Any fan interested in how the Dominican Republic came to be the world's leading per capita producer of Major Leaguers needs to read Rob Ruck's 1991 book, "The Tropic of Baseball." Part history, part travelogue, the University of Pittsburgh professor's book holds up well nearly two decades later. And lo and behold, ESPN The Magazine's former baseball editor and current Insider chief Jon Scher is thanked in the foreword.