World Baseball Classic History
History - Facts - Teams
The tournament was announced in May 2005. The Major League Baseball (MLB) had been attempting to create such tournament for at least two years; negotiations with the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) the players' union and with the team owners held the plan back.
Then 2006 became the first year for the unprecedented baseball event known as The World Baseball Classic. The event will feature many of the best baseball players in the world competing for their home countries and territories for the first time.
The World Baseball Classic was created to expose the game to the world and to further promote the development of the sport in traditional and non-traditional baseball countries. This tournament will give fans around the world a chance to see baseball in an exciting and compelling new format.
The following National Baseball Federations will participate in the inaugural World Baseball Classic: Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Italy, Australia, Canada, China, Netherlands, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, South Africa, United States, and Venezuela. The World Baseball Classic will feature 16 teams in a four-round tournament. These teams will be divided into four pools of four teams for Round 1 which will be held in a round-robin format as all teams within each pool will match up one time.
Teams will be divided for round 1 pools as such: Pool A: China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea
Pool B: Canada, Mexico, South Africa, United States, Pool C: Cuba, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico & Pool D: Australia, Italy, Dominican Republic, Venezuela.
|