"The Cradle of Shortstops"

Did you know that San Pedro de Macoris is well known as the birthplace of a disproportionate number of professional baseball players?

According to Baseball-Reference, 76 players in Major League Baseball history were born in San Pedro de Macoris, including Sammy Sosa, Alfonso Soriano, Luis Castillo, Fernando Tatis, and Robinson Cano. The city is often referred to as "The Cradle of Shortstops." According to the official website of Major League Baseball, the city of San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic produces more professional baseball players per capita than any other place on earth.

San Pedro de Macorís

San Pedro de Macoris was founded in the late 19th century by Cubans who were fleeing their country's War of Independence. They brought their extensive sugar cane farming knowledge and contributed to making the sugar industry the most important economic activity in the area. San Pedro de Macorís reached its peak during the first quarter of the 20th century, when its sugar production enjoyed high prices on the international market as a result of the First World War. Many Europeans settled here, making it a very cosmopolitan urban center.