Cuba national baseball team

Cuba national baseball team
Country  Cuba
Federation Baseball Federation of Cuba
Confederation Pan American Baseball Confederation
Manager Victor Mesa
IBAF World Rank 3rd
Uniforms
World Baseball Classic
Appearances 2 (First in 2006)
Best result 2nd (1 time, in 2006)
Olympic Games
Appearances 5 (First in 1992)
Best result 1st (3 times, most recent in 2004)
World Cup
Appearances 35 (First in 1939)
Best result 1st (25 times, most recent in 2005)
Intercontinental Cup
Appearances 13 (First in 1979)
Best result 1st (10 times, most recent in 2006)
Pan American Games
Appearances 15 (First in 1951)
Best result 1st (12 times, most recent in 2007)

The Cuba national baseball team is the national team of Cuba. The team is made up from the most professional players from the Cuban national baseball system. Cuba has been described as a baseball powerhouse[1] and currently ranks 3rd in IBAF's world rankings.[2]

History

World Baseball Classic

2006

Cuba participated in the inaugural World Baseball Classic tournament, although there was controversy over Cuban involvement, due to the United States embargo against Cuba. Cuba reached the finals of this tournament, but lost the final to Japan by a score of 10-6.

2009

Cuba again participated in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, playing its first round games in Pool B at Foro Sol in Mexico City. Cuba secured advancement to the second round with wins over South Africa and Australia. However, they lost to Japan twice in the 2nd round and were eliminated. It was their first elimination before finals in international game since 1951.

2013

For the third time ever, Cuba participated in the 2013 World Baseball Classic in Pool A in Fukuoka Dome in Fukuoka, Japan, facing off against China, Japan and newcomers Brazil. The Cuban team has beaten all three teams undefeated to proceed to the second round in Pool 1 to face off against the Netherlands, losing 6-2 in the first preliminary round. They faced off against Chinese Taipei, winning 14-0 to face off against the Dutch team once again, but have lost 7-6, thus eliminating the Cuban team from reaching the finals for the second time.

Olympics

The Cuban team has participated in every Summer Olympic Games since 1992. It has been the most successful team at the Olympics. In the five tournaments contested, they have won the gold medal three times and the silver twice.

IBAF World Cup

2009 IBAF World Cup

Cuba was originally slated to host the 2009 Baseball World Cup, however, they willingly gave up the honor to Europe. In an effort to help baseball grow as a sport in Europe, the Baseball World Cup was hosted by a whole continent for the first time in history. The 2009 Baseball World Cup took place from September 9–27. Seven European countries hosted and participated in the tournament of 22 teams. The event was made up of five groups consisting of four teams each, for a total of 20 teams. Italy (Bollate, Bologna, Codogno, Florence, Macerata, Milano, Parma, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia, Rimini, San Marino, Torino, Trieste, Verona & Vicenza) and Netherlands (Rotterdam, Haarlem & Amsterdam) served as hosts of the sixteen teams of the second round (September 14–20), and therefore received first round byes. The groups are as follows:[3]

International tournament results

Cuban team lining up prior to the gold medal game in the 2006 Intercontinental Cup against the Netherlands

World Baseball Classic

 Cuba
World Baseball Classic
Tournament Results
Puerto Rico / United States 2006 2nd
Mexico / United States 2009 6th
Japan 2013 5th
Medal Tally
Gold		 -
Silver		 2006
Bronze		 -
World Baseball Classic record Qualification record
Year Host(s) Round Position W L RS RA Host W L RS RA
2006 Puerto Rico/United States Final 2nd 5 3 44 43 No qualifiers held
2009 Mexico United States Round 2 6th 4 2 36 24 No qualifiers held
2013 Japan Round 2 5th 4 2 45 18 Automatically qualified
2017 Automatically qualified
Total 4/4 13 7 125 85 - - - -

Olympics

IBAF World Cup

Intercontinental Cup

Pan American Games

Central American & Caribbean Games

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Baseball World Cup big news in Cuba, no matter the outcome". CNN. 2009-09-28.
  2. ↑ "IBAF World Rankings" (PDF). International Baseball Federation. 2 June 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  3. ↑ "IBAF announces groups for first round of 2009 Baseball World Cup" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-03-15.
  4. ↑ "IBAF World Cup 2009 in Europe". Retrieved 2009-03-15.

External links

Media related to Cuba national baseball team at Wikimedia Commons

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