World Cup of Baseball
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the "World Baseball Classic", see World Baseball Classic
The World Cup of Baseball is a tournament in which national baseball teams from around the world compete for the position of top national team in the world. It is sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation, based in Switzerland, which also sanctions the new World Baseball Classic.
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[edit] History
There have been 36 Baseball World Cups to date; the first tournament, held in 1936 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 little publicity, and certainly does not begin to approach the popularity of the football (soccer) World Cup or rugby World Cup. 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 is the first international baseball tournament to include players in the Major Leagues, making it a closer equivalent to the other world cups, which include players from the most prestigious professional leagues, than the World Cup of Baseball.
[edit] Tournament Results
1938 I
- Host Country: Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain
- Teams: 2
- Gold: Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain
- Silver: Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States
- Bronze: none awarded
1939 II
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Teams: 3
- Gold: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Silver: Image:Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua
- Bronze: Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States
1940 III
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Teams: 7
- Gold: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Silver: Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States, Image:Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua
- Bronze: none awarded
1941 IV
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Teams: 9
- Gold: Image:Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela
- Silver: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Bronze: Image:Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico
1942 V
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Teams: 5
- Gold: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Silver: Image:Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Dominican Republic
- Bronze: Image:Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela
1943 VI
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Teams: 4
- Gold: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Silver: Image:Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico
- Bronze: Image:Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Dominican Republic
1944 VII
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela
- Teams: 8
- Gold: Image:Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela
- Silver: Image:Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico
- Bronze: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
1945 VIII
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela
- Teams: 6
- Gold: Image:Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela
- Silver: Image:Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia
- Bronze: Image:Flag of Panama.svg Panama
1947 IX
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia
- Teams: 9
- Gold: Image:Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia
- Silver: Image:Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Puerto Rico
- Bronze: Image:Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua
1948 X
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua
- Teams: 8
- Gold: Image:Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Dominican Republic
- Silver: Image:Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Puerto Rico
- Bronze: Image:Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia
1950 XI
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua
- Teams: 12
- Gold: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Silver: Image:Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Dominican Republic
- Bronze: Image:Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela
1951 XII
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico
- Teams: 11
- Gold: Image:Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Puerto Rico
- Silver: Image:Flag of Venezuela.svgVenezuela
- Bronze: Image:Flag of Cuba.svgCuba
1952 XIII
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Teams: 13
- Gold: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Silver: Image:Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Dominican Republic
- Bronze: Image:Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Puerto Rico
1953 XIV
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela
- Teams: 11
- Gold: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Silver: Image:Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela
- Bronze: Image:Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua
1961 XV
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Costa Rica (state).svg Costa Rica
- Teams: 10
- Gold: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Silver: Image:Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico
- Bronze: Image:Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela
1965 XVI
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia
- Teams: 9
- Gold: Image:Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia
- Silver: Image:Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico
- Bronze: Image:Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Puerto Rico
1969 XVII
- Host Country: Image:Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Dominican Republic
- Teams: 11
- Gold: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Silver: Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States
- Bronze: Image:Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Dominican Republic
1970 XVIII
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia
- Teams: 12
- Gold: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Silver: Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States
- Bronze: Image:Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Puerto Rico
1971 XIX
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Teams: 10
- Gold: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Silver: Image:Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia
- Bronze: Image:Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua
1972 XX
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua
- Teams: 16
- Gold: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Silver: Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States
- Bronze: Image:Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua
1973 XXI
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Teams: 8
- Gold: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Silver: Image:Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Puerto Rico
- Bronze: Image:Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela
1973 XXII
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua
- Teams: 11
- Gold: Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States
- Silver: Image:Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua
- Bronze: Image:Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Puerto Rico
1974 XXIII
- Host Country: Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States
- Teams: 9
- Gold: Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States
- Silver: Image:Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua
- Bronze: Image:Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia
1976 XXIV
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia
- Teams: 11
- Gold: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Silver: Image:Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Puerto Rico
- Bronze: Image:Flag of Japan (bordered).svg Japan
1978 XXV
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Italy.svg Italy
- Teams: 11
- Gold: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Silver: Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States
- Bronze: Image:Flag of South Korea (bordered).svg South Korea
1980 XXVI
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Japan (bordered).svg Japan
- Teams: 12
- Gold: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Silver: Image:Flag of South Korea (bordered).svg South Korea
- Bronze: Image:Flag of Japan (bordered).svg Japan
1982 XXVII
- Host Country: Image:Flag of South Korea (bordered).svg South Korea
- Teams: 10
- Gold: Image:Flag of South Korea (bordered).svg South Korea
- Silver: Image:Flag of Japan (bordered).svg Japan
- Bronze: Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States
1984 XXVIII
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Teams: 13
- Gold: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Silver: Image:Chinese Taipei Olympic Flag (bordered).svg Chinese Taipei
- Bronze: Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States
1986 XXIX
- Host Country: Image:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands
- Teams: 12
- Gold: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Silver: Image:Flag of South Korea (bordered).svg South Korea
- Bronze: Image:Chinese Taipei Olympic Flag (bordered).svg Chinese Taipei
1988 XXX
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Italy.svg Italy
- Teams: 12
- Gold: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Silver: Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States
- Bronze: Image:Chinese Taipei Olympic Flag (bordered).svg Chinese Taipei
1990 XXXI
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Canada.svg Canada
- Teams: 12
- Gold: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Silver: Image:Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua
- Bronze: Image:Flag of South Korea (bordered).svg South Korea
1994 XXXII
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua
- Teams: 16
- Gold: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Silver: Image:Flag of South Korea (bordered).svg South Korea
- Bronze: Image:Flag of Japan (bordered).svg Japan
1998 XXXIII
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Italy.svg Italy
- Teams: 16
- Gold: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Silver: Image:Flag of South Korea (bordered).svg South Korea
- Bronze: Image:Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua
2001 XXXIV
- Host Country: Image:Flag of the Republic of China.svg Taiwan, R.O.C.
- Teams: 16
- Gold: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Silver: Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States
- Bronze: Image:Chinese Taipei Olympic Flag (bordered).svg Chinese Taipei
2003 XXXV
- Host Country: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Teams: 16
- Gold: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Silver: Image:Flag of Panama.svg Panama
- Bronze: Image:Flag of Japan (bordered).svg Japan
2005 XXXVI
- Host Country: Image:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands
- Teams: 18
- Gold: Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
- Silver: Image:Flag of South Korea (bordered).svg South Korea
- Bronze: Image:Flag of Panama.svg Panama
2007 XXXVII
- Host Country: Image:Flag of the Republic of China.svg Taiwan, R.O.C.
[edit] Most successful countries
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)
Image:Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela
Gold: 3 (1941 1944 1945)
Silver: 2 (1951 1953)
Bronze: 4 (1942 1950 1961 1973)
Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States
Gold: 2 (1973 1974)
Silver: 8 (1938 1940* 1969 1970 1972 1978 1988 2001)
Bronze: 3 (1939 1982 1984)
Image:Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia
Gold: 2 (1947 1965)
Silver: 2 (1945 1971)
Bronze: 2 (1948 1974)
Image:Flag of South Korea (bordered).svg South Korea
Gold: 1 (1982)
Silver: 5 (1980 1986 1994 1998 2005)
Bronze: 2 (1978 1990)
Image:Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Puerto Rico
Gold: 1 (1951)
Silver: 4 (1947 1948 1973** 1976)
Bronze: 4 (1952 1965 1970 1973**)
Image:Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Dominican Republic
Gold: 1 (1948)
Silver: 3 (1942 1950 1952)
Bronze: 2 (1943 1969)
Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain
Gold: 1 (1938*)
Silver: 0
Bronze: 0
Image:Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua
Gold: 0
Silver: 5 (1939 1940* 1973 1974 1990)
Bronze: 5 (1947 1953 1971 1972 1998)
Image:Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico
Gold: 0
Silver: 4 (1943 1944 1961 1965)
Bronze: 1 (1941)
Image:Flag of Japan (bordered).svg Japan
Gold: 0
Silver: 1 (1982)
Bronze: 4 (1976 1980 1994 2003)
Image:Chinese Taipei Olympic Flag (bordered).svg Chinese Taipei
Gold: 0
Silver: 1 (1984)
Bronze: 3 (1986 1988 2001)
Image:Flag of Panama.svg Panama
Gold: 0
Silver: 1 (2003)
Bronze: 2 (1945 2005)
[edit] Footnotes
*In 1940 both Nicaragua and the USA won silver medals. There was no bronze medal team.
**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.
