The hongye legend in taiwanese baseball: Separating myth from reality

Abstract

This paper examines the legend and reality behind Hongye youth baseball. Friendly games against Japan in 1968 created an impact that has a unique place within Taiwanese history. Established both by the government and the media, Hongye was not only hailed as the genesis of Taiwan's baseball, but also as part of a Chinese nation-building project that was acceptable within society. As a result, myths were added to those facts that had become part of the people's collective memory. Such myths still linger today. The truth behind Hongye, as argued here, is that the innovation was actually a tragedy in disguise, both for young players and Taiwanese baseball as a whole [1].

Acknowledgement

I am grateful for the assistance provided by Dr Gerard Sharpling, CELTE, University of Warwick, in editing this paper.

Notes

[1] This essay employs the Pinyin romanization system, which is used in mainland China and also is internationally recognized, since the systems used in Taiwan are quite confusing. Except for Taipei, and references that are originally written in original fashion, all are in Pinyin style. For example, US-based players Tsao Chin-hui and Chen Chin-feng are written as Cao Jinhui and Chen Jinfeng respectively.

[2] Dongsen Xinwenwang[ET (Eastern Television) Today], 25 March 2004.

[3] Jason, ‘Concerning the Historical’; Zerubavel, ‘The Historic, the Legendary, and the Incredible’.

[4] Hobsbawm and Ranger, The Invention of Tradition.

[5] For example, Dennis Law to Scotland, Jean Borotra to France, Stefano Pivato to Italy, to name just a few. See Holt et al., European Heroes; also James, Beyond a Boundary; Maingard, ‘Imag(in)ing the South African Nation’.

[6] Mangan, The Games Ethic and Imperialism; Mangan, Athleticism in the Victorian and Edwardian Public School; Money, Manly and Muscular Diversions; Holt, Sport and the British, 74–117; Rains, Baseball Samurais.

[7] Cai Zongxin, ‘Riju shidai taiwan’, 88.

[8] Ibid.; Yu Junwei and Zeng Wencheng. Taiwan bangqiu wang, 20–60.

[9] Chen Jiamou, ‘Taiwan bangqiu yundong’, 75–7.

[10] Ibid., 69–74.

[11] Jian Yongchang, Taiwan bangqiu shiji, 51–121.

[12] Chen Jiamou, ‘Taiwan bangqiu yundong’, 22–3.

[13] Taiwan Xinshengbao[Taiwan Newborn Daily], 9 April 1953.

[14] Taiwan Xinshengbao, 15 Nov. 1954.

[15] Wang Huimin, Hongye de gushi.

[16] Jingguo Zhang, Zhonghua minguo shaonian, 32–4.

[17] Chen Jiamou, ‘Taiwan bangqiu yundong’, 92–3.

[18] Lianhebao[United Daily], 5 April 1968.

[19] He himself was a legendary figure who had been jailed for ten years, being wrongly convicted of ‘communist espionage’.

[20] Zhongguo Shibao[China Times], 29 Aug. 2004.

[21] Lianhebao, 15 May 1968.

[22] Lianhebao, 22 May 1968.

[23] Ibid.

[24] Taiwan Xinshengbao, 26 Feb. 1968.

[25] Van Auken and van Auken. Play Ball!, 127–36.

[26] Taiwan Xinshengbao, 21 Aug. 1968.

[27] Lianhebao, 26 Aug. 1968.

[28] Lianhebao, 28 Aug. 1968.

[29] Lianhebao, 29 Aug. 1968.

[30] Lianhebao, 30 Aug. 1968.

[31] Zeng Wencheng, ‘Ling yiduan hongye chuanqi’, available online at http://sports.yam.com/show.php?id=0000010891, accessed 1 June 2004.

[32] Taiwan Xinshengbao, 26 Feb. 1968.

[33] Cai Zongxin, ‘Riju shidai taiwan’.

[34] Huang Yufeng, ‘Jiang bangqiu shishi sai youyou shikou’[‘Use History Facts to Clarify Common Misconceptions’], Xinwen tiandi, 1337 (Sept. 1963), 18.

[35] Taiwan Xinshengbao, 21 Aug. 1968.

[36] Wang Huimin, Hongye de gushi, p.6.

[37] Pingguo Ribao[Apple Daily], 27 June 2003.

[38] Minshengbao[Minsheng Daily], 12 Dec. 1992.

[39] Anderson, Imagined Communities.

[40] Taiwan Xinshengbao, 28 Aug. 1968.

[41] Ibid.

[42] Taiwan Xinshengbao, 27 Aug. 1968.

[43] Lianhebao, 9 Nov. 1968.

[44] Lianhebao, 20 Sept. 1988.

[45] Wang Huimin, Hongye de gushi, 5–6.

[46] See PTS (Japan's Public Television Service), available online at http://wawa.pts.org.tw/tribe.php?PAGE=WAWA_C_CONTENT&SEARCH_HTENO=5, accessed 5 Dec. 2001.

[47] Minshengbao, 12 Dec. 1992.

[48] Wang Huimin, Hongye de gushi, 7.

[49] Originally using false names was only an internal matter. The sporting body would deal with this by punishing or banning the school's future participation. However, these three people used photos of bogus players to apply for a residential copy and attached them to official documents, which violated state law.

[50] Lianhebao, 10 Sept. 1969.

[51] Lianhebao, 18 June 1968.

[52] Lianhebao, 17 Sept. 1968.

[53] Lianhebao, 29 Sept. 1979.

[54] Minshengbao, 7 Nov. 2003.

[55] Lianhebao, 25 March 1977.

[56] Minshengbao, 12 Feb. 1991.

[57] Minshengbao, 12 Dec. 1992.

[58] Xiao Juzhen, Hongye chuanqi[‘The Hongye Legend’], documentary broadcast on PTV (Public TV, mandarin version), 20 Nov. 2001.

[59] Zhongyangshe[Central News Agency], 8 Aug. 2001.

[60] Dongsen Xinwenwang[ET Today], 26 June 2003.

[61] Xiao Juzhen, Hongye chuanqi.

[62] Ibid.

[63] Gao Yiqun, ‘Dongtai xiaojiang yibang xiang manshang hongye ya chuiyang’, in Zhingguo Zhang, Zhonghua minguo shaonian, 23.

[64] Yu Junwei, ‘Baseball in Taiwan’.

[65] Lianhebao, 27 Aug. 1968.

[66] Lianhebao, 23 May 1968.

[67] Zerubavel, ‘The Historic, the Legendary, and the Incredible’, 117–18.