World Baseball Classic Inc.

International baseball, softball, and Baseball5 governing body

World Baseball Classic Inc.

Abbreviation| WBCI
Legal status| World Baseball Classic
Headquarters| New York City, United States

Region served

| Worldwide

Official language

| English, Spanish, Japanese

President

| Paul Archey

Main organ

| Congress

Parent organization

Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball Players Association

Website| mlb.com/world-baseball-classic

World Baseball Classic Inc. (WBCI) is an organizing committee that organizes the World Baseball Classic and consists of representatives from Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA).[1]

## World Baseball Classic

[edit]

Main article: World Baseball Classic

The WBC previously coexisted with Olympic baseball (until 2008) and the Baseball World Cup (until 2011) as International Baseball Federation (IBAF) sanctioned tournaments.[2] The final men's Baseball World Cup was held in 2011. It was discontinued in 2013, after an MLB suggestion to reorganize the international baseball calendar. WBSC accepted the suggestion after an executive meeting, giving the "World Champion" title to the WBC winner on the condition that the Classic should have direct qualifications and follow international anti-doping rules.[3]

The tournament is the first of its kind to have the national teams of IBAF's member federations feature professional players from the major leagues around the world, including Major League Baseball. In addition to providing a format for the best baseball players in the world to compete against one another while representing their home countries, the World Baseball Classic was created in order to further promote the game around the globe.

After a three-year gap between the first two installments of the tournament, plans were made for the World Baseball Classic to be repeated every four years following the 2009 event. The third installment of the Classic was held in 2013, and the fourth was held in 2017.

The fifth and most recent Classic was scheduled for 2021, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After the pandemic-induced delay, the 2023 World Baseball Classic was held between March 8–21, with Japan defeating the United States 3–2 in the championship game.[4][5]

The sixth and next Classic is scheduled for 2026, with the scheduling frequency of future Classic editions being subject to the terms and conditions agreed at the next collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between MLB, MLBPA.[6]

## Image gallery

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* Baseball spoken here. March 17, 2006

* WBC Media Routes. March 18, 2006

* Chris Rose and Kevin Millar film a segment of Intentional Talk at the 2013 World Baseball Classic semifinal game 1 at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California, USA.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Ticket terms". mlb.com. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
2. ^ "IBAF World Ranking Notes" (PDF). International Baseball Federation. 13 January 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 May 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2009.
3. ^ "Premier12 2019 Official Program - Page 6" (PDF). WBSC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
4. ^ "World Baseball Classic". MLB.com. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
5. ^ "World Baseball Classic returning in 2023". The Athletic. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
6. ^ "World Baseball Classic to be held again in 2026, MLB commissioner announces". Yahoo Sports. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* v
* t
* e

World Baseball Classic

* World Baseball Classic Inc. (WBCI)
* World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)

Tournaments|

* 2006
* 2009
* 2013
* 2017
* 2023
* 2026

Qualification|

* 20061
* 20091
* 2013
* 2017
* 2023
* 2026

| Rosters|

* 20061
* 20091
* 2013
* 2017
* 2023
* 2026

|

Finals|

* 2006
* 2009
* 2013
* 2017
* 2023
* 2026

Rosters|

* 2006
* 2009
* 2013
* 2017
* 2023
* 2026

Rules and statistics|

* Team appearances
* World Baseball Classic Rules

Trophy|

* World Baseball Classic Championship Trophy

Related|

* Baseball World Cup (Amateur World Series)
* Baseball at the Summer Olympics
* WBSC Premier12

* 1 There was no qualification for the 2006 or 2009 WBC as places were given by invitation only.

* v
* t
* e

Major League Baseball

2025 season

American League|

| East|

* Baltimore Orioles
* Boston Red Sox
* New York Yankees
* Tampa Bay Rays
* Toronto Blue Jays

|

Central|

* Chicago White Sox
* Cleveland Guardians
* Detroit Tigers
* Kansas City Royals
* Minnesota Twins

West|

* Athletics
* Houston Astros
* Los Angeles Angels
* Seattle Mariners
* Texas Rangers

National League|

| East|

* Atlanta Braves
* Miami Marlins
* New York Mets
* Philadelphia Phillies
* Washington Nationals

|

Central|

* Chicago Cubs
* Cincinnati Reds
* Milwaukee Brewers
* Pittsburgh Pirates
* St. Louis Cardinals

West|

* Arizona Diamondbacks
* Colorado Rockies
* Los Angeles Dodgers
* San Diego Padres
* San Francisco Giants

| Schedule|

* Spring training
* Opening Day
* Jackie Robinson Day
* Civil Rights Game
* All-Star Game
* Interleague play
* International games
* London
* Mexico City
* Seoul
* Little League Classic
* Field of Dreams Game
* Rickwood Field Game
* Speedway Classic
* Players Weekend
* World Baseball Classic

|

Postseason|

* World Series
* Champions
* AL
* AL champions
* ALCS
* ALDS
* NL
* NL champions
* NLCS
* NLDS
* Wild Card Game/Series
* Appearances
* Streaks
* Droughts
* Series
* Sweeps
* Records
* Game 7s

Business|

* Authentication Program
* Business rules
* Draft
* Rule 5
* Highest-paid players
* Hot stove league
* Luxury tax
* Lockouts/strikes
* Media
* Logo
* Radio
* Television
* MLB.com
* MLB Advanced Media
* MLB Network
* MLB Local Media
* Minor League Baseball
* MLB Draft League
* Players Association
* World Baseball Classic Inc.
* Transactions
* Free agency
* Valuations
* Winter Meetings

Miscellaneous|

* Instant replay
* Team uniforms (2024 controversy)
* Stadiums
* Mascots
* Rivalries
* Comparison with Nippon Professional Baseball
* Pride Night

History|

* History
* AL
* Seasons
* Tie-breakers
* Tie-breaking procedures
* All-time win–loss records
* Records
* Awards
* Retired numbers
* Hall of Fame
* members
* National Baseball Commission
* Continental League
* Organized baseball
* Baseball color line
* First black players in MLB
* Negro leaguers who played in MLB
* Women MLB owners

| Predecessors|

* National Association
* American Association
* Union Association
* Players' League
* Federal League
* Major Negro leagues
* Negro National League (I)
* Eastern Colored League
* American Negro League
* East–West League
* Negro Southern League
* Negro National League (II)
* Negro American League

|

Steroid usage|

* Drug policy
* suspensions
* Mitchell Report
* Biogenesis scandal
* BALCO scandal
* Barry Bonds perjury case

Antitrust cases|

* Federal Baseball Club v. National League (1922)
* Toolson v. New York Yankees, Inc. (1953)
* Flood v. Kuhn (1972)

Timeline|

* Timeline of Major League Baseball
* History of team nicknames
* Dead-ball era
* Live-ball era
* Golden age of baseball
* Defunct and relocated teams
* Relocations of the 1950s–1960s
* Expansion
* 1961
* 1962
* 1969
* 1977
* 1993
* 1998
* Potential
* Contraction attempt

* Commissioner: Rob Manfred
* League Presidents
* AL
* NL

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