For the third time after 2006 and 2009 the World Baseball Classic will be played from March 2 to March 19. Japan won the first two editions with wins over Cuba respective Korea in the title games.
The international tournament, which is officially sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), will be played in Taichung (Chinese Taipei), Fukuoka (Japan), San Juan (Puerto Rico), Phoenix (USA), Tokyo (Japan), Miami (USA) and San Francisco (USA).
For the first time the 2013 World Baseball Classic is not only crowning the World Baseball Classic champion, but also the IBAF World Champion. The Netherlands won the last IBAF Baseball World Cup in October 2011 with a victory over record title holder Cuba in the Gold Medal Game at Rod Carew Stadium in Panama City, Panama.
Teams also will receive points for the IBAF’s Men’s Baseball World Rankings. Major changes among the top positions in the rankings are expected pending the outcome of the WBC.
The field for the 2013 World Baseball Classic has been expanded from 16 to 28 teams. 16 teams participated in four WBC Qualifiers last September and November.
Canada (in Regensburg, Germany over Germany, Great Britain and Czech Republic), Spain (in Jupiter, Florida over Israel, South Africa and France), Brazil (in Panama City, Panama over Panama, Nicaragua and Colombia), and Chinese Taipei (in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei over New Zealand, Thailand and the Philippines) won these qualifying tournament to advance to the main event.
The first round at the 2013 World Baseball Classic will be played in a round-robin format in Taichung (Chinese Taipei), Fukuoka (Japan), San Juan (Puerto Rico) and Phoenix (Arizona/USA).
The top two teams from each pool will qualify for the second round, which will be played in Tokyo (Japan) and Miami (Florida/USA). After a modified double elimination phase, four of the eight teams will advance to the semi-finals.
The final round will be played at AT&T Park in San Francisco (California/USA), home of the San Francisco Giants – last year’s World Series winner.
First Round Pools at the 2013 World Baseball Classic
| Taichung (Chinese Taipei) |
Fukuoka (Japan) |
San Juan (Puerto Rico)
|
Phoenix (USA) |
| Chinese Taipei |
Japan |
Puerto Rico |
USA |
| Netherlands |
Cuba |
Venezuela |
Mexico |
| Korea |
China |
Dominican Republic |
Italy |
| Australia |
Brazil |
Spain |
Canada |
The 2013 World Baseball Classic is the only international baseball tournament which features players from all professional baseball leagues around the world. Former and current All-Stars and award winners from Major League Baseball, Nippon Professional Baseball, Korea Baseball Organisation, Chinese Professional Baseball League, Australian Baseball League and Mexican League compete against the top talent from Cuba and the Netherlands among others for the honor to be named World Champion.
The International Baseball Federation (IBAF) will be represented on each site by officials, which has been nominated for the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
Jim Baba (CAN, in San Francisco), George Santiago (PUR, Miami), Giuseppe Guilizzoni (ITA, San Juan), Jan Esselman (NED, Phoenix), Xavier Mateu (ESP, Taichung) and Peter Caliendo (USA, Fukuoka and Tokyo) will be part of the Technical Commission.
Cesar Valdes (CUB), Michael Ulloa (ESP), Miguel Hernandez (VEN), Paul Hyham (AUS), Carlos Rey (PUR), Edgar Esteveson (PAN), Jair Fernandes (MEX), Jesus Miller (MEX), Trevor Grieve (CAN), Feliz Tejeda (DOM) will be part of the Umpire Crews.
All 39 games of the 2013 World Baseball Classic will be broadcasted worldwide. Visit www.worldbaseballclassic.com for local TV stations. Additionally fans can follow the event via GameDay through the official website www.worldbaseballclassic.com or a free iPad and iPhone Application which is available at the App Store on iTunes. Games also will be streamed live via the official website.
Photo: World Baseball Classic, Inc.
