Ballplayers in Iran Root for the Red Sox
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 28, 2007 — -- Mehrdad Hajian calls himself a member of the Red Sox nation, cheering as the team cruises through the World Series.
"I even got a part-time job at Fenway Park just to see them," Hajian said. "For four years, I watched as many games as I could."
But that was 16 years ago. These days he lives 6,000 miles from Fenway Park. As a coach, he's the heart and soul of his baseball league -- the Iranian baseball league.
There are 11 baseball teams across the Islamic Republic of Iran. It is a small but dedicated league with humble beginnings.
"When I moved back from the U.S. ... there were four or five people," Hajian remembered. "We were playing with tennis balls -- no bats, no equipment, nothing.
"But I knew the game," he said, "so we started just learning the rules."
Watch the "World News" Webcast Monday on ABCNews.com for a video report on the Iranian baseball league.
Today, the Iranian Baseball Federation has 1,000 players and even a softball league for women. In a Muslim society that often keeps men and women apart, female softball players take pointers from a male coach but must run bases in a hijab.
"If there's one thing I love to do ... it's sport, especially softball," said player Sonya Shahamati.
Shahamati and her teammates had to get used to playing the game while wearing a traditional Muslim headscarf.
"On one hand, maybe it's difficult," she said, wearing a hijab under her baseball cap. "But in Iran we have to, and we don't have any problem."
Amir Heidari plays second base for Hajian's team. His house is a Red Sox shrine, with baseball cards papering the walls.
"The cards were birthday presents," he said. "The commemorative Boston Red Sox balls, I know they are very valuable for Mehrdad -- but ... one year for my birthday he gave to me."
Heidari's wife, Negar, is a pitcher on the women's softball team. The couple used to practice batting and fielding at home. Amir is his wife's coach.
Off the field, Amir Heidari and Hajian turn to computers for more baseball action, playing video games and fantasy baseball. Hajian is a commissioner of his fantasy league on Yahoo Sports.
