World Baseball Classic

The World Baseball Classic (WBC), also called the Classic, is a big international baseball tournament that happens every four years. It is organized by the World Baseball Softball Confederation, the group that controls baseball worldwide, together with Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and the Major League Baseball Players Association. The team that wins gets the World Baseball Classic Championship Trophy. It is one of the two main adult baseball tournaments approved by the WBSC, but it is the only one that names a team the "world champion."

The idea for the tournament started in 2005 by MLB and its players. The first tournament was held in 2006 as a special event. Before that, there was Olympic baseball and the Baseball World Cup. In 2011, the WBSC decided to make the WBC the official world championship. This means teams have to qualify directly and follow rules against using performance-enhancing substances.

Japan is the only team to have won the tournament more than once, winning in 2006, 2009, and again in 2023. The tournament is special because it brings together the best players from top leagues all over the world, like MLB in the U.S. and Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. Players get to compete for their home countries, and the tournament helps grow the love for baseball everywhere. The 2023 WBC was one of the most watched baseball events ever.

Background

See also: Baseball World Cup and International Baseball Federation

Before the World Baseball Classic started, there was no big international baseball competition where teams from all over the world could play with top players. The main tournament was the Baseball World Cup, held 38 times from 1938 to 2011. It was first called the Amateur World Series and began with a competition between Great Britain and the United States in England in 1938, which Great Britain won. Cuba was the most successful team in this tournament, winning 25 times.

Baseball was sometimes played in the Summer Olympic Games, starting as early as 1912, but it wasn’t an official sport until the 1984 Los Angeles Games. It became a medal sport in 1992 but was dropped from the Olympics in 2012, though it appeared again as an optional event in 2020.

For most of its history, the Olympics and the Baseball World Cup only allowed amateur players, so top professional players from the United States, Japan, and other places couldn’t join. Even after both competitions allowed professional players in the 1990s, few major league players took part. The idea of a tournament with the best professional players was seriously discussed in the mid-1990s. In 2004, Gene Orza from the Major League Baseball Players Association started pushing for this tournament, and it was announced by MLB commissioner Bud Selig and MLBPA president Donald Fehr on May 11, 2005. The first tournament in 2006 was a big success, and plans began right away for another one in 2009.

In 2013, the International Baseball Federation merged with the International Softball Federation to create the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). That same year, the WBSC stopped holding the Baseball World Cup, making the World Baseball Classic one of the two main adult baseball tournaments they organize, along with the WBSC Premier12.

Status

See also: WBSC World Rankings

The World Baseball Classic (WBC) is often compared to the WBSC Premier12 because they are the only two big international baseball tournaments for adults. But the WBC is special because the team that wins gets to be called the "World Champion."

Many people think the WBC is more important than the Premier12 because the best players from Major League Baseball (MLB) play in the WBC but not in the Premier12. Because of this, some fans call the WBC "The World Cup of Baseball" and compare it to the FIFA World Cup. However, it’s interesting to note that the WBSC World Rankings give more points for winning the Premier12 than for winning the WBC.

History

The first World Baseball Classic tournament was announced in May by the commissioner of Major League Baseball. Major League Baseball had wanted to create this tournament for a few years, but there were some concerns. Some teams worried that their best players might get hurt before the season started. After some discussions, they agreed on rules for the tournament.

In the first tournament in 2006, 16 teams played. Japan won the tournament that year, beating Cuba in the final. In 2009, Japan won again. The United States won in 2017, and Japan won again in 2023. Venezuela won the most recent tournament in 2026. Each tournament has grown in popularity, with more fans watching and attending the games.

Format

The World Baseball Classic is played in March, during the time when many top baseball teams practice for their main season. The games happen in places that are warm enough for baseball in early spring.

Even though some of the best pitchers from big leagues don’t always join, the tournament still has many famous players, especially those who hit the ball well. In 2006, many great players from around the world joined, like Americans Derek Jeter and Ken Griffey Jr., and players from Japan, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. The tournament has continued to feature many top players from many countries each time it is held.

Rules of play

In addition to the normal rules of baseball, the World Baseball Classic has some extra rules.

A player can join a team if they are a citizen of that country, were born there, have a parent from there, or live there permanently.

Pitchers have limits on how many pitches they can throw in a game, depending on which round they are playing in. They also need rest days after throwing certain numbers of pitches.

If one team is far ahead, the game ends early to keep things fair. The designated hitter rule is used in all games.

From 2009 to 2017, extra-inning games started with runners on base to keep games from going on too long. In 2023, this rule changed to match regular season rules.

Starting in 2023, video review is used for all situations, just like in regular games. In 2026, a pitch clock will be used to keep games moving.

In tie situations, teams are ranked by how many runs they score and allow, not just by who won or lost.

Participation

The first two World Baseball Classic tournaments had the same 16 teams, all invited to play. Before the 2013 tournament, a qualifying round was added. This let new countries like Brazil and Spain join the main event. So far, seven nations have made it to the tournament through qualifying.

For the 2013 and 2017 tournaments, the top 12 teams from the last event automatically qualified. The four teams that finished last had to go through qualifying. These qualifying tournaments had four teams each, playing in a special format where losing one game means being out.

When the 2023 tournament grew to 20 teams, the qualifying rules changed again. All 16 teams from 2017 automatically qualified. The new qualifying round had two groups of six teams each. The winners and runners-up from these groups earned spots in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Trophy

The winner of the World Baseball Classic receives a special trophy called the World Baseball Classic Championship Trophy. This tournament is a big event where teams from many countries compete to be called the world champion of baseball. It happens every four years and is organized by leaders from baseball groups around the world.

Broadcasting and promotion

See also: World Baseball Classic television ratings

The World Baseball Classic is one of the most-watched baseball events in the world. In 2023, it was shown in 163 places around the globe through 63 different media partners, and it was broadcast in 13 languages. In Japan, almost 100 million people watched the tournament, especially when Shohei Ohtani struck out Mike Trout. The tournament is very popular in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, especially in Venezuela and parts of northern Colombia. The match between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico is a big rivalry, called "El Clásico". In 2023, the game between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic was watched by 62% of households in Puerto Rico.

Attendance

See also: List of sports attendance figures

The World Baseball Classic shows how many fans watch the games.

The games that decide which teams join the main tournament also have fans watching.

Venues

Cities that hosted the tournament games.

Unlike some other big tournaments that happen in just one country, the World Baseball Classic uses many different places around the world. So far, seven countries have helped host the games. Each time the tournament happens, games are played in Asia, Latin America, and the United States. But the final games are always played in Major League Baseball stadiums in the United States.

Results

Medal table

See also: National team appearances in the World Baseball Classic

Honors

Most Valuable Player

See also: Baseball World Cup § Most Valuable Player

In 2006, Japan's Daisuke Matsuzaka was the first to win the Most Valuable Player award. He pitched 13 innings and had a great record. He later joined the Boston Red Sox in MLB. In 2009, Matsuzaka won the award again. In 2013, Robinson Canó won after hitting well and scoring runs. In 2017, Marcus Stroman from the Toronto Blue Jays won for the U.S. team. In 2023, Shohei Ohtani from the Los Angeles Angels won after playing very well both hitting and pitching. In 2026, Maikel García from the Kansas City Royals won after key hits and runs in important games.

All-WBC teams

After each tournament, an all-star team is chosen based on how well players did. The team includes three pitchers, eight other players, and a designated hitter. Daisuke Matsuzaka from Japan, Yadier Molina from Puerto Rico, and Javier Báez from Puerto Rico are the only players chosen twice. Shohei Ohtani from Japan was chosen for two different positions in 2023.

Overall, players from 13 countries have been chosen for an All-WBC team, with Japan and the United States having the most.

Statistical leaders

Here are the top players in different statistics from all the tournaments up to 2023, not including qualifier games.