United States national baseball team
Encyclopedia
The United States National Baseball team represents the United States
in international baseball competition. The United States has won the previous two Baseball World Cups, having lost this title to the Netherlands
in 2011, and is currently second in the IBAF World Rankings
, behind Cuba
.
The team is controlled by USA Baseball
.
announced the formation of the World Baseball Classic
, a 16 nation international competition to be held in March of for the first time. A month after this announcement, the IOC voted to eliminate baseball from the 2012 London Olympic games, leaving the WBC as the only international tournament to feature American professionals.
Though the U.S.A. has its own team in the WBC, American born ballplayers could be found on the rosters of several other clubs as a result of the unique rules of this tournament. A player is eligible to participate on a WBC national team if:
s and thirteen pitcher
s. Sixteen of the thirty Major League clubs were represented on the 2006 squad, including multiple representatives from the New York Yankees
(4), Houston Astros
(3), Washington Nationals
(3), Atlanta Braves
(2), Boston Red Sox
(2), Chicago Cubs
(2), Colorado Rockies
(2), Houston Astros
(2), and Texas Rangers
(2). The fact that four Yankees were selected for the squad irked Yankees owner George Steinbrenner
, who was opposed to the WBC being held in the middle of spring training
to the point where at his team's complex in Tampa, Florida
, he posted a sign apologizing for their absence and mocking the tournament in the process. Major League Baseball
commissioner Bud Selig
promptly ordered him to take down the sign the next day.
Manager Buck Martinez brought his 17 years of professional experience as a major league catcher
, and 1+ seasons as Toronto Blue Jays
' (-) skipper to the U.S. team. Former big league managers Davey Johnson
and Marcel Lachemann
served as hitting coach and pitching coach, respectively. Rounding out the coaching staff for Team U.S.A. were Reggie Smith
(hitting), Ken Griffey, Sr.
(first base), and John McLaren
(third base). A number of former players helped including Rick Sutcliffe, Rick Eckstein (bullpen coach), Tony Dello (left-handed batting practice) and James Grady (bullpen catcher and right-handed batting practice). The front office staff comprised Bob Watson, Paul Seiler, Eric Campbell, Ray Darwin, Dave Fanucchi, Rob Butcher, Evan Howard (WBC Team Coordinator), Reggie Younger (Travel Director), Phyllis Merhige (Senior VP, Club Relations), and Tyson Steele and Matt Weiss (Equipment Managers). Dave Tumbas and Greg Keuter served as trainers.
Team U.S.A. hosted Pool B of the four pool round-robin tournament. Along with fellow North America
n rivals Canada
and Mexico
, the U.S. hosted the South Africa
. Round One games were held at Chase Field
in Phoenix, Arizona
and Scottsdale Stadium
in Scottsdale, Arizona
. The top two teams to emerge from Pool B advanced to Angel Stadium of Anaheim
in Anaheim, California
were the U.S. and Mexico. In the second round, they faced the top two teams from Pool A, Japan
and Korea
.
, along with Italy
, Venezuela
and the host nation, Canada
. The U.S. won the pool opener against Canada
by a score of 6-5, and secured advancement into Round 2 by defeating Venezuela
in a 15-6 slugfest. Venezuela, however, came back to defeat the U.S. in the championship game of Pool C, 5-3.
On March 14, in their first match of round 2 against Puerto Rico
, in Miami, Florida
's Dolphin Stadium
, the United States was mercy rule
d for the first time in international competition, losing 11-1 in seven inning
s. Adam Dunn
and Captain Derek Jeter
were among the ones to voice their distaste with the severe beating. Manager Davey Johnson even stated "I should have stayed there," referencing a wedding he was at earlier in the day.
Team U.S.A. came on strong the following day against the surprising Netherlands
(who had already eliminated a tournament super power: The Dominican Republic
), jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the fourth inning, and winning 9-3. With Puerto Rico
losing to Venezuela 2-0 the following day, the U.S. would face Puerto Rico once again in the qualifying round. The loser would be eliminated from the tournament.
A solo home run
by Alex Rios
gave Puerto Rico an early 1-0 lead as the two teams battled back and forth for most of the game. Leading 4-3 heading into the ninth inning, Puerto Rico added an insurance run, making the score 5-3. Following singles
by Shane Victorino
and Brian Roberts
, and a walk to Jimmy Rollins
, Kevin Youkilis
worked a patient walk to cut the lead to 5-4. Up stepped the New York Mets
' David Wright, and on a 2-1 pitch he looped a single that just stayed fair into right, that brought in Roberts and Rollins to win the game 6-5. With the Win the U.S. secured a spot in the semi-finals of the World Baseball Classic, and eliminated the Puerto Rican team. The United States would go on to lose to Japan 9-4 in the second semi-final.
in Los Angeles, California
was the first to feature a tournament in the program, and also the first time that the sport was played in Olympics held in the United States
. Eight teams competed in the tournament held at Dodger Stadium
. Cuba
, after winning the gold medal at the 1983 Pan American Games
, was to participate, but did not as a result of the Soviet-led boycott
. The US national team finished second to Japan
, however, no medals were given as Baseball at the 1984 Summer Olympics
was a demonstration sport
.
The US won its only gold at the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney, Australia. Baseball had its debut as an official medal sport at the 1992 Summer Olympics
in Barcelona
. The US finished fourth, behind Cuba, Japan and Chinese Taipei. In , the US had to face the embarrassment of not even qualifying for the Olympics
in Athens, Greece.
The United States qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics
by winning the American Qualifying Tournament. They won the Bronze medal at the Beijing
games, finishing behind South Korea (Gold) and Cuba (Silver).
At the International Olympic Committee
(IOC) meeting on July 8, , baseball and softball
were voted out of the 2012 Summer Olympics
in London
, becoming the first sports voted out of the Olympics since Polo
was eliminated from the 1936 Summer Olympics
.
. The U.S. won its first Amateur World Series in , and repeated a year later.
In , the Amateur World Series became the International Baseball Federation
's (IBAF) World Cup.
Since 1938, the U.S. has won fifteen medals: four gold (1973, 1974, 2007
, 2009
), seven silver (1938
, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1978
, 1988
, 2001
), and four bronze (1939
, 1940
, 1982
, 1984
).
, Japan, Mexico
, Panama
, Italy, Spain
and South Africa
. The U.S. went 6-1 to win their group, with their only loss coming on November 9, against Italy. It was the U.S.'s first loss to Italy in 21 years and the first time it ever lost to Italy with professional players, as the team consisted of Major League players and top minor league
prospects.
This one loss, however, would be their only. The U.S. went on to beat Korea, Netherlands
and Cuba to capture the gold.
, the U.S. (2-1) finished second in Group E and advanced with first-place Venezuela (3-0). In Round 2, the U.S. was joined by the nine other first- and second-place teams from Round 1, four wild-card teams, and the two principal host teams (Italy and the Netherlands). The sixteen teams were divided into Groups F and G. The U.S. (7-0) defeated each of the other seven teams in Group G. In Round 3, the first four teams in Group F were re-named Group 1 and the first four teams in Group G were re-named Group 2. The U.S. finished first in Group 2 with a record of 7-0; Cuba finished first in Group 1, with a 5-2 record. In the Final Round, Group 1 and 2's fourth-place teams competed for overall seventh place; the two third-place teams competed for overall fifth place; and the two second-place teams competed for the bronze medal. In the gold-medal game, the U.S. defeated Cuba, 10-5.
Tournament awards were given to Justin Smoak
(MVP) and Todd Redmond
(best won/loss average (pitcher)). Smoak (first base) was also named to the tournament All-Star Team, along with Jon Weber (outfield) and Terry Tiffee
(designated hitter).
Future big leaguers to have competed in the Intercontinental Cup for the U.S. include Joe Carter
, Terry Francona
, Mickey Morandini
, John Olerud
& Robin Ventura
.
ever since the event began in . The U.S. has finished second behind Cuba eight of the twelve times they have brought home the gold. Likewise, when the U.S. won the gold medal at the 1967 Pan American Games
, Cuba finished second.
In total, the U.S. has won one gold medal, nine silver medals and three bronze. The only games the U.S. failed to medal in were and . For the 1995 games, the U.S. did not send their national team, but instead the St. John's University baseball team, who finished 0-4 against the international All-star
teams. The 16th Pan American Games are to take place in October 2011, in Guadalajara, Jalisco
, Mexico. It will be the largest multi-sport event held in Mexico outside Mexico City
.
, along with Nicaragua
, the Dominican Republic and Brazil
. The U.S. emerged out of Group A with a 3-0 record, and defeated Mexico 2-1 in the second round to set up a championship game against their nemeses, Cuba. Cuba won the gold for the tenth time in a row, while the U.S. settled for the silver. The bronze was awarded to both Mexico and Nicaragua as rain canceled their bronze medal match up.
(UCLA
), Sonny Gray
(Vanderbilt
) and infielder Brad Miller (Clemson
). The team is scheduled to compete in exhibition games across the U.S. and overseas against the world's top baseball talent, including teams from Canada, Chinese Taipei and the Netherlands. Their playing schedule begins on July 6 at Cary, NC and ends on Aug. 8 in Meiji Jingu Stadium
, Tokyo, Japan. The 2009 team won the World Baseball Challenge
in Canada.
Players who taken the field for the Collegiate National Team and have gone onto Major League Baseball
success include such notables as Jim Abbott
, Troy Glaus
, Todd Helton
, Ryan Howard
, Barry Larkin
, Tino Martinez
, Dustin Pedroia
, David Price
, Huston Street
, Mark Teixeira
, Troy Tulowitzki
, Jason Varitek
, and Ryan Zimmerman
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in international baseball competition. The United States has won the previous two Baseball World Cups, having lost this title to the Netherlands
Netherlands national baseball team
The Netherlands national baseball team is the national baseball team of the Netherlands. They are currently the top team in Europe and currently the sixth ranked men's baseball team in the IBAF World Rankings....
in 2011, and is currently second in the IBAF World Rankings
IBAF World Rankings
The IBAF World Rankings is a ranking system for men's national teams in baseball, currently led by Cuba. The teams of the member nations of IBAF , baseball's world governing body, are ranked based on their tournament results with the most successful teams being ranked highest...
, behind Cuba
Cuba national baseball team
The Cuba national baseball team is the national team of Cuba. The team is made up of amateur players from the Cuban national baseball system, as there are no professional sports leagues in Cuba...
.
The team is controlled by USA Baseball
USA Baseball
USA Baseball was founded in , and is the governing body for amateur baseball in the United States of America. It is a member of the United States Olympic Committee and organizes the United States national baseball team...
.
World Baseball Classic
In June , Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
announced the formation of the World Baseball Classic
World Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation and created by Major League Baseball , the Major League Baseball Players Association , and other professional baseball leagues and their players associations around the world...
, a 16 nation international competition to be held in March of for the first time. A month after this announcement, the IOC voted to eliminate baseball from the 2012 London Olympic games, leaving the WBC as the only international tournament to feature American professionals.
Though the U.S.A. has its own team in the WBC, American born ballplayers could be found on the rosters of several other clubs as a result of the unique rules of this tournament. A player is eligible to participate on a WBC national team if:
- The player is a citizen of the nation the team represents.
- The player is qualified for citizenship or to hold a passportPassportA passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
under the laws of a nation represented by a team, but has not been granted citizenship or been issued a passport, then the player may be made eligible by WBCI upon petition by the player or team. - The player is a permanent legal resident of the nation or territory the team represents.
- The player was born in the nation or territory the team represents.
- The player has one parent who is, or if deceased was, a citizen of the nation the team represents.
- The player has one parent who was born in the nation or territory the team represents.
2006
On January 17, , the United States announced its provisional 60 man roster (52 players in all), and whittled down the star-studded squad mixed with youth and experience to just thirty players on February 14, 2006. All teams participating in the tournament needed to have at least three catcherCatcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
s and thirteen pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
s. Sixteen of the thirty Major League clubs were represented on the 2006 squad, including multiple representatives from the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(4), Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
(3), Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
(3), Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
(2), Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(2), Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
(2), Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
(2), Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
(2), and Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
(2). The fact that four Yankees were selected for the squad irked Yankees owner George Steinbrenner
George Steinbrenner
George Michael Steinbrenner III was an American businessman who was the principal owner and managing partner of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees. During Steinbrenner's 37-year ownership from 1973 to his death in July 2010, the longest in club history, the Yankees earned seven World Series...
, who was opposed to the WBC being held in the middle of spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
to the point where at his team's complex in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, he posted a sign apologizing for their absence and mocking the tournament in the process. Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
commissioner Bud Selig
Bud Selig
Allan Huber "Bud" Selig is the ninth and current Commissioner of Major League Baseball, having served in that capacity since 1992 as the acting commissioner, and as the official commissioner since 1998...
promptly ordered him to take down the sign the next day.
Manager Buck Martinez brought his 17 years of professional experience as a major league catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
, and 1+ seasons as Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
' (-) skipper to the U.S. team. Former big league managers Davey Johnson
Davey Johnson
David Allen "Davey" Johnson is an American Major League Baseball player and current manager of the Washington Nationals. He was the starting second baseman for the Baltimore Orioles when they won four American League pennants and two World Series championships between 1965 and 1972...
and Marcel Lachemann
Marcel Lachemann
Marcel Ernest Lachemann is a baseball pitching coach and a former relief pitcher for the Oakland Athletics...
served as hitting coach and pitching coach, respectively. Rounding out the coaching staff for Team U.S.A. were Reggie Smith
Reggie Smith
Carl Reginald Smith is a former Major League Baseball outfielder, coach and front office executive. During a 17-year big league career , Smith appeared in 1,987 games, hit 314 home runs and batted .287. He was a switch-hitter who threw right-handed. In his prime, he had one of the strongest...
(hitting), Ken Griffey, Sr.
Ken Griffey, Sr.
George Kenneth "Ken" Griffey is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He currently serves as Manager for the Bakersfield Blaze, the Reds' Single A minor league affiliate. He is the father of former professional outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. and former minor leaguer Craig Griffey. He and his...
(first base), and John McLaren
John McLaren (baseball)
John Lowell McLaren is a former Major League Baseball coach and manager, best known for his brief tenure as manager of the Seattle Mariners, from July 1, to June 19,...
(third base). A number of former players helped including Rick Sutcliffe, Rick Eckstein (bullpen coach), Tony Dello (left-handed batting practice) and James Grady (bullpen catcher and right-handed batting practice). The front office staff comprised Bob Watson, Paul Seiler, Eric Campbell, Ray Darwin, Dave Fanucchi, Rob Butcher, Evan Howard (WBC Team Coordinator), Reggie Younger (Travel Director), Phyllis Merhige (Senior VP, Club Relations), and Tyson Steele and Matt Weiss (Equipment Managers). Dave Tumbas and Greg Keuter served as trainers.
Team U.S.A. hosted Pool B of the four pool round-robin tournament. Along with fellow North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n rivals Canada
Canada national baseball team
Canada has qualified for two Olympic games, in 2004 and 2008. Canadian teams also competed twice when baseball was a demonstration sport, in 1984 and 1988.-1984 Summer Olympics:...
and Mexico
Mexico national baseball team
The Mexico national baseball team is the baseball team which represents Mexico in international tournaments. They are currently the eighth ranked baseball team in the world.-Pan American Games:*1951 Bronze Medal *1963 Bronze Medal...
, the U.S. hosted the South Africa
South Africa national baseball team
The South African national baseball team is a baseball team which represents the Republic of South Africa in international baseball competitions such as the World Baseball Classic and formerly the Summer Olympics.-All-Africa Games:...
. Round One games were held at Chase Field
Chase Field
Chase Field is a baseball stadium located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona and is the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball. It opened in , just in time for the Diamondbacks' first game as an expansion team...
in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
and Scottsdale Stadium
Scottsdale Stadium
Scottsdale Stadium is a baseball field located in Scottsdale, Arizona. The stadium was built in 1992 and holds 12,000 people. It is the spring training home of the San Francisco Giants...
in Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
. The top two teams to emerge from Pool B advanced to Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Angel Stadium of Anaheim is a modern-style ballpark located in Anaheim, California. It is the home ballpark to Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of the American League, and was previously home to the NFL's Los Angeles Rams...
in Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
were the U.S. and Mexico. In the second round, they faced the top two teams from Pool A, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
.
Round One
- March 7
- USA 2,
Mexico 0 (Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ)
- March 8
- Canada 8,
USA 6 (Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ)
- March 10
- USA 17 vs.South Africa 0 (stopped in 5th inning due to Mercy Rule) at Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Round Two
- March 12
- USA 4,Japan 3 (Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA)
- March 13
- Korea 7,
USA 3 (Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA)
- March 15
- USA 1,Mexico 2 (Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA) The United States is eliminated from the competition.
2009
Team U.S.A. competed in Pool C of the 2009 World Baseball Classic2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...
, along with Italy
Italy national baseball team
The Italy national baseball team is the team that represents Italy in international baseball competition. The Italian national team is currently ranked 12th in the world.-World Baseball Classic:...
, Venezuela
Venezuela national baseball team
The Venezuela national baseball team is the national team of Venezuela. They are currently ranked seventh in the world by the International Baseball Federation.-World Baseball Classic:...
and the host nation, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The U.S. won the pool opener against Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
by a score of 6-5, and secured advancement into Round 2 by defeating Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
in a 15-6 slugfest. Venezuela, however, came back to defeat the U.S. in the championship game of Pool C, 5-3.
On March 14, in their first match of round 2 against Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico national baseball team
The Puerto Rico National Baseball Team is a team that is selected by the Puerto Rican Baseball Federation to compete in major international events in representation of Puerto Rico...
, in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
's Dolphin Stadium
Dolphin Stadium
Sun Life Stadium is an American football stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, a suburb of Miami. It is the home stadium of the Miami Dolphins National Football League team, and the University of Miami Hurricanes football team. It also hosts the Orange Bowl, an annual college football bowl game. It...
, the United States was mercy rule
Mercy rule
A mercy rule, also well known by the slightly less polite term slaughter rule , brings a sports event to an early end when one team has a very large and presumably insurmountable lead over the other team...
d for the first time in international competition, losing 11-1 in seven inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
s. Adam Dunn
Adam Dunn
Adam Troy Dunn , nicknamed "Big Donkey", is an American Major League Baseball first baseman, outfielder, and designated hitter for the Chicago White Sox. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed....
and Captain Derek Jeter
Derek Jeter
Derek Sanderson Jeter is an American baseball shortstop who has played 17 years in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. A twelve-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion, Jeter's clubhouse presence, on-field leadership, hitting ability, and baserunning have made him a central...
were among the ones to voice their distaste with the severe beating. Manager Davey Johnson even stated "I should have stayed there," referencing a wedding he was at earlier in the day.
Team U.S.A. came on strong the following day against the surprising Netherlands
Netherlands national baseball team
The Netherlands national baseball team is the national baseball team of the Netherlands. They are currently the top team in Europe and currently the sixth ranked men's baseball team in the IBAF World Rankings....
(who had already eliminated a tournament super power: The Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic national baseball team
The Dominican Republic national baseball team is the national baseball team of the Dominican Republic.-World Baseball Classic Roster:- Dominican Republic:Manager: 17 Felipe Alou...
), jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the fourth inning, and winning 9-3. With Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
losing to Venezuela 2-0 the following day, the U.S. would face Puerto Rico once again in the qualifying round. The loser would be eliminated from the tournament.
A solo home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
by Alex Rios
Alex Ríos
Alexis Israel "Alex" Ríos is a Puerto Rican-American Major League Baseball outfielder who plays for the Chicago White Sox. He bats and throws right-handed.-Professional career:...
gave Puerto Rico an early 1-0 lead as the two teams battled back and forth for most of the game. Leading 4-3 heading into the ninth inning, Puerto Rico added an insurance run, making the score 5-3. Following singles
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
by Shane Victorino
Shane Victorino
Shane Patrick Victorino is an outfielder in Major League Baseball who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies. He is a switch-hitter and throws right-handed.-Career:...
and Brian Roberts
Brian Roberts
Brian Michael Roberts is an American Major League Baseball All Star second baseman, nicknamed B-Rob.He made his Major League debut in and has spent his entire professional career with the Baltimore Orioles organization, located in Baltimore, Maryland.-Early life, education and college-baseball...
, and a walk to Jimmy Rollins
Jimmy Rollins
James Calvin "Jimmy" Rollins , nicknamed "J-Roll", is an All-Star and former MVP shortstop, who most recently played for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball's National League....
, Kevin Youkilis
Kevin Youkilis
Kevin Edmund Youkilis , also known as "Youk" , is an American professional baseball player with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball...
worked a patient walk to cut the lead to 5-4. Up stepped the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
' David Wright, and on a 2-1 pitch he looped a single that just stayed fair into right, that brought in Roberts and Rollins to win the game 6-5. With the Win the U.S. secured a spot in the semi-finals of the World Baseball Classic, and eliminated the Puerto Rican team. The United States would go on to lose to Japan 9-4 in the second semi-final.
Roster
| Name | Position | Number | Organization | B/T | Height | Weight | Birth Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heath Bell Heath Bell Heath Justin Bell is an American professional baseball pitcher, who is currently a free agent. After taking over the San Diego Padres closer role from Trevor Hoffman in 2009, Bell was named a three-time All-Star and has been awarded with the Rolaids Relief Man Award twice and has also won the DHL... |
Pitcher | 99 |  San Diego PadresSan Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times... |
R/R | 240 lb | 09/29/1977 | |
| Jonathan Broxton Jonathan Broxton Jonathan Roy Broxton is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball... |
Pitcher | 51 | Los Angeles Dodgers Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming... |
R/R | 290 lbs | 06/16/1984 | |
| John Grabow John Grabow John William Grabow, nicknamed "Grabes" , is a Major League Baseball left-handed reliever.... |
Pitcher | 34 | Chicago Cubs Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National... |
L/L | 205 lbs | 11/04/1978 | |
| Jeremy Guthrie Jeremy Guthrie Jeremy Shane Guthrie is a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles.-Early life and education:... |
Pitcher | 46 | Baltimore Orioles Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league... |
R/R | 195 lbs | 04/08/1979 | |
| Joel Hanrahan Joel Hanrahan Joel Ryan Hanrahan , nicknamed The Hammer, is a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Los Angeles Dodgers:... |
Pitcher | 38 | Pittsburgh Pirates Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions... |
R/R | 250 lbs | 10/06/1981 | |
| LaTroy Hawkins LaTroy Hawkins LaTroy Hawkins is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Through 2011, he was third of all active pitchers in career games pitched.-Minnesota Twins:... |
Pitcher | 42 | Milwaukee Brewers Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League... |
R/R | 215 lbs | 12/21/1972 | |
| J.P. Howell J.P. Howell James Phillip Howell is a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays. J.P. attended Saint Mary's School in Sacramento, California... |
Pitcher | 39 | Tampa Bay Rays Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field... |
L/L | 175 lbs | 04/25/1983 | |
| Ted Lilly Ted Lilly Theodore Roosevelt "Ted" Lilly III , is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He bats and throws left-handed... |
Pitcher | 33 | Los Angeles Dodgers Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming... |
L/L | 190 lbs | 01/04/1976 | |
| Matt Lindstrom | Pitcher | 29 | Colorado Rockies Colorado Rockies The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains... |
R/R | 210 lbs | 02/11/1980 | |
| Roy Oswalt Roy Oswalt Roy Edward Oswalt is an American Major League Baseball pitcher and Olympic gold medalist who is currently a free agent. Oswalt, a slender six-foot right-handed starting pitcher, is currently in his eleventh major league season... |
Pitcher | 44 | Houston Astros Houston Astros The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field... |
R/R | 185 lbs | 08/29/1977 | |
| Jake Peavy Jake Peavy Jacob Edward Peavy is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Chicago White Sox. He bats and throws right-handed... |
Pitcher | 22 | Chicago White Sox Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans... |
R/R | 195 lbs | 05/31/1981 | |
| J.J. Putz J.J. Putz Joseph Jason "J. J." Putz is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks.-High school:Born in Trenton, Michigan, Putz led Trenton High School to the 1994 Division 2 state championship. He graduated in 1995 and won the Mr... |
Pitcher | 23 | Arizona Diamondbacks Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field... |
R/R | 250 lbs | 02/22/1977 | |
| Scot Shields Scot Shields Robert Scot Shields is a former American Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He played his entire baseball career with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, serving as their setup man since... |
Pitcher | 62 | Los Angeles Angels |
R/R | 180 lbs | 07/22/1975 | |
| Matt Thornton Matt Thornton Matthew J. Thornton , is a left-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Chicago White Sox. Before the season, Thornton was with the Seattle Mariners.-College and minor league baseball:... |
Pitcher | 37 | Chicago White Sox Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans... |
L/L | 235 lbs | 09/15/1976 | |
| Brad Ziegler Brad Ziegler Brad Gregory Ziegler is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks.-Minor leagues:... |
Pitcher | 31 | Arizona Diamondbacks Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field... |
R/R | 205 lbs | 10/10/1979 | |
| Chris Iannetta Chris Iannetta Christopher Domenic Iannetta is an American professional baseball catcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Major League Baseball.-High school:... |
Catcher | 26 | Colorado Rockies Colorado Rockies The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains... |
R/R | 225 lbs | 04/08/1983 | |
| Brian McCann | Catcher | 16 | Atlanta Braves Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997.... |
L/R | 230 lbs | 02/20/1984 | |
| Mark DeRosa Mark DeRosa Mark Thomas DeRosa is a Major League Baseball player. DeRosa is a utility player who has been primarily a second baseman, but can play other positions, including the outfield; he played six positions for the Chicago Cubs. He bats right-handed.DeRosa was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 7th... |
Infielder | 7 | San Francisco Giants San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division.... |
R/R | 205 lbs | 02/26/1975 | |
| Derek Jeter Derek Jeter Derek Sanderson Jeter is an American baseball shortstop who has played 17 years in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. A twelve-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion, Jeter's clubhouse presence, on-field leadership, hitting ability, and baserunning have made him a central... |
Infielder | 2 | New York Yankees New York Yankees The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division... |
R/R | 195 lbs | 06/26/1974 | |
| Chipper Jones Chipper Jones Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones, Jr. is a Major League baseball player for the National League's Atlanta Braves. Although initially a shortstop, he has spent most of his career as the starting third baseman for the Braves... |
Infielder | 10 | Atlanta Braves Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997.... |
S/R | 210 lbs | 04/24/1972 | |
| Evan Longoria Evan Longoria Evan Michael Longoria is a Major League Baseball third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays. Formerly, Longoria was a star infielder for the Long Beach State University baseball team, the Cape Cod League MVP, and the Big West Co-Player of the Year.He made his major league debut for the Rays in , and... |
Infielder | 13 | Tampa Bay Rays Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field... |
R/R | 210 lbs | 10/07/1985 | |
| Brian Roberts Brian Roberts Brian Michael Roberts is an American Major League Baseball All Star second baseman, nicknamed B-Rob.He made his Major League debut in and has spent his entire professional career with the Baltimore Orioles organization, located in Baltimore, Maryland.-Early life, education and college-baseball... |
Infielder | 6 | Baltimore Orioles Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league... |
S/R | 175 lbs | 10/09/1977 | |
| Jimmy Rollins Jimmy Rollins James Calvin "Jimmy" Rollins , nicknamed "J-Roll", is an All-Star and former MVP shortstop, who most recently played for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball's National League.... |
Infielder | 1 | Philadelphia Phillies Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League... |
S/R | 175 lbs | 11/27/1978 | |
| David Wright | Infielder | 4 | New York Mets New York Mets The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League... |
R/R | 208 lbs | 12/20/1982 | |
| Kevin Youkilis Kevin Youkilis Kevin Edmund Youkilis , also known as "Youk" , is an American professional baseball player with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball... |
Infielder | 21 | Boston Red Sox Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"... |
R/R | 220 lbs | 03/15/1979 | |
| Ryan Braun Ryan Braun Ryan Joseph Braun is an American right-handed Major League Baseball left fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers. A perennial standout, he was ranked No... |
Outfielder | 18 | Milwaukee Brewers Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League... |
R/R | 200 lbs | 11/17/1983 | |
| Adam Dunn Adam Dunn Adam Troy Dunn , nicknamed "Big Donkey", is an American Major League Baseball first baseman, outfielder, and designated hitter for the Chicago White Sox. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed.... |
Outfielder | 17 | Chicago White Sox Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans... |
L/R | 275 lbs | 11/09/1979 | |
| Curtis Granderson Curtis Granderson Curtis Granderson is an American Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees. Before joining the Yankees in 2010, he played with the Detroit Tigers . A center fielder, Granderson is known for being a five-tool player... |
Outfielder | 28 | New York Yankees New York Yankees The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division... |
L/R | 185 lbs | 03/16/1981 | |
| Shane Victorino Shane Victorino Shane Patrick Victorino is an outfielder in Major League Baseball who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies. He is a switch-hitter and throws right-handed.-Career:... |
Outfielder | 50 | Philadelphia Phillies Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League... |
S/R | 180 lbs | 11/30/1980 | |
Olympic Games
Although single exhibition games had been played in conjunction with five previous Olympics, the 1984 Summer Olympics1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
was the first to feature a tournament in the program, and also the first time that the sport was played in Olympics held in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Eight teams competed in the tournament held at Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium, also sometimes called Chavez Ravine, is a stadium in Los Angeles. Located adjacent to Downtown Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium has been the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers team since 1962...
. Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, after winning the gold medal at the 1983 Pan American Games
1983 Pan American Games
The ninth Pan American Games were held in Caracas, Venezuela from August 14 to August 29, 1983. The games were the first major international competition to include relatively accurate steroid testing...
, was to participate, but did not as a result of the Soviet-led boycott
1984 Summer Olympics boycott
The boycott of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. The boycott was a follow up to the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. The boycott involved 14 Eastern Bloc countries and allies, led by the Soviet Union who initiated the boycott on May 8, 1984, and joined...
. The US national team finished second to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, however, no medals were given as Baseball at the 1984 Summer Olympics
Baseball at the 1984 Summer Olympics
Baseball at the 1984 Summer Olympics was a demonstration sport. Although single exhibition games had been played in conjunction with five previous Olympics, it was the first time that the sport was officially included in the program, and also the first time that the sport was played in Olympics...
was a demonstration sport
Demonstration sport
A demonstration sport is a sport which is played to promote itself, most commonly during the Olympic Games, but also at other sporting events.Demonstration sports were officially introduced in 1912 Summer Olympics, when Sweden decided to include glima, traditional Icelandic wrestling, in the...
.
The US won its only gold at the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney, Australia. Baseball had its debut as an official medal sport at the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. The US finished fourth, behind Cuba, Japan and Chinese Taipei. In , the US had to face the embarrassment of not even qualifying for the Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens, Greece.
The United States qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
by winning the American Qualifying Tournament. They won the Bronze medal at the Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
games, finishing behind South Korea (Gold) and Cuba (Silver).
At the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
(IOC) meeting on July 8, , baseball and softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
were voted out of the 2012 Summer Olympics
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, becoming the first sports voted out of the Olympics since Polo
Polo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Sometimes called, "The Sport of Kings", it was highly popularized by the British. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a...
was eliminated from the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
.
Amateur World Series/IBAF World Cup
The U.S.A. lost the inaugural Amateur World Series in 19381938 Amateur World Series
The 1938 Amateur World Series was the inaugural tournament in what is known today as the Baseball World Cup. It was contested by Great Britain and the United States over a series of five games from August 13 through August 18 in England...
. The U.S. won its first Amateur World Series in , and repeated a year later.
In , the Amateur World Series became the International Baseball Federation
International Baseball Federation
The International Baseball Federation is the worldwide governing body recognized by the International Olympic Committee as overseeing, deciding and executing the policy of the bat-and-ball sport of baseball at the international level...
's (IBAF) World Cup.
Since 1938, the U.S. has won fifteen medals: four gold (1973, 1974, 2007
2007 Baseball World Cup
The XXXVII International Baseball Federation Baseball World Cup was held in the Republic of China from November 6 through November 18, 2007. Four stadiums hosted...
, 2009
2009 Baseball World Cup
The 2009 Baseball World Cup was an international baseball tournament that started on 9 September 2009. The final was held in Nettuno, Italy on 27 September 2009. It was the 38th time the World Cup took place, and the first time that it was hosted by a continent rather than a single country...
), seven silver (1938
1938 Amateur World Series
The 1938 Amateur World Series was the inaugural tournament in what is known today as the Baseball World Cup. It was contested by Great Britain and the United States over a series of five games from August 13 through August 18 in England...
, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1978
1978 Amateur World Series
The 1978 Baseball World Cup took place in Italy and was won by Cuba.There were 11 participating countries. It was also Belgium's and Australia's first World Cup.-References:*...
, 1988
1988 Baseball World Cup
The 1988 Baseball World Cup took place in Italy from August 23 to September 7. Cuba defeated USA in the final to win the tournament.- Final standings :-External links:*...
, 2001
2001 Baseball World Cup
The XXXIV Baseball World Cup took place in Taiwan from 6 to 18 November 2001. Participating countries were split in two groups, with the first four of each group qualifying for the finals.-First round:Results for Group A:# # # # # # # #...
), and four bronze (1939
1939 Amateur World Series
The 1939 Amateur World Series was the second Amateur World Series, presently known as the Baseball World Cup. It was contested by Cuba, Nicaragua and the United States playing six games each from August 12 through August 26 in Cuba, who won the tournament....
, 1940
1940 Amateur World Series
The 1940 Amateur World Series was the third Amateur World Series, presently known as the Baseball World Cup. It was contested by seven different teams playing twelve games each from September 14 through October 6 in Cuba, who won the tournament for the second consecutive time.-Final results:...
, 1982
1982 Amateur World Series
The 1982 Amateur World Series was held in South Korea from September 4 to September 14.-Standings:-Awards:The IBAF announced the following awards at the completion of the tournament.-References:*...
, 1984
1984 Amateur World Series
The 1984 Amateur World Series was held in Cuba from October 14th to 28th.-Standings:-References:*...
).
2007
The U.S. was in group A of the IBAF World Cup, along with Chinese TaipeiChinese Taipei
Chinese Taipei is the designated name used by the Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan, to participate in some international organizations and almost all sporting events, such as the Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games and Asian Para Games...
, Japan, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Panama
Panama national baseball team
The Panama national baseball team is the national team of Panama. They are currently the 16th ranked baseball team in the world.- Roster :PitchersManuel Acosta,Albenis Castillo,Bienvenido Cedeno,Bruce Chen,Manuel Corpas,Jorge Cortez,...
, Italy, Spain
Spain national baseball team
The Spain national baseball team is the national team of Spain. It is governed by the Royal Spanish Baseball and Softball Federation. It is a member nation of the Confédération Européenne de Baseball, or Confederation of European Baseball....
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The U.S. went 6-1 to win their group, with their only loss coming on November 9, against Italy. It was the U.S.'s first loss to Italy in 21 years and the first time it ever lost to Italy with professional players, as the team consisted of Major League players and top minor league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
prospects.
This one loss, however, would be their only. The U.S. went on to beat Korea, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Cuba to capture the gold.
2009
In Round 1 of the 2009 Baseball World Cup2009 Baseball World Cup
The 2009 Baseball World Cup was an international baseball tournament that started on 9 September 2009. The final was held in Nettuno, Italy on 27 September 2009. It was the 38th time the World Cup took place, and the first time that it was hosted by a continent rather than a single country...
, the U.S. (2-1) finished second in Group E and advanced with first-place Venezuela (3-0). In Round 2, the U.S. was joined by the nine other first- and second-place teams from Round 1, four wild-card teams, and the two principal host teams (Italy and the Netherlands). The sixteen teams were divided into Groups F and G. The U.S. (7-0) defeated each of the other seven teams in Group G. In Round 3, the first four teams in Group F were re-named Group 1 and the first four teams in Group G were re-named Group 2. The U.S. finished first in Group 2 with a record of 7-0; Cuba finished first in Group 1, with a 5-2 record. In the Final Round, Group 1 and 2's fourth-place teams competed for overall seventh place; the two third-place teams competed for overall fifth place; and the two second-place teams competed for the bronze medal. In the gold-medal game, the U.S. defeated Cuba, 10-5.
Tournament awards were given to Justin Smoak
Justin Smoak
Justin Kyle Smoak is an American Major League Baseball first baseman for the Seattle Mariners.-High school career:...
(MVP) and Todd Redmond
Todd Redmond
Todd Richard Redmond is a right-handed pitcher in the Atlanta Braves organization.Redmond was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 39th round of the 2004 MLB Draft. Prior to the 2008 season, he was traded to the Braves for Tyler Yates.Redmond threw a no-hitter against the Louisville Bats on...
(best won/loss average (pitcher)). Smoak (first base) was also named to the tournament All-Star Team, along with Jon Weber (outfield) and Terry Tiffee
Terry Tiffee
Terry Ronald Tiffee is an American professional baseball infielder who is currently a free agent.-Career:Tiffee graduated from Sylvan Hills High School in and Pratt Community College in...
(designated hitter).
Intercontinental Cup
The Intercontinental Cup is a tournament between the members of the IBAF. It was first held in in Italy, and was held every other year following until . Since, there has been a competition in & , both of which, the U.S. has chosen to sit out. As with many international baseball competitions, it has been dominated by Cuba, who has won ten gold & three silver in the 16 tournaments. Japan is second in medal ranking, with two gold, five silver & five bronze, and the U.S. is third, with two gold, four silver & two bronze.Future big leaguers to have competed in the Intercontinental Cup for the U.S. include Joe Carter
Joe Carter
Joseph Christopher Carter is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball who played from to . Carter is most famous for hitting a walk-off home run to win the 1993 World Series for the Toronto Blue Jays....
, Terry Francona
Terry Francona
Terry Jon Francona , nicknamed "Tito," is a former Major League Baseball manager and a former player. He was a first baseman and outfielder in the majors from 1981 to 1990. After retiring as a player, he managed several minor league teams in the 1990s before managing the Philadelphia Phillies for...
, Mickey Morandini
Mickey Morandini
Michael Robert "Mickey" Morandini is a former All-Star second baseman who played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball, and the current manager of the A-level Williamsport Crosscutters...
, John Olerud
John Olerud
John Garrett Olerud , is a former American first baseman in Major League Baseball. Olerud played with the Toronto Blue Jays , New York Mets , Seattle Mariners , New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox ....
& Robin Ventura
Robin Ventura
Robin Mark Ventura is the current manager of the Chicago White Sox. He is a former professional baseball player, a third baseman who played for four major league teams, most notably for the Chicago White Sox...
.
Pan American Games
The U.S. and Cuba have been arch rivals at the Pan American GamesPan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
ever since the event began in . The U.S. has finished second behind Cuba eight of the twelve times they have brought home the gold. Likewise, when the U.S. won the gold medal at the 1967 Pan American Games
1967 Pan American Games
The 5th Pan American Games were held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, from July 23 to August 6, 1967.Winnipeg was chosen as host of the Pan American Games on its second try. It first bid for the fourth Pan American Games at the 1959 PASO meeting in Chicago. It lost to São Paulo, Brazil...
, Cuba finished second.
In total, the U.S. has won one gold medal, nine silver medals and three bronze. The only games the U.S. failed to medal in were and . For the 1995 games, the U.S. did not send their national team, but instead the St. John's University baseball team, who finished 0-4 against the international All-star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
teams. The 16th Pan American Games are to take place in October 2011, in Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara is the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is located in the central region of Jalisco in the western-pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,564,514 it is Mexico's second most populous municipality...
, Mexico. It will be the largest multi-sport event held in Mexico outside Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
.
2007
The U.S. competed in Group A at the 2007 Pan American Games2007 Pan American Games
The 2007 Pan American Games, officially known as the XV Pan American Games, were a major continental multi-sport event that took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 13 to July 29, 2007. A total of 5,633 athletes from 42 National Olympic Committees competed in 332 events in 34 sports and in...
, along with Nicaragua
Nicaragua national baseball team
The Nicaragua national baseball team is the national baseball team of Nicaragua. Considered the best in Central America along with Panama It represents Nicaragua in international tournaments.- Placings :Olympic Games* 1992 : did not qualify...
, the Dominican Republic and Brazil
Brazil national baseball team
The Brazil national baseball team is the national baseball team of Brazil. The team represents Brazil in international competitions. The team is currently ranked 36th in the world, behind the Belgium national baseball team and ahead of Nigeria...
. The U.S. emerged out of Group A with a 3-0 record, and defeated Mexico 2-1 in the second round to set up a championship game against their nemeses, Cuba. Cuba won the gold for the tenth time in a row, while the U.S. settled for the silver. The bronze was awarded to both Mexico and Nicaragua as rain canceled their bronze medal match up.
World Baseball Classic
- 20062006 World Baseball Classic---------Pool B:-------------Pool C:-------------Pool D:-------------Pool 1:-----------------Pool 2:-------------Finals:-Semifinals:-Final:-Final standings:...
: 8th place - 20092009 World Baseball ClassicThe 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...
: 4th place
Olympics
- 1992Baseball at the 1992 Summer OlympicsBaseball had its debut as an official medal sport at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Eight nations competed, with the preliminary phase consisting of each team playing every other team. Playoffs were then held, with the four highest ranked teams advancing...
- 4th - 1996Baseball at the 1996 Summer OlympicsBaseball had its second appearance as an official medal sport at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States, with games played at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Eight nations competed, with the preliminary phase consisting of each team playing every other team. Playoffs were then held,...
-
3rd - 2000Baseball at the 2000 Summer OlympicsBaseball at the 2000 Summer Olympics was the third time an Olympic baseball tournament had been held as a full medal sport, and the ninth time it had been part of the Summer Olympic Games in any capacity. It was held in Sydney, Australia from 17 September through to the bronze and gold medal games...
-
1st - 2004Baseball at the 2004 Summer Olympics-Preliminary round:The top four teams advanced to the semifinals. To determine the seed ranking of teams tied in the standings, the result of the two teams' game against each other was used. Japan therefore received first place due to the win over Cuba. In the semi-finals, Japan played...
- Did not qualify - 2008Baseball at the 2008 Summer OlympicsBaseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing was held from August 13 to August 23. All games were played at Wukesong Baseball Field, a temporary venue constructed at the Beijing Wukesong Culture & Sports Center...
- 3rd
Amateur World Series
|
: Did not participate
1951 Amateur World Series The 1951 Amateur World Series was the 9th Amateur World Series and was unusual in several ways. First off, it was the only Amateur World Series ever held in Mexico, taking place in Mexico City. Secondly, it was the last time the Cuba national baseball team participated in and did not win an Amateur... : Did not participate : Did not participate : Did not participate : Did not participate : Did not participate :  2nd : 2nd |
: Did not participate : 2nd : 1st : 1st : Did not participate
1978 Amateur World Series The 1978 Baseball World Cup took place in Italy and was won by Cuba.There were 11 participating countries. It was also Belgium's and Australia's first World Cup.-References:*... : 2nd1980 Amateur World Series The 1980 Amateur World Series was held in Japan from August 22 to September 5.-Standings:-References:*... : 4th 1982 Amateur World Series The 1982 Amateur World Series was held in South Korea from September 4 to September 14.-Standings:-Awards:The IBAF announced the following awards at the completion of the tournament.-References:*... : 3rd1984 Amateur World Series The 1984 Amateur World Series was held in Cuba from October 14th to 28th.-Standings:-References:*... : 3rd |
Baseball World Cup
|
1998 Baseball World Cup The 1998 Baseball World Cup took place in Italy from July 21 to August 2.Participating countries were split in two groups, with the first four of each group qualifying for the finals... : 9th place 2001 Baseball World Cup The XXXIV Baseball World Cup took place in Taiwan from 6 to 18 November 2001. Participating countries were split in two groups, with the first four of each group qualifying for the finals.-First round:Results for Group A:# # # # # # # #... : 2nd2003 Baseball World Cup The XXXV Baseball World Cup was in Cuba from 12 to 25 October 2003. Participating countries were split in two groups, with the first four of each group qualifying for the finals.-First round:Results for Group A:# # # # # # #... : 5th place 2005 Baseball World Cup The XXXVI Baseball World Cup took place in the Netherlands cities of Rotterdam, Haarlem, Almere, Amsterdam and Eindhoven September 2–17, 2005. Countries were split into two groups of nine, with the first four of each group qualifying for the finals.... : 7th place |
2007 Baseball World Cup The XXXVII International Baseball Federation Baseball World Cup was held in the Republic of China from November 6 through November 18, 2007. Four stadiums hosted... : 1st2009 Baseball World Cup The 2009 Baseball World Cup was an international baseball tournament that started on 9 September 2009. The final was held in Nettuno, Italy on 27 September 2009. It was the 38th time the World Cup took place, and the first time that it was hosted by a continent rather than a single country... : 1st2011 Baseball World Cup The 2011 Baseball World Cup was an international baseball tournament held from October 1 to October 15, 2011. It was the 39th Baseball World Cup. The International Baseball Federation selected Panama to host the tournament, turning down bids from Chinese Taipei and Venezuela... : 4th place |
Intercontinental Cup
|
: 6th place : 2nd : 6th : Did not qualify : 2nd : Did not qualify |
1997 Intercontinental Cup (baseball) The 1997 IBAF Intercontinental Cup was held in Barcelona, Spain from August 1 through to August 10, 1997. Eight countries contested the tournament including Cuba, Australia, Italy, Nicaragua, Japan, France, United States of America and the host Spain... : 4th 1999 Intercontinental Cup (baseball) The 1999 IBAF Intercontinental Cup was held in Australia from November 3 to November 14, 1999. Eight countries contested the tournament, and has been the only Intercontinental Cup hosted in the southern hemisphere. The eight participating countries were Cuba, Australia, Italy, the Netherlands,... : 4th 2002 Intercontinental Cup (baseball) The 2002 Intercontinental Cup was held in Havana, Cuba from November 8 through November 20, 2002. Cuba defeated South Korea 2-1 in the final to win the tournament.... : Did not qualify 2006 Intercontinental Cup (baseball) The 2006 IBAF Intercontinental Cup was held in Taichung, Taiwan from November 9 through the 19th. Eight countries contested the tournament, which was played in two different venues. Those venues were Taichung Baseball Field and the newly-built Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium... : Did not qualify 2010 Intercontinental Cup (baseball) The 2010 IBAF Intercontinental Cup was an international baseball competition, held in Taichung, at the Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium, and Douliu, at the Douliu Baseball Stadium, Chinese Taipei from October 23 to 31, 2010.-Teams:... : Did not qualify |
Pan American Games
: 2nd : 2nd
|
: 2nd : 4th : 3rd : 2nd : 3rd |
: 10th place : 2nd
Baseball at the 2003 Pan American Games Cuba retained the Pan American Games baseball title, with its ninth consecutive gold medal at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.-Tournament:... : 2ndBaseball at the 2007 Pan American Games Baseball at the 2007 Pan American Games took place at Cidade do Rock which received temporary facilities for baseball competitions, with a stadium and training fields... : 2ndBaseball at the 2011 Pan American Games -Group B:---------------------Seventh place match:-Fifth place match:-Semifinals:-----Bronze medal match:-Gold medal match:-Final standings:-Batting:-Pitching:-External links:*... : 2nd |
Collegiate National Team
USA Baseball also fields a Collegiate National Team which has 22 members of top collegiate baseball players in the country, consists of five infielders, four outfielders, two catchers, nine pitchers and a pair of two-way players. The 2010 team has three veteran players returning from the 2009 National Team: pitchers Gerrit ColeGerrit Cole
Gerrit Alan Cole is an American college baseball pitcher with the UCLA Bruins baseball team at the University of California, Los Angeles. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the 1st overall selection in the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft.-High school career:Cole attended Orange...
(UCLA
UCLA Bruins baseball
UCLA Bruins baseball team represents the University of California, Los Angeles in the NCAA baseball competition. Having started playing in 1920, the team is a member of the Pacific-10 Conference and plays its home games at Jackie Robinson Stadium. It has produced many Major and Minor League...
), Sonny Gray
Sonny Gray
Sonny Douglas Gray is a first round pick by the Oakland Athletics, currently pitching for the Double-A Midland Rockhounds in the A's minor league system.-Smyrna:...
(Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt Commodores baseball
The Vanderbilt Commodores baseball team represents Vanderbilt University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team participates in the Eastern division of the Southeastern Conference...
) and infielder Brad Miller (Clemson
Clemson Tigers baseball
The Clemson baseball team represents Clemson University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team participates in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tigers are currently coached by head coach Jack Leggett and play their home games in Doug Kingsmore Stadium...
). The team is scheduled to compete in exhibition games across the U.S. and overseas against the world's top baseball talent, including teams from Canada, Chinese Taipei and the Netherlands. Their playing schedule begins on July 6 at Cary, NC and ends on Aug. 8 in Meiji Jingu Stadium
Meiji Jingu Stadium
is a baseball stadium in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. It opened in 1926 and holds 37,933 spectators. Property of the Meiji Shrine, it is the home field of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows professional baseball team...
, Tokyo, Japan. The 2009 team won the World Baseball Challenge
World Baseball Challenge
The World Baseball Challenge was founded in Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada, in 2002, by Larry Seminoff, who is also the founder of the Grand Forks International Baseball Tournament....
in Canada.
Players who taken the field for the Collegiate National Team and have gone onto Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
success include such notables as Jim Abbott
Jim Abbott
James Anthony Abbott is a former Major League Baseball pitcher, who played despite having been born without a right hand. He played for the California Angels, the New York Yankees, the Chicago White Sox, and the Milwaukee Brewers, from 1989 to 1999.He graduated from Flint Central High School and...
, Troy Glaus
Troy Glaus
Troy Edward Glaus is a Major League Baseball first baseman and third baseman who is currently a free agent. Previously, Glaus played with the Anaheim Angels , Arizona Diamondbacks , Toronto Blue Jays , St. Louis Cardinals , and the Atlanta Braves . Glaus lettered in baseball while attending UCLA...
, Todd Helton
Todd Helton
Todd Lynn Helton is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Colorado Rockies. He is a five-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger, four-time National League Player of the Month, and three-time Gold Glove winner....
, Ryan Howard
Ryan Howard
Ryan James Howard is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies. Nicknamed "The Big Piece", Howard stands and weighs . He bats and throws left-handed....
, Barry Larkin
Barry Larkin
Barry Louis Larkin is a retired Major League Baseball player. Larkin played shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds from 1986 to 2004 and was one of the pivotal players on the 1990 Reds' World Series championship team...
, Tino Martinez
Tino Martinez
Constantino "Tino" Martinez is a former Major League Baseball first baseman.Martinez was the first round draft pick for the Seattle Mariners in out of the University of Tampa where he starred during his time on campus. He began his Major League career in and has played for the Mariners, New...
, Dustin Pedroia
Dustin Pedroia
Dustin Luis Pedroia is an American professional baseball second baseman with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. Pedroia has won several awards in Major League Baseball, including the 2007 American League Rookie of the Year and the 2008 AL MVP award...
, David Price
David Price (baseball)
David Taylor Price is an American Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays. Price was selected first overall in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft by the Rays and made his major league debut in September 2008.Price pitched out of the bullpen during the Rays' run...
, Huston Street
Huston Street
Huston Lowell Street is an American baseball relief pitcher for the Colorado Rockies. His father is former University of Texas quarterback James Street, and his brother Juston Street is currently a pitcher for the minor league Vancouver Canadians....
, Mark Teixeira
Mark Teixeira
Mark Charles Teixeira , nicknamed "Tex" is an American Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees. Mostly a first baseman, he has also played third base and in the outfield...
, Troy Tulowitzki
Troy Tulowitzki
Troy Trevor Tulowitzki , nicknamed Tulo, is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the Colorado Rockies.Tulowitzki's arm, range and instincts at shortstop are highly regarded...
, Jason Varitek
Jason Varitek
Jason Andrew Varitek is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. After being traded as a minor league prospect by the Seattle Mariners, Varitek has played his entire major league career for the Boston Red Sox...
, and Ryan Zimmerman
Ryan Zimmerman
Ryan Wallace Zimmerman is a Major League Baseball third baseman with the Washington Nationals. A 6-foot 3-inch player from the University of Virginia and Kellam High School, Zimmerman has been a member of the Nationals since his debut on September 1, 2005...
.
See also
- United States at the team sports international competitionsUnited States at the team sports international competitionsThe United States at the team sports international competitions has achieved 35 victories at the Olympic Games and 29 World Championship, in addition to several successes in continental competitions. For team sports are the disciplines of the Olympic program...
- USA BaseballUSA BaseballUSA Baseball was founded in , and is the governing body for amateur baseball in the United States of America. It is a member of the United States Olympic Committee and organizes the United States national baseball team...
- USA Baseball National Training ComplexUSA Baseball National Training ComplexThe USA Baseball National Training Complex is located in western Cary, North Carolina, off of Green Hope School Road. The Town of Cary was selected to be the new home of USA Baseball in 2002....
- Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
- Puerto Rico national baseball teamPuerto Rico national baseball teamThe Puerto Rico National Baseball Team is a team that is selected by the Puerto Rican Baseball Federation to compete in major international events in representation of Puerto Rico...