France national baseball team

France national baseball team
Country  France
Confederation Confederation of European Baseball
Manager Eric Gagné
World Cup
Appearances 3 (First in 1994)
Best result 15th
Intercontinental Cup
Appearances 3 (First in 1991)
Best result 7th

The French National Baseball team represents the French Federation of Baseball and Softball (Fédération française de baseball et softball) in international competitions, such as the World Baseball Classic, the European Baseball Championship or the World Cup of Baseball. They are currently ranked 24th in the world.

History

The history of the French team began in 1929 with their first official game against Spain in Barcelona with a 10–6 victory.[1] The team made its debut in competition in 1955 when it played in the finals of the second European Baseball Championship, finishing fifth out of five teams.[2]

The French team has qualified for the World Cup finals three times, the first time in 1994. In order to qualify for the finals a playoff game was played against South Africa. France lost seven games during the competition, and finished in 16th place out of 16 teams.[3] In 2001, as well as 2003, les Bleus (the nickname of the team) made their way into the World Cup finals. During the 2001 edition the French team finished in 15th place, tied for last with the Philippines. They also finished in 15th place in 2003, out of 15 teams. After 3 trips to the World Cup and 21 games, the French team has yet to record a win.

In the fall of 2012, France participated in their first World Baseball Classic Qualifier. The team played in the Jupiter, Florida pool alongside South Africa, Spain and Israel. France lost both its games to Spain and South Africa. Les Bleus are expected to participate in the following WBC, scheduled for fall 2016/spring 2017.

In September 2013, France named former MLB pitcher Eric Gagne new head coach. The team played a series of trial games in Florida in October 2013 and in Phoenix, Arizona in March 2014 in preparation for the 2014 European Championships. In early September 2014, France hosted the inaugural France International Baseball Tournament. France won the first exhibition game 8-7 vs. Japan before claiming game 1 6-3 over Belgium and game 2 10-5, again over Japan. "Les Bleus" claimed their first ever victory over the Netherlands with a 12-8 win on September 8, 2014 before falling 3-2 against the Dutch in the championship game the following night.

Every two years, France participates in the European Baseball Championship. France's best result came in 1999 when the team finished third. The French National team finished 6th in the 2014 European Championships, going 4-1 in Regensburg, GER before falling to Czech Republic, Holland and Spain in the Brno, CZ.

In July 2015 France will send many of its national team players to participate in the 2015 World University Summer Games in South Korea. Rouen manager Keino Perez will be the interim manager for this competition, filling in for Eric Gagne. France will play against South Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, USA, Mexico and Czech Republic.

Name Team Position
Matthieu Brelle Sénart RHP
Patrice Briones Anglet LHP
Dan Camou Rouen RHP
Leo Cespedes Toulouse RHP
Nicolas Dubaut Paris RHP
Thomas Langlois Montpellier LHP
Pierrick Lemestre Sénart RHP
Jonathan Mottay Sénart RHP
Thomas Meley Montpellier LHP
Owen Ozanich Rouen RHP
Enrique Trinidad Paris RHP
Yoann Vaugelade Rouen RHP
Boris Marche Rouen C
Aram Kushigian Paris C
Andy Paz Oakland Athletics A C
René Leveret Quebec (CAN-AM) INF
Jorge Hereaud Toulouse INF
Maxime Lefevre Rouen INF
Félix Brown Sénart INF
Omar Williams DOOR Neptunus (Holland) INF
Arthur Paturel Rouen OF
Pierre Turettes Paris OF
Jacques Boucheron Sénart OF
Fred Hanvi Kochi (Japan) OF

Past Results

France U22 team, runner-up of the 2006 U22 European Championship.

Historical Results

World Baseball Classic record Qualification record
Year Host(s) Round Position W L RS RA Host W L RS RA
2006 Did not enter No qualifiers held
2009 Did not enter No qualifiers held
2013 Did not qualify United States 0 2 2 13
Total 0/3 - - - - 1/1 0 2 2 13

Baseball World Cup

Intercontinental Cup

European Baseball Championship

  • 1954 : did not qualify
  • 1955 : 5th
  • 1956 : did not qualify
  • 1957 : did not qualify
  • 1958 : 6th
  • 1960 : did not qualify
  • 1962 : 6th
  • 1964 : 5th
  • 1965 : did not qualify
  • 1967 : did not qualify
  • 1969 : 7th
  • 1971 : 9th
  • 1973 : 6th
  • 1975 : 6th
  • 1977 : did not qualify
  • 1979 : did not qualify
  • 1981 : did not qualify
  • 1983 : 6th
  • 1985 : did not qualify
  • 1987 : 400 sami buttlickin butts
  • 1989 : 5o sami payne butt-check licker
  • 1991 : 4th
  • 1993 : 4th
  • 1995 : 5th
  • 1997 : 5th
  • 1999 : 3rd 3rd
  • 2001 : 4th
  • 2003 : 7th
  • 2005 : 6th
  • 2007 : 5th
  • 2010 : 6th
  • 2012 : 8th
  • 2014 : 6th

References

  1. ↑ Peter C. Bjarkman, Diamonds around the globe, Wesport (CT), Greenwood Press, 2005, p.355, ISBN 0313322686
  2. ↑ honkbalsite.com – European Championship – 1955
  3. ↑ honkbalsite.com – World Cup – 1994

External links