• The baseball world classic was first held in 2006.
  • The Baseball World Classic tournament is the first of its kind to have national baseball teams featuring professional players from the major leagues around the world, including MLB.
  • The same 16 teams were invited to the first two tournaments.
  • Japan won the first two tournaments held (2006, 2009)
  • The scheduled 2021 tournament was canceled due to the pandemic, and held in 2023.

Baseball World Cup Trivia

  • The first World Cup in 1938 included only two teams, Great Britain and the USA
  • Up until 1988 the Baseball World Cup was originally called the Amateur World Series, though the competition was still limited to amateur players until 1998.
  • 2009 was the first time that the tournament was hosted by a continent rather than a single country.
  • The win by the Netherlands in 2011 was the first win by a European nation since the inaugural event in 1938.
  • Cuba clearly won the most titles (25). See all winners.