Mateo remembers the pre-internet days of the early ‘90s when Dominicans in New York had to go to extremes for LIDOM game recaps and box scores. Some would wait for days after a game until Dominican newspapers were delivered to New York. Others, who couldn’t wait that long, would purchase phone cards to make long-distance calls to relatives in the Dominican Republic who could give them live updates of games over the phone.
Passion for LIDOM baseball in New York was undeniable both then and now, giving Peligro an ongoing purpose in Washington Heights’ vibrant Dominican community.
“(Peligro Sports) happened with a little bit of business vision,” Mateo said in Spanish. “I saw (Dominican fans in New York) had needs for (LIDOM) products because no one else had them anywhere, and the Dominican community (in Washington Heights) was growing. People would ask where they could get this (hat) and that (T-shirt). More than just me being a fan of Dominican baseball, I realized as much as I like (LIDOM merchandise) other people can like it too.”
Mateo is a LIDOM encyclopedia for anyone who enters Peligro Sports with questions on the league’s merchandise. And not just because LIDOM is also a family affair for him. His cousin, Wellington Cepeda, is the manager of Gigantes de Cibao, the last team to win a LIDOM title before Licey’s current reign.
Mateo points out that LIDOM’s baseball cap situation is unique. If you want to wear the same caps that the players wear on the field (a common desire for any baseball fan), you’ve got to pay attention. New Era, the official maker of every MLB team’s caps, is the current manufacturer for four of LIDOM’s six teams: Gigantes, Toros, Estrellas and Águilas.
San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. could be seen in previous LIDOM seasons wearing an Estrellas uniform alongside his father, former St. Louis Cardinal Fernando Tatis Sr., who manages the team. Another former Cardinal and Puerto Rico World Baseball Classic team manager Yadier Molina (recently named LIDOM manager of the year by the Santo Domingo Sportswriters Association), now wears the black and yellow cap of Águilas. That star power combined with New Era’s brand recognition as the official cap of the grandes ligas is a powerful combination for fans when considering a purchase.
“What people like most are the New Era caps,” Mateo said. “They’ve got más flow.”
Licey and Escogido have their hats manufactured by a Dominican company called 4Fans, and with Licey winning consecutive championships and Escogido managed by Albert Pujols that local brand is getting a boost.
“It could be 4Fans, it could be another company, (LIDOM) fans are still going to get it,” Mateo said. “There was a time when every team (in LIDOM) used New Era for their caps. But just like here in the United States, sometimes sports teams (in the Dominican Republic) change the companies that make their uniforms. Escogido and Licey haven’t used New Era for years, but I feel they’ll return to New Era soon.”
Keeping up with the business logistics of LIDOM’s cap manufacturing can be a complicated dance at times. Sometimes Mateo has ordered directly from LIDOM. Other times New Era. 4Fans being in the mix means he’ll always have to make more than one call if he wants every LIDOM cap in stock at Peligro Sports.
Ordering LIDOM jerseys is similarly complex, according to Mateo. Mexican company Arrieta makes the jerseys for Estrellas, Águilas and Gigantes. Escogido’s jerseys are manufactured by Wilson. Licey has jerseys manufactured by Wilson and Arrieta. Mateo hasn’t bothered trying to sell Toros jerseys because the team doesn’t have much of a following in New York, but you can get Toros caps at Peligro.
The most popular LIDOM jerseys at Peligro Sports? Águilas. Which Mateo attributes to the team’s history of success and many of Washington Heights’ Dominican residents hailing from El Cibao, where Águilas fandom is commonplace.
One jersey that could soon be a best seller for Peligro is that of Juan Soto — but not just his New York Mets jersey. Soto has reportedly asked the Mets if he could play for Licey in the future. If that happens, Mateo could see many of the Soto fans who bought Yankee caps at Peligro Sports when Soto was traded to the Bronx returning for Soto Licey jerseys, given his popularity in New York’s Dominican community. Mateo said many of the Soto fans who bought Yankee caps have already returned to purchase Mets caps.
Peligro Sports allows its customers to personalize purchased jerseys with names and numbers on the back, although Mateo points out that no LIDOM team puts player last names on the back of its jerseys (that’s prime real estate for advertising). If a customer wanted a Licey jersey with “Soto” on the back they could request it for as simple a reason as their own last name being Soto. But Mateo is holding off on proactively making any Juan Soto merchandise for now.
“Supposedly, Soto might play five or 10 games (for Licey),” Mateo said. “Out of respect I won’t make a Soto jersey until a deal is done. Not all money is welcome money. But from the moment I can (legally), I will. I don’t want to break the good relationships I’ve built with LIDOM. (A Soto Licey jersey) would be a great impact for the league and for me as a businessman. Soto is in his moment right now. Many (superstar) Dominican players play in LIDOM when their careers are coming to an end. It would be incredible if it could happen.”
¡Una familia de GANADORES… Una familia de CAMPEONES! @JuanSoto25_ 💙 #LiceyFamily 👑 pic.twitter.com/dNBOq8fOKK
— Tigres del Licey (@TigresdelLicey) January 8, 2025
Mateo has been in Washington Heights for over three decades and selling LIDOM merchandise more than half of that time. From the titans to the contenders and pretenders, he says LIDOM continues to be good business for him because of the passion he believes the Dominican Republic will always have for baseball and the pride those baseball fans share in their nation.
“It’s a way to identify where you’re from,” Mateo said. “Latinos, even more so the youth, love to say ‘I’m Dominican,’ ‘I’m Puerto Rican.’ Each person wants to represent their country. The Dominican league is so strong in popularity, the people feel it in their soul. People want to show where they’re from and where their allegiances are.”
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(All photos: David Betancourt)
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Publish date : 2025-01-07 21:06:00
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