Cuba national baseball team

Cuba national baseball team

Country	Cuba
Federation	Baseball Federation of Cuba
Confederation	Pan American Baseball Confederation
Manager	Higinio Vélez
IBAF world rank	1st
Uniforms
World Baseball Classic
Appearances	2 (First in 2006)
Best result	2nd (1 time, in 2006)
Olympic Games
Appearances	5 (First in 1992)
Best result	1st (3 times, most recent in 2004) 2nd (2 times, most recent in 2008)
World Cup
Appearances	35 (First in 1939)
Best result	1st (25 times, most recent in 2005) 2nd (3 times, most recent in 2009) 3rd (2 times, most recent in 1951)
Intercontinental Cup
Appearances	13 (First in 1979)
Best result	1st (10 times, most recent in 2006) 2nd (3 times, most recent in 1999)
Pan American Games
Appearances	15 (First in 1951)
Best result	1st (12 times, most recent in 2007) 2nd (1 time, in 1967)

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. Cuba has been described as a baseball powerhouse^[1] and currently ranks #1 in IBAF's world rankings.^[2]

World Baseball Classic

2006

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

2009

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

Olympics

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

2009 IBAF World Cup

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

• Group A (hosted by the Czech Republic in Prague): Czech Republic, Australia, Chinese Taipei & Mexico
• Group B (hosted by Spain in Barcelona): Spain, Cuba, Puerto Rico & South Africa
• Group C (hosted by Sweden in Stockholm): Sweden, Canada, Korea & Netherlands Antilles
• Group D (hosted by Russia in Moscow): Russia, France/Great Britain, Japan & Nicaragua
• Group E (hosted by Germany in Regensburg): Germany, China, U.S.A. & Venezuela^[4]

Tournament placings

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

World Baseball Classic

See also: 2006 World Baseball Classic - Rosters#Cuba

• 2006 - 2nd place
• 2009 - 6th place

Olympics

• 1992 - Gold Medal
• 1996 - Gold Medal
• 2000 - Silver Medal
• 2004 - Gold Medal
• 2008 - Silver Medal

Pan American Games

Gold: 1951 1963 1971 1975 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007

Silver: 1967

IBAF World Cup

Gold: 1939, 1940, 1942, 1943, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1961, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2001, 2003 & 2005

Silver: 1941, 2007, 2009

Bronze: 1944, 1951

Intercontinental Cup

Gold: 1979 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 2002 2006

Silver: 1981 1997 1999

Central American & Caribbean Games

Gold: Won Gold 14 out of the 17 Central American and Caribbean Games.

References

Cuba portal

1. ^ "Baseball World Cup big news in Cuba, no matter the outcome". CNN. 2009-09-28. http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/09/27/cuba.baseball.world.cup/index.html. 
2. ^ "IBAF World Rankings" (PDF). International Baseball Federation. 2 June 2010. http://www.ibaf.org/attachment-show.aspx?eid=26012717-93e5-47d7-ae45-88a89536ec6f&etype=d. Retrieved 5 October 2010. 
3. ^ "IBAF announces groups for first round of 2009 Baseball World Cup". http://www.baseballeurope.com/uploads/media/IBAF_announces_groups_for_first_round_of_2009_BWC.pdf. Retrieved 2009-03-15. 
4. ^ "IBAF World Cup 2009 in Europe". http://www.baseballeurope.com/14/. Retrieved 2009-03-15.