Which country won the first World Baseball Classic? When and where was it played?
The World Baseball Classic will begin in March after a six-year absence. The international tournament is relatively new, with the first one held in 2006.
The covid-19 pandemic took its toll on numerous sporting events, and the World Baseball Classic was one of those that took a hit. It’s been six years since the last competition was held, as the one scheduled for 2021 had to be cancelled.
Now it’s back, and it’s bigger. The 2023 edition will hold its first game on March 8, with 20 teams participating in the tournament. This is up from 16, which is the number that had been the norm since the first competition took place in 2006.
What is the World Baseball Classic?
The WBC is the most prestigious international baseball tournament for men. It is run by Major League Baseball in collaboration with the World Baseball Softball Confederation. The Classic is the only international contest for which MLB releases its players to be part of a national team.
When and where was the first World Baseball Classic held?
The 2023 games comprise only the fifth edition of the competition. The inaugural tournament was held from March 3 to 20 in 2006, with the games taking place at stadiums in three countries: Japan, Puerto Rico, and the United States.
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Which country won the first World Baseball Classic?
Cuba and Japan batted their way to the final round, with the Caribbean country defeating the Dominican Republic 3-1 in the semifinals, and Japan with a 6-0 blowout over South Korea.
Japan took home the first-ever World Baseball Classic trophy after taking down Cuba 10-6 in the championship game which took place at Petco Park in San Diego, USA.
First World Baseball Classic MVP
Daisuke Matsuzaka of Nippon Professional Baseball took home the first-ever MVP award of the competition. He was not widely known outside of Japan at the time, until the Boston Red Sox signed him the following year, and he began competing in Major League Baseball.