I sipped instant noodles, a favorite snack in Taiwan. Thankfully, tournaments were held during summer vacations so that I didn’t have to worry about school. I was fi lled with excitement and joy at that time,.
