MUMBAI: Baseball United, the first-ever professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and Indian subcontinent, has announced that former Major League Baseball All-Star and Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famer, Chris Sabo, will become the first manager of the Mumbai Cobras.
Sabo will partner with former Cincinnati Reds teammate, Barry Larkin, who was recently named the team’s honorary general manager.
The Mumbai Cobras are the first professional baseball franchise in the history of India and the surrounding region. The Cobras will compete in Baseball United’s Dubai Showcase in November alongside three additional franchises that will be announced in the coming weeks. The league’s first full season will begin in late 2024.
Kash Shaikh, president, chief executive officer, and co-owner of Baseball United, said: “We continue to be humbled by the quality of world-class leaders and baseball minds that are coming together to build our organization.
“Chris Sabo is one of them. He not only had a great playing career that included All-Star games and a World Series Championship, but he’s also dedicated much of his life to teaching and sharing the game at the youth, college, and professional levels.
“We are very grateful to have Chris represent our first-ever franchise and can’t wait for him to team with Barry Larkin once again as they work to build a winning culture in Mumbai.”
Sabo was the 1988 National League Rookie of the Year and represented the Reds at three All-Star games. He and Larkin won a World Series together in 1990, the last championship in the Cincinnati Reds’ storied history. Sabo played a key role in the Reds’ World Series victories, batting .583 with nine hits in 16 at bats, including two home runs and five RBI. He also played for the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, and St. Louis Cardinals during his Major League career.
Sabo said: “It’s truly an honor to be named manager of the Mumbai Cobras. I love everything about this game, from the feel of the dirt to the smell of the stadium to the comradery of the clubhouse.
“I’ve been very impressed with the entire Baseball United organization, and I’m looking forward to getting to work with Lark, Kash and the entire BU team. And I can’t wait to get to know our fans in Mumbai.
“This opportunity to represent one of the largest and most dynamic cities in the world is a significant responsibility, and I’m very grateful,” he added.
Sabo and Larkin will partner with Baseball United executive vice president of baseball operations, John Miedreich, and vice president of baseball operations, Eddie Diaz, to construct Mumbai’s roster in advance of November’s Showcase.
In addition to their time together with the Cincinnati Reds, Sabo and Larkin also played together in college at the University of Michigan.
