World Baseball Softball Day

What is World Baseball Softball Day?

World Baseball Softball Day makes its historic debut on 10 May 2024, marking the 10th anniversary of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), following the successful merger of the International Baseball Federation and the International Softball Federation in 2014.

From its inception, the WBSC has tirelessly championed the global growth of baseball/softball, encouraging innovation, teamwork and international collaboration and to honour this impressive merger of international baseball and softball under one unified banner, the WBSC Executive Board declared 10 May as the official World Baseball Softball Day.

10th of May - World Baseball Softball Day

This date holds special significance as the day when the WBSC elected its first Executive Board in 2014, marking the beginning of a new chapter for baseball/softball.

“We stand as a single, unified and strong International Federation. The 10th of May, the day the WBSC was founded in 2014, is a day for us to celebrate our unity and strength, along with our eight Confederations and 191 National Federations,” President Riccardo Fraccari emphasised.

To help celebrate the WBSC Anniversary on 10th of May, all WBSC National Federations and Members are encouraged to get involved and celebrate World Baseball Softball Day by posting their passion for Baseball/Softball on social media (see section: Get in the Game! How to get involved on World Baseball Softball Day). A gala dinner will also be held at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland on 10th of May to celebrate the occasion, with all National Federations and Members welcome to attend.

Get in the Game! How to get involved on World Baseball Softball Day

We invite all WBSC National Federations and Members to join us in celebrating World Baseball Softball Day on 10 May. A social media campaign will be launched for the event in order for the entire international baseball/softball community to be involved. The Media and Communications Department will provide details of the campaign, including a dedicated logo, social media assets and activations to facilitate your participation.

National Federations are encouraged to actively participate in World Baseball Softball Day by playing or engaging with our sport and any of its disciplines – Baseball, Softball, Baseball5 or eSport – and showcasing this activity by publishing on World Baseball Softball Day a video or photo on any of the key WBSC social media platforms – Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube or TikTok - tagging @WBSC and using the hashtags #BaseballSoftballDay #WBSD.

Social Media assets are available here.

An award will be made to the best activation by a National Federation or club with an equipment grant to the value of US$10,000.

Rally your team: Gather your squad and spread the word. Get your players, coaches and supporters fired up about World Baseball Softball Day.

Engage your community: Reach out to clubs, fans in your country and share your excitement on social media.

Showcase your spirit: Show your love for the sport and share photos, videos and stories that capture the essence of our beloved sport and the camaraderie of your community.

Share your stories: Use World Baseball Softball Day as an opportunity to share your journey, memories and your passion for the game.

Join the conversation: Engage with our posts.

A Celebration

Since the 2014 merger between the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) and the International Softball Federations (ISF), the WBSC has evolved into a global force driving the sport forward.

President Fraccari highlighted: “We have established a strong foundation from which we can provide the best opportunities and the best future for our athletes and sport’s disciplines.”

Over the past decade, the journey in the baseball/softball community has been marked by achievements and challenges, all of which have contributed to our growth.

Notable successes include baseball's and softball's return to the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020, the establishment of the Premier12 as a premier international baseball event, and the expansion of our events portfolio. The rebranding and professionalisation of the Softball World Cups, and the addition of two new categories (U-15 Women and U-23 Men), provide more opportunities for our athletes to represent their nations at the highest level.

The introduction of innovative disciplines like Baseball5 and eBaseball as well as Paralympic activities such as Blind Baseball and Wheelchair Softball has engaged younger generations and broadened our reach, The inclusion of Baseball5 in the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 underscores our commitment to innovation and youth development. These achievements would not be possible without the support of the National Federations.

World Baseball Softball Day not only honours past achievements, but also serves as a call to action for the sport’s future progression. By joining in the celebrations of World Baseball Softball Day, National Federations will not only commemorate our shared achievements but help lay the groundwork for an even brighter future.