Italian Baseball League

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Italian baseball league

Italian Baseball League

Sport| Baseball
First season| 1948
President| Riccardo Fraccari
No. of teams| 33
Country|  Italy
San Marino
Most recent
champion(s)| Parma Clima
(2024)
Most titles| Nettuno BC 1945
(17 titles)
Relegation to| Serie B
Official website| www.fibs.it

The Italian Baseball League (IBL, Italian: Campionato italiano di baseball), officially known as the Serie A (Italian pronunciation: [ˈsɛːrje ˈa]), is the top-level baseball league in Italy. Founded in 1948, it is governed by the Italian Baseball & Softball Federation (FIBS), which has its headquarters in Rome.

Many of the teams are based in the northern Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, which has historically been the hotbed of baseball in the country; a team from the Republic of San Marino also plays in Serie A.

Like most sports leagues in Europe, and unlike professional baseball leagues in North America and Asia, the IBL uses a promotion and relegation system; the bottom five clubs are relegated to the Serie B minor league. Winners of the league are awarded a scudetto, and earn the right to represent Italy in the European Champions Cup.[a]

## History

[edit]

See also: Baseball in Italy

Until 2010, the IBL featured a promotion-and-relegation league format that demoted the last place finisher to the minor leagues (Series A2), while the Serie A2 (baseball) champion would be promoted into the IBL. This was changed in late 2009, when FIBS approved the decision to introduce a fixed-team franchise format (similar to that found in Major League Baseball) starting with the 2010 season.

However, in 2018, the promotion-and-relegation system was reintroduced.[1]

In 2021, the Italian Baseball League was rebranded as Serie A, bringing together the previous eight-team Serie A1 and the second-tier Serie A2. The new league was structured into 33 participating teams in 8 divisions, or gironi (lit. "groups"). The 8 gironi winners compete for the league championship (the scudetto), while the remaining 25 will fight to avoid being among the five relegated to Serie B.[2][3] In 2023, the league size was reduced to 30 teams, divided into five gironi; the top two in each group of the first phase (prima fase) advance to the poule scudetto (and then to the playoffs), while those not qualified fight to avoid relegation.

## Teams

[edit]

As is the practice in Asian baseball leagues like Japan's NPB and South Korea's KBO, many of the official team names in the Serie A include the team's corporate sponsor — though unlike Asian baseball, a sponsorship name does not necessarily indicate ownership.

### 2023 poule scudetto teams

[edit]

Of the 33 teams participating in the 2023 Serie A season, ten qualified for the poule scudetto (the championship pool). The top eight teams in the poule scudetto qualify for the postseason.

2023 Team  | Location  | 2023 prima
face position
(Group) | First season
in Serie A  | No. of seasons
of current spell
in Serie A  | Scudetto
titles  | Most recent
Scudetto

|
|
|
|
|
|

Girone F
Hotsand Macerata Angels |  Macerata | 1st (A) | 2020 | 4 | — | —
Godo Baseball |  Russi | 2nd (C) | 2006 | 5 | — | —
Nettuno BC 1945 |  Nettuno | 1st (D) | 1950 | 3 | 17 | 2001
Comcor Modena |  Modena | 1st (E) | 1966 | 3 | — | —
New Black Panthers |  Ronchi dei Legionari | 2nd (B) | 1969 | 3 | — | —
Girone G
Fortitudo Bologna |  Bologna | 1st (C) | 1963 | 26 | 14 | 2023
Senago BC |  Milan | 2nd (E) | 2021 | 3 | — | —
BSC Grosseto |  Grosseto | 2nd (D) | 1999 | 9 | 5 | 2014
Parma Clima |  Parma | 1st (B) | 1950 | 59 | 10 | 2010
San Marino Baseball |  San Marino | 2nd (A) | 1985 | 38 | 6 | 2022

Ronchi dei Legionari

San Marino

Macerata

Nettuno BC

Senago

Fortitudo BO

Godo

Parma

Grosseto

class=notpageimage|

Italian Baseball League team locations

### Defunct teams

[edit]

* Orel Anzio

## Champions

[edit]

### Single-table era (1948–85)

[edit]

Year  | Winning Team  | Runner Up  | MVP

|
|
|

1948 | Libertas Bologna
| Milano | \-
1949 | Mamoli Grosseto (LIB)
Lazio (FIBS) | Ambrosiana Milano (LIB)
Ferrovieri Roma (FIBS) | \-
1950 | Libertas Roma | USCM Nettuno | \-
1951 | Nettuno B.C. | Libertas Roma | \-
1952 | Nettuno B.C. | Libertas Roma | \-
1953 | Nettuno B.C. | Lazio | \-
1954 | Nettuno B.C. | A.S. Roma | \-
1955 | Lazio | Nettuno | \-
1956 | Chlorodont Nettuno | A.S. Roma | \-
1957 | Chlorodont Nettuno | Lazio | \-
1958 | Algida Nettuno B.C. | Rome | \-
1958 | C.U.S. Milano | Libertas Inter Milano | \-
1959 | Coca-Cola Roma | Algida Nettuno | \-
1960 | Seven Up Milano | Roma S.C. | \-
1961 | Europhon Milano | Pirelli Milano | \-
1962 | Europhon Milano | Simmenthal Nettuno/
ACLI Bologna | \-
1963 | Simmenthal Nettuno | Libertas Milano/
Europhon Milano | \-
1964 | Simmenthal Nettuno | UGF Fortitudo Bologna | \-
1965 | Simmenthal Nettuno | Europhon Milano | \-
1966 | Europhon Milano | Tanara Parma | \-
1967 | Europhon Milano | Nettuno | \-
1968 | Europhon Milano | Nettuno | \-
1969 | Montenegro Bologna | Noalex Milano | \-
1970 | Europhon Milano | Montenegro Bologna | \-
1971 | Glen Grant Nettuno | Bernazzoli Parma | \-
1972 | Montenegro Bologna | Bernazzoli Parma | \-
1973 | Glen Grant Nettuno | Montenegro Bologna | \-
1974 | Montenegro Bologna | Colombo Nettuno | \-
1975 | Cercosti Rimini | Bernazzoli Parma | \-
1976 | Germal Parma | Colombo Nettuno | \-
1977 | Germal Parma | Derbigum Rimini | Mike Romano
1978 | Biemme Bologna | Cercosti Rimini | Carlos Guzman
1979 | Derbigum Rimini | Germal Parma /
Colombo Nettuno | John Long
1980 | Derbigum Rimini | Glen Grant Nettuno | Ed Oliveros
1981 | Parmalat Parma | Papà Barzetti Rimini | John Guggiana
1982 | Parmalat Parma | Sicma Nettuno | Giuseppe Carelli
1983 | Papà Barzetti Rimini | Nordmende Bologna | \-
1984 | BE. CA. Bologna | World Vision Parma | \-
1985 | World Vision Parma | BE. CA. Bologna | \-

### Playoff era (1986–present)

[edit]

Year  | Winning Team  | Runner Up  | Result  | MVP

|
|
|
|

1986 | Grohe Grosseto | Trevi Rimini | 4–3 | \-
1987 | Trevi Rimini | Mamoli Grosseto | 4–1 | \-
1988 | Ronson Lenoir Rimini | SCAC Nettuno | 4–0 | \-
1989 | Mamoli Grosseto | Ronson Lenoir Rimini | 4–2 | \-
1990 | SCAC Nettuno | Ronson Lenoir Rimini | 4–3 | \-
1991 | Parma Angels | Flower Gloves Verona | 3-0 | —
1992 | Telemarket Rimini | Eurobuilding Bologna | 3-0 |  David Sheldon
1993 | C.F.C. Nettuno | Telemarket Rimini | 3–2 |  Jessie Reid
1994 | Cariparma Angels | Danesi Nettuno | 4–1 |  Brad Komminsk
1995 | Cariparma Angels | Danesi Nettuno | 4–1 |  Roberto Bianchi
1996 | Caffè Danesi Nettuno | Cariparma Angels | 4–2 |  Francesco Casolari
1997 | Cariparma Parma | Danesi Nettuno | 4–3 |  Francesco Casolari
1998 | Danesi Nettuno | Semenzato Rimini | 4–1 |  Federico Bassi
1999 | Semenzato Rimini | Danesi Nettuno | 4–3 |  Ed Campaniello (Rimini)
2000 | Semenzato Rimini | Danesi Nettuno | 4–0 |  Claudio Liverziani (Rimini)
2001 | Caffè Danesi Nettuno | Semenzato Rimini | 4–2 |  Juan Carlos Vigna
2002 | Semenzato Rimini | Danesi Nettuno | 4–1 |  Orlando Muñoz (Modena)
2003 | Italeri Bologna | GB Ricambi Modena | 4–1 |  Claudio Liverziani (Bologna)
2004 | Prink Grosseto | Italeri Bologna | 4–2 |  Jaime Navarro (Grosseto)
2005 | Italeri Bologna | T & A San Marino | 4–3 |  Jesús Matos (Bologna)
2006 | Telemarket Rimini | Colonie Maremma Grosseto | 4–1 |  Mario Chiarini (Rimini)
2007 | Montepaschi Grosseto | Danesi Nettuno | 4–3 |  Giuseppe Mazzanti (Nettuno)
2008 | T & A San Marino | Danesi Nettuno | 4–3 |  Giuseppe Mazzanti (Nettuno)
2009 | UGF Banca Bologna | T & A San Marino | 4–1 |  Eddie Garabito (Bologna)
2010 | Cariparma Parma | Fortitudo Bologna | 4–2 |  Orlando Muñoz (Parma)
2011 | T & A San Marino | Danesi Nettuno | 4–3 |  Willie Vasquez (San Marino)
2012 | T & A San Marino | Rimini Baseball | 4–2 |  Danilo Sanchez (Godo)
2013 | T & A San Marino | Rimini Baseball | 3–2 |  Alessandro Vaglio
2014 | UGF Banca Bologna | Rimini Baseball | 4–3 |  Claudio Liverziani
2015 | Rimini Baseball | Fortitudo Baseball Bologna | 4–0 |  Giuseppe Mazzanti
2016 | UGF Banca Bologna | Rimini Baseball | 4–2 |  Sebastiano Poma
2017 | ASD Rimini | T & A San Marino | 3–0 |
2018 | UnipolSai Bologna | Parmaclima | 3–1 |
2019 | UnipolSai Bologna | T & A San Marino | 3–0 |
2020 | UnipolSai Bologna | T & A San Marino | 4–3 |
2021 | T & A San Marino | UnipolSai Bologna | 3–2 |
2022 | T & A San Marino | Parmaclima | 4–3 |
2023 | UnipolSai Bologna | T & A San Marino | 4–0 |  Ricardo Paolini
2024 | ParmaClima | San Marino Baseball Club | 4–1 |  Alex Liddi

## Notable former players

[edit]

* Samuel Aldegheri: Italian pitcher who played for Parma Clima before making his Major League Baseball debut with the Los Angeles Angels
* Jason Simontacchi: Pitcher for Novara Baseball and retired Major League Baseball pitcher
* Chuck Carr: Centerfielder for Rimini and retired Major League Baseball outfielder
* Junior Guerra: Pitcher for T & A San Marino before joining the Milwaukee Brewers
* Robel García: Infielder for Fortitudo Bologna before joining the Chicago Cubs
* Abraham Núñez: Outfielder for The Nettuno Baseball Club and retired Major League Baseball outfielder

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ That is, for Italian clubs; San Marino BC automatically qualifies to play in the European Cup as the sole representative of the Republic of San Marino.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Basta IBL! Si ritorna alla serie A1!" (in Italian). baseballmania.eu. 20 December 2017.
2. ^ "The history of baseball in Italy". MLB.com.
3. ^ Fabio Ferrini. "Copia archiviata" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 12 April 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* FIBS Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball website
* Italian Baseball League Encyclopedia and History Baseball Reference website

## See also

[edit]

* Baseball in Italy
* Italian Baseball League 2D
* Italy national baseball team
* Baseball awards in Italy
* Baseball awards in Europe

* v
* t
* e

Italian Baseball League 2010

Italian Baseball League 1D|

* Carparma Parma
* Danesi Nettuno B.C.
* De Angelis Godo
* Fortitudo Bologna
* Montepaschi Grosseto
* T&A San Marino Baseball
* Telemarket Rimini
* Warriors Paternò

Italian Baseball League 2D|

* A.S.D. Baseball Team Verona
* A.S.D. Catania Baseball Project
* Nettuno 2 Baseball Club
* Fortitudo Castenaso
* Hotsand Macerata Angels
* Junior Parma B.C.
* Riccione B.C.
* SO.GE.SE. Livorno

* Italian Baseball League
* Italian Baseball Series
* Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball

* v
* t
* e

Top-level baseball leagues

* World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)
* Caribbean Series
* European Cup
* World Series

Americas|

* Argentina
* Canada & United States
* AL
* NL
* Brazil
* Colombia
* Cuba
* Curaçao
* Dominican Republic
* Mexico
* Nicaragua
* Panama
* Puerto Rico
* Venezuela

Asia|

* China
* Iran
* Japan
* Central
* Pacific
* Malaysia
* Philippines
* South Korea
* Taiwan
* United Arab Emirates

Europe|

* Austria
* Croatia
* Czechia
* Estonia & Lithuania
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Ireland
* Italy & San Marino
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Netherlands
* Poland
* Portugal
* Spain
* Sweden
* Turkey
* United Kingdom

Oceania|

* Australia & New Zealand
* Palau

* v
* t
* e

International baseball

* WBSC
* World Rankings
* Teams

WBSC Events|

* Summer Olympics
* World Baseball Classic
* Premier 12
* U-23 World Cup
* U-18 World Cup
* U-15 World Cup
* U-12 World Cup
* Women's Baseball World Cup

Minor World Events|

* Summer World University Games
* World University
* Grand Forks International
* Haarlem Baseball Week
* Little League World Series
* Intermediate
* Junior
* Senior
* World Port Tournament

Defunct World Events|

* World Games
* Amateur World Series / Baseball World Cup
* Intercontinental Cup
* Global World Series
* Women's Baseball World Series
* World Baseball Challenge
* International Amateur Tournament
* Inter-Allied Games

Africa|

* WBSC Africa – African Championship
* All-Africa Games

Americas|

* WBSC Americas – Pan American Games
* Bolivarian Games
* Caribbean Baseball Cup
* Caribbean Series
* Central American Games
* Central American and Caribbean Games
* Copa América
* South American Championship
* U-23
* U-18
* U-15
* U-12

Asia|

* WBSC Asia – Asian Championship
* U-18
* U-15
* U-12
* Asia Cup
* Women's Asian Cup
* Asian Games
* Southeast Asian Games
* Arab Classic
* SAARC Baseball Championship
* Asia Series

Europe|

* WBSC Europe – European Championship
* U-23
* U-21
* U-18
* U-15
* U-12
* European Championship Women
* Super 6
* Champions Cup
* Confederation Cup
* Federation Cup

Oceania|

* WBSC Oceania – Oceania Championship
* U-18
* U-15
* U-12
* Pacific Games

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