Red Leaf Little League Memorial Hall Introduction
Hongye Village, named for the red maple leaves that adorn it in autumn, is a typical Bunun tribe settlement that retains its simple and primitive appearance. In the past, it was a small village primarily focused on corn cultivation. Hongye Elementary School is known as the birthplace of the renowned Hongye Little League team, which played a significant role in the development of baseball in Taiwan and gained fame overseas. The school principal, Lin Zhupeng, noticed that the indigenous children had a strong enthusiasm for outdoor activities and hunting, yet their attendance rates were low. Recognizing their passion for baseball, he was inspired to establish an official baseball team, which began the legendary journey of Hongye Little League. The school's glory days and memories are preserved in the Hongye Little League Memorial Hall on campus, where equipment used by the team, a history of the little league heroes, precious photographs, and artifacts are displayed, recreating the heroic figures and glorious times of baseball, making it a must-visit site for those tracing the history of baseball in Taiwan. The second floor of the hall features a Bunun Cultural Museum and an audio-visual room, linking Bunun culture with the Hongye Little League team, which helps deepen the understanding of the role and status of indigenous peoples during Taiwan's development. Thanks to the Hongye Little League team, baseball has become one of the representative sports in Taitung, where one can often see local amateur teams playing friendly matches in roadside fields. Baseball players nurtured by schools frequently represent the country in international competitions with excellent results, and even professional baseball teams use Taitung as a training location, ensuring that the popularity of baseball endures.
