The Baseball World Cup is an international tournament in which national baseball teams from around the world compete. It is sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation. This article is about the sport. ... The International Baseball Federation (or IBAF) is the worldwide body which governs play between national teams, including the World Cup of Baseball (in conjunction with Major League Baseball) and the Olympic baseball tournament (in conjuction with the International Olympic Committee). ...

History

There have been 36 Baseball World Cups to date; the first tournament, held in 1938, featured only two teams but the last five have all featured 16 teams. The most recent World Cup was held in 2005 in the Netherlands. The tournament generally receives relatively little publicity, and does not begin to approach the popularity of the football (soccer) World Cup, cricket World Cup or rugby World Cup. Until 1996 the competition was limited to amateur players. Since 1996, professional minor league players have competed, but Major League Baseball has not allowed its players to participate. In the months leading up to the high-profile first World Baseball Classic, many commentators heralded it as a "Baseball World Cup", perhaps not realizing that a tournament by that name already exists and has for almost seventy years. However, the World Baseball Classic was the first international baseball tournament to include players from the major leagues, making it a closer equivalent to the other world cups, which include players from the most prestigious professional leagues, than the Baseball World Cup. For the club competition, see FIFA Club World Cup. ... The Cricket World Cup is the premier international championship of mens One-Day International (ODI) cricket. ... For the world cup that is contested in rugby league, see Rugby League World Cup. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Minor League Baseball. ... MLB and Major Leagues redirect here. ... The World Baseball Classic, sometimes abbreviated WBC, is an international baseball tournament, first held in March 2006. ...

Tournament Results

Year		Host Country	Teams
1938	I	Great Britain	2	Great Britain	United States	none awarded
1939	II	Cuba	3	Cuba	Nicaragua	United States
1940	III	Cuba	7	Cuba	United States Nicaragua	none awarded
1941	IV	Cuba	9	Venezuela	Cuba	Mexico
1942	V	Cuba	5	Cuba	Dominican Republic	Venezuela
1943	VI	Cuba	4	Cuba	Mexico	Dominican Republic
1944	VII	Venezuela	8	Venezuela	Mexico	Cuba
1945	VIII	Venezuela	6	Venezuela	Colombia	Panama
1947	IX	Colombia	9	Colombia	Puerto Rico	Nicaragua
1948	X	Nicaragua	8	Dominican Republic	Puerto Rico	Colombia
1950	XI	Nicaragua	12	Cuba	Dominican Republic	Venezuela
1951	XII	Mexico	11	Puerto Rico	Venezuela	Cuba
1952	XIII	Cuba	13	Cuba	Dominican Republic	Puerto Rico
1953	XIV	Venezuela	11	Cuba	Venezuela	Nicaragua
1961	XV	Costa Rica	10	Cuba	Mexico	Venezuela
1965	XVI	Colombia	9	Colombia	Mexico	Puerto Rico
1969	XVII	Dominican Republic	11	Cuba	United States	Dominican Republic
1970	XVIII	Colombia	12	Cuba	United States	Puerto Rico
1971	XIX	Cuba	10	Cuba	Colombia	Nicaragua
1972	XX	Nicaragua	16	Cuba	United States	Nicaragua
1973	XXI	Cuba	8	Cuba	Puerto Rico	Venezuela
1973	XXII	Nicaragua	11	United States	Nicaragua	Puerto Rico
1974	XXIII	United States	9	United States	Nicaragua	Colombia
1976	XXIV	Colombia	11	Cuba	Puerto Rico	Japan
1978	XXV	Italy	11	Cuba	United States	Korea
1980	XXVI	Japan	12	Cuba	Korea	Japan
1982	XXVII	South Korea	10	Korea	Japan	United States
1984	XXVIII	Cuba	13	Cuba	Chinese Taipei	United States
1986	XXIX	Netherlands	12	Cuba	Korea	Chinese Taipei
1988	XXX	Italy	12	Cuba	United States	Chinese Taipei
1990	XXXI	Canada	12	Cuba	Nicaragua	Korea
1994	XXXII	Nicaragua	16	Cuba	Korea	Japan
1998	XXXIII	Italy	16	Cuba	Korea	Nicaragua
2001	XXXIV	Taiwan	16	Cuba	United States	Chinese Taipei
2003	XXXV	Cuba	16	Cuba	Panama	Japan
2005	XXXVI	Netherlands	18	Cuba	Korea	Panama
2007	XXXVII	Taiwan	16

Image File history File links Med_1. ... Image File history File links Med_2. ... Image File history File links Med_3. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nicaragua. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nicaragua. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Venezuela. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mexico. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Dominican_Republic. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Venezuela. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mexico. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Dominican_Republic. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Venezuela. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Venezuela. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mexico. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Venezuela. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Venezuela. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Colombia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Panama. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Colombia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Colombia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Puerto_Rico. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nicaragua. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nicaragua. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Dominican_Republic. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Puerto_Rico. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Colombia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nicaragua. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Dominican_Republic. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Venezuela. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mexico. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Puerto_Rico. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Venezuela. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Dominican_Republic. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Puerto_Rico. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Venezuela. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Venezuela. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nicaragua. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Costa_Rica. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mexico. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Venezuela. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Colombia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Colombia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mexico. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Puerto_Rico. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Dominican_Republic. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Dominican_Republic. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Colombia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Puerto_Rico. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Colombia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nicaragua. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nicaragua. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nicaragua. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Puerto_Rico. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Venezuela. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nicaragua. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nicaragua. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Puerto_Rico. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nicaragua. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Colombia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Colombia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Puerto_Rico. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Korea. ... The Korea national baseball team is the national team of South Korea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Korea. ... The Korea national baseball team is the national team of South Korea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Korea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Korea. ... The Korea national baseball team is the national team of South Korea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Chinese_Taipei_Olympic_Flag. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Netherlands. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Korea. ... The Korea national baseball team is the national team of South Korea. ... Image File history File links Chinese_Taipei_Olympic_Flag. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Chinese_Taipei_Olympic_Flag. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nicaragua. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Korea. ... The Korea national baseball team is the national team of South Korea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nicaragua. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Korea. ... The Korea national baseball team is the national team of South Korea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Korea. ... The Korea national baseball team is the national team of South Korea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nicaragua. ... The XXXIV Baseball World Cup took place in Taiwan from 6 to 18 November 2001. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Chinese_Taipei_Olympic_Flag. ... The XXXV Baseball World Cup was in Cuba from 12 to 25 October 2003. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Panama. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... The XXXVI Baseball World Cup took place in the Netherlands cities of Rotterdam, Haarlem, Almere, Amsterdam and Eindhoven September 2-17, 2005. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Netherlands. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Korea. ... The Korea national baseball team is the national team of South Korea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Panama. ... The XXXVII International Baseball Federation Baseball World Cup will be held in Taiwan from November 6 through November 18, 2007. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China. ...

Most successful countries

Cuba Image File history File links Flag_of_Cuba. ...

Gold: 25

(1939 1940 1942 1943 1950 1952 1953 1961 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1976 1978 1980 1984 1986 1988 1990 1994 1998 2001 2003 2005)

Silver: 1 (1941)

Bronze: 2 (1944 1951)

Venezuela Image File history File links Flag_of_Venezuela. ...

Gold: 3 (1941 1944 1945)

Silver: 2 (1951 1953)

Bronze: 4 (1942 1950 1961 1973)

United States Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ...

Gold: 2 (1973 1974)

Silver: 8 (1938 1940^[1] 1969 1970 1972 1978 1988 2001)

Bronze: 3 (1939 1982 1984)

Colombia Image File history File links Flag_of_Colombia. ...

Gold: 2 (1947 1965)

Silver: 2 (1945 1971)

Bronze: 2 (1948 1974)

South Korea Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Korea. ...

Gold: 1 (1982)

Silver: 5 (1980 1986 1994 1998 2005)

Bronze: 2 (1978 1990)

Puerto Rico Image File history File links Flag_of_Puerto_Rico. ...

Gold: 1 (1951)

Silver: 4 (1947 1948 1973^[2] 1976)

Bronze: 4 (1952 1965 1970 1973^[2])

Dominican Republic Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Dominican_Republic. ...

Gold: 1 (1948)

Silver: 3 (1942 1950 1952)

Bronze: 2 (1943 1969)

Great Britain Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ...

Gold: 1 (1938*)

Silver: 0

Bronze: 0

Nicaragua Image File history File links Flag_of_Nicaragua. ...

Gold: 0

Silver: 5 (1939 1940^[1] 1973 1974 1990)

Bronze: 5 (1947 1953 1971 1972 1998)

Mexico Image File history File links Flag_of_Mexico. ...

Gold: 0

Silver: 4 (1943 1944 1961 1965)

Bronze: 1 (1941)

Japan Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ...

Gold: 0

Silver: 1 (1982)

Bronze: 4 (1976 1980 1994 2003)

Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) Image File history File links Chinese_Taipei_Olympic_Flag. ...

Gold: 0

Silver: 1 (1984)

Bronze: 3 (1986 1988 2001)

Panama Image File history File links Flag_of_Panama. ...

Gold: 0

Silver: 1 (2003)

Bronze: 2 (1945 2005)

Notes and references

1. ^ ^{a b} In 1940 both Nicaragua and the USA won silver medals. There was no bronze medal team.
2. ^ ^{a b} In 1973, there were two different World Cups, one in Nicaragua, and the other in Cuba. That is why Puerto Rico won both a silver and a bronze medal that year.

See also

• Baseball at the Summer Olympics
• World Baseball Classic
• World Series
• World Cup

Baseball at the Summer Olympics had its official debut at the 1992 Summer Olympics and has been contested in 4 Olympiads. ... The World Baseball Classic, sometimes abbreviated WBC, is an international baseball tournament, first held in March 2006. ... For other events named World Series, see World Series (disambiguation). ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

External links

• International Baseball Federation Baseball World Cup home page
• 2005 Baseball World Cup