31/12/2023 8 Minute Read

2023 in Review - Top Stories of the Year

The top stories in 2023, a year in which baseball and softball made its return in the Olympic sports programme of LA28, the launch of the two-stage format for the Baseball and Softball World Cups as well as four new tournaments – U-23 Men’s Softball World Cup, U-15 Women’s Softball World Cup, Youth Baseball5 World Cup and the Baseball Champions League - plus exciting developments in eSport.

30/12/2023 4 Minute Read

2023 Year in Focus

The confirmation by the IOC Session of baseball/softball on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics programme was one of many "giant strides" made by the WBSC in 2023. The WBSC launched new tournaments, partnered with Konami for the WBSC eBASEBALL™: POWER PROS and made significant statute changes whilst announcing 10 May as WBSC Day.

29/12/2023 1 Minute Read

2023 Year in Review - Social Media: Building the digital footprint for the future of Baseball, Softball and Baseball5

A year filled with action for the WBSC featuring Baseball, Softball and Baseball5 World Cups was perfectly reflected on WBSC's social media platforms. Fans from around the world enjoyed an unprecedented amount of content, joining in on the passion and fun of these global disciplines.

28/12/2023 4 Minute Read

2023 Year in Review - Development: Baseball/Softball continues to develop in many ways and many places

The WBSC funds development through the Continental Associations and various partnerships. New Baseball and Softball venues opened from Africa to the Middle East to Asia while Iran (featured photo) staged its first U-13 Baseball Championship.

27/12/2023 3 Minute Read

2023 Year in Review: Sport For All - Blind Baseball, AsoBall, G-Baseball and Miracle Leagues providing new opportunities

Blind Baseball, AsoBall, G-Baseball and Miracle Leagues feature adaptions of baseball and softball which continued to thrive in 2023.

26/12/2023 3 Minute Read

2023 Year in Review: Federation Focus breaks new ground including new eSport focus

The series, launched in early 2020, has shone the spotlight on 40 different programmes. In 2023, most of the episodes were dedicated to the new eSport approach.

20/12/2023 3 Minute Read

End of the year message from the WBSC President to the global baseball softball community

"The first editions of the Baseball Champions League, U-23 Men’s Softball World Cup, U-15 Women’s Softball World Cup and Youth Baseball5 World Cup were all a great success."

20/12/2023 3 Minute Read

2023 Year in Review: Baseball5, a six-year-old with a bright future ahead

Baseball5 programmes are active in over 100 countries but it was Cuba who won the inaugural Youth Baseball5 World Cup in October.

19/12/2023 4 Minute Read

2023 Year in Review: Two maiden World Cups, new competition format highlight memorable year for international softball

The U-23 Men's Softball World Cup and the U-15 Women's Softball World Cup enjoyed their historic first edition, while the Women's Softball World Cup inaugurated the Two-Stage Format with a successful group stage.

18/12/2023 3 Minute Read

2023 Year in Review: A Year of Major Milestones for International Baseball

The year began with the most successful edition of the World Baseball Classic and finished with a historic Baseball Champions League Americas, the first-ever WBSC club competition.

15/12/2023 2 Minute Read

2023 Year in Review: WBSC’s exhilarating, electrifying and elevating year in eSport

WBSC celebrates a successful year in eSport, which was highlighted by the release of the new WBSC official game WBSC eBASEBALL™: POWER PROS.

14/12/2023 2 Minute Read

2023 Year in Review: WBSC Legacy Club provides new opportunities using Baseball5 in Jordan

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari spoke at the Global Refugee Forum on 13 December where he presented the work of the WBSC Legacy Club, especially the WBSC’s successful work with Baseball5 at the Azraq Refugee Camp in Jordan.

16/01/2023 6 Minute Read

2022 in Review - Top Stories of the Year

The top stories in 2022, a year in which baseball and softball returned with a full international events calendar and the introduction of new, exciting disciplines.

30/12/2022 4 Minute Read

2022 Year in Focus

The year 2022 was an historic one for the WBSC with new projects launched both on and off the field.

29/12/2022 2 Minute Read

2022 Year in Review: WBSC on social media, creating a stronger presence

A year full of action with baseball and softball events, the debut of Baseball5 on the international stage and the WBSC's first eSport global event provided the perfect opportunity to strengthen the organisation's social media presence.

28/12/2022 3 Minute Read

2022 Year in Review: A year rich in development

An overview of development initiatives which include field construction and renovation in Spain, Serbia, Burkina Faso and Japan.

22/12/2022 3 Minute Read

End of the year message from the WBSC President to the global baseball softball community

World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) President Riccardo Fraccari addresses baseball and softball leaders, players, media and fans around the world in the following end-of-year address.

22/12/2022 3 Minute Read

2022 Year in Review: Four World Cups headline international baseball’s return to normality

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) awarded four Baseball World Titles in 2022, three to the United States, who were victorious in the U-12, U-15 and U-18 age categories, and the fourth to Japan who were crowned U-23 champions.

21/12/2022 4 Minute Read

2022 Year in Review: Men’s, Women’s softball world champions crowned in the same year for the first time in history

The final softball event of the year was the II WBSC U-12 Mixed Softball World Cup.

20/12/2022 3 Minute Read

2022 Year in Review: Baseball5 makes history with first World Cup at El Zocalo, Mexico City

Cuba won the inaugural edition of the Baseball5 World Cup in inspirational El Zocalo, Mexico City. "I was struck by just how special and important this milestone event was," commented WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari. The future looks bright for the five-on-five version of baseball/softball.

19/12/2022 2 Minute Read

2022 Year in Review: WBSC's stronger effort on social and inclusive dimension of sport

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari signed a Sport For All Declaration in Vatican City. Blind baseball proved to be WBSC's flagship parasport in 2022. Softball for All was on the programme of the Special Olympics USA games.

13/12/2022 2 Minute Read

2022 Year in Review: Virtual Cup success strengthens WBSC commitment to eSports

The Virtual Cup marked a significant milestone in the WBSC's event portfolio, becoming its first eSport competition.

07/12/2022 2 Minute Read

Federation Focus shines spotlight on nine Member Federations in 2022

Since its launch in early 2020, the column has investigated the baseball and softball programmes of 31 WBSC Member Federations.

31/12/2021 5 Minute Read

2021 in Review - Top Stories of the Year

Never miss a moment! The top stories in 2021, a year in which baseball and softball returned to the Olympic Games and the international events calendar restarted following the impact of Covid-19 around the world.

30/12/2021 3 Minute Read

2021 in Review: The WBSC - A Year of Amazing Achievement

In the final part of the 2021 in Review series, we take a look back at the WBSC's additional accomplishments on and off the field and the exciting future ahead.

28/12/2021 3 Minute Read

2021 in Review: WBSC on social media, expanding digital horizons

With the return of baseball and softball to the international stage, millions of people around the world engaged with WBSC content on social media while the organisation also reached out to more fans via new platforms.

24/12/2021 3 Minute Read

Secretary General Beng Choo Low: Athletes at the heart of WBSC's continued innovation

World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Secretary General Beng Choo Low reflects on the many challenges and triumphs of 2021 in the following end-of-year message to National Baseball and Softball Federations, Continental Associations and Associate Members:

22/12/2021 4 Minute Read

2021 in Review: Baseball, Softball a home run at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

In spite of not being able to host spectators in Tokyo, both baseball and softball events were a huge hit with fans around the world.

21/12/2021 3 Minute Read

2021 in Review: Living-legends, future stars highlight international softball's return in 2021

The WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup in Lima, Peru, was the first softball world championship played since the COVID-19 outbreak.

20/12/2021 3 Minute Read

End-of-the-year message from WBSC President to global baseball-softball community

World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) President Riccardo Fraccari addresses baseball and softball leaders, players, media and fans around the world in his end-of-year address.

17/12/2021 2 Minute Read

2021 in Review: Olympic Virtual Series success indicates baseball/softball has bright digital future in eSports

The WBSC Executive Board included eSports as a discipline of baseball/softball on 12 December 2020. The success of the baseball's popularity in the Olympic Virtual Series showed that virtual baseball/softball has an exciting future ahead.

15/12/2021 3 Minute Read

2021 in Review: Olympics, Yamada, Frazier, Rodriguez headline historic year for int'l baseball

Shut down in 2020, international baseball in 2021 returned to the field with Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifiers, 18 months after the Premier12 2019. The U-23 in Mexico became the first Baseball World Cup played since the U-18 2019 in Korea.

09/12/2021 3 Minute Read

2021 in Review: A year to remember for Baseball5

The WBSC showcased the five-on-five discipline at the Tokyo 2020 Fan Park sports experience. WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari presented Baseball5 to 54 members of the ANOCA. The first World Cup will highlight the 2022 international schedule.

07/12/2021 3 Minute Read

2021 in Review: WBSC Athletes Commission plays key role in safeguarding campaign

Commission co-chairs Maria Soto and Justin Huber also played an active role in the Tokyo 2020 Games-Time Experience while Commission member Randolph Oduber represented the WBSC Executive Board at the U-23 Baseball World Cup closing ceremony.

03/12/2021 3 Minute Read

Year two of WBSC's Federation Focus series showcases 10 different countries

The WBSC published the first episode of its 'Federation Focus' series in January 2020 -- it featured Palestine. The series focuses on the various cultures and activities in the growing world of baseball and softball.

01/12/2021 2 Minute Read

Year in Review: WBSC Development Commission hits record figures in equipment distribution in 2021

"It's the first time we succeeded in distributing so much equipment at one time," said Angelo Vicini, WBSC Treasurer and Chair of the Development Commission.

31/12/2020 5 Minute Read

Year in Review - Top Stories of 2020

Here's a list of all the top stories in 2020, a year in which the WBSC and its members still managed many achievements, both on and off the field, despite the impact of Covid-19 around the world.

31/12/2020 3 Minute Read

2020 in Review: Baseball-softball global activity remains strong in challenging times

In the final part of it's 2020 in Review series, the WBSC looks at the state of play of the international Baseball, Softball and Baseball5 events calendar, with the potential of an action-packed 2021 ahead.

30/12/2020 4 Minute Read

COVID-19: WBSC Updates in 2020

The timeline includes a break down, month-by-month, of the major WBSC news stories throughout 2020 pertaining to the coronavirus pandemic.

29/12/2020 3 Minute Read

WBSC passes 750k followers on social media

Among Olympic-sport world governing bodies, the WBSC ranks amongst the most engaging accounts on Twitter. The year 2021 is set to be an explosive one for international baseball and softball’s digital media footprint.

24/12/2020 3 Minute Read

Beng Choo Low: 2020 accelerates adaptation and progress for international baseball/softball

World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Secretary General Beng Choo Low reflects on the many challenges and triumphs of 2020 in the following end-of-year message to National Baseball and Softball Federations, Continental Associations and Associate Members:

22/12/2020 2 Minute Read

2020 in Review: 'Federation Focus' series highlights baseball/softball activity around the world

The WBSC's new series inaugurated at the start of the year covered 11 different stories of very diverse National Federations Members.

21/12/2020 3 Minute Read

2020 in Review: WBSC Athletes Commission stays active, reviews game amid COVID-19 pandemic

The WBSC Athletes Commission is a regular voice in the discussion of new WBSC projects, while having a seat on the organisation’s decision table.

18/12/2020 4 Minute Read

End-of-the-year message from WBSC President to the global Baseball Softball community

World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) President Riccardo Faccari addresses baseball and softball leaders, players, media and fans around the world in the following end-of-year address:

15/12/2020 2 Minute Read

2020 in Review: Baseball5 takes the sport to communities never reached before

The year began with the inclusion of the new five-on-five discipline on the programme of the Youth Olympics.

11/12/2020 4 Minute Read

2020 in Review - Softball: Olympic Softball architect Don Porter passes away; U-18 Men only World Cup played in disrupted year

The fourth feature in the End of Year Review series takes a look back at the Softball season, which was marked by the loss of the legendary softball leader and the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

08/12/2020 3 Minute Read

2020: An international baseball season like no other

The third feature in the End of Year Review series takes a look back at the Baseball season, which can certainly be called unique.

04/12/2020 2 Minute Read

2020: U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup - Japan wins lone global baseball/softball event in 2020

The U-18 Softball World Cup was the WBSC's only World Cup played this year.

03/12/2020 4 Minute Read

2020: Global baseball-softball development doesn’t stop amid global pandemic

In the first of the 2020 End of Year Review series, we look back on how WBSC development has continued despite the impact of COVID-19. Baseball and softball are currently being practiced by approximately 65 million people across 140+ countries and territories around the world. The WBSC is aiming to boost those numbers this decade with aggressive development plans.

23/11/2020 2 Minute Read

2019 WBSC Congress one-year progress report: An unforgettable year in many ways

The WBSC is assessing the past 12 months which, while filled with many challenges, also brought many accomplishments worthy of celebration, both on and off the field of play.

31/12/2019 1 Minute Read

2019: Year in Review

2019 was an historic year for the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) and has superbly set up 2020, where the return of baseball and softball to the Olympic Games will be the headline act.

31/12/2019 4 Minute Read

2019: A Year of Firsts - Gender equality, technology and innovation

Gender equality, technology and innovation headlined the Year of Firsts for the World Baseball Softball Confederation in 2019.

30/12/2019 3 Minute Read

2019: U-19 Softball World Cup - USA first to three-peat as U-19 world champs

The tournament in Irvine was the first-ever softball world cup, replacing the previous world championships. It was also the last U-19 softball World Cup. Starting in 2020, this tournament will be a U-18 World Cup, replacing the previous age bracket.

29/12/2019 3 Minute Read

2019: U-18 Baseball World Cup - Epic Lo performance helps Chinese Taipei end USA dominance

USA was the four-time defending champions, but they met a star player in Lo Wie Chieh who proved to be the difference in the final. The announcement of Chinese Taipei as U-18 baseball champions became the WBSC's most liked Facebook post ever.

27/12/2019 3 Minute Read

2019: U-12 Softball World Cup - WBSC makes huge step on gender equality with first-ever mixed event

Four National Teams made history in July 2019, participating in the first-ever WBSC U-12 Mixed Softball World Cup. Czech Republic, Indonesia, Peru and Chinese Taipei, played the historic tournament at the Gueiren Baseball Stadium, in Tainan City, from 26-30 July. The event was held simultaneously with the U-12 Baseball World Cup.

26/12/2019 3 Minute Read

2019: U-12 Baseball World Cup - Chen stars in Chinese Taipei triumph in new home for U-12 baseball

Chinese Taipei won the 2019 edition of the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup in front of a sell-out crowd in the brand new Tainan Asia-Pacific International Stadium.

24/12/2019 6 Minute Read

2019: Softball Olympic Qualifiers - Mexico in Olympics for first time as softball field complete

Mexico qualified for the Olympic Games for the first time as four nations - Australia, Canada, Italy the others - secured their berth for the softball’s historic return to the Olympic Programme at Tokyo 2020, joining hosts Japan and 2018 world championship winners USA.

24/12/2019 2 Minute Read

2019: Baseball Olympic Qualifiers - Israel's historic first time in Olympic baseball tournament

The world No.19 baseball programme shocked the powers of Europe and made history, earning a well deserved spot at the 2020 Olympics.

23/12/2019 4 Minute Read

2019: Development - Africa Dev Programme & Women’s Baseball lead impressive year of growth

During 2019, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) kept boosting the development of baseball and softball with multiple programmes around the world, especially in countries where baseball and softball have little presence or where development is at an early stage.

20/12/2019 3 Minute Read

2019: Premier12 - The “biggest int’l baseball event in recent history”

The success and excitement of the 2019 Premier12 have set the stage for a massive spectacle and worldwide spotlight on baseball at the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan, where baseball is king of sports content.

19/12/2019 3 Minute Read

2019: WBSC - Huge year sets up foundation for bright future

Secretary General Beng Choo Low looks back at a prolific and rewarding year for the WBSC as it lays the foundations for the globalisation of baseball, softball and Baseball5.

17/12/2019 2 Minute Read

2019: Baseball5 - continues to spread like "wildfire"

Baseball5 reached 34 new countries in 2019 taking the overall total of participating nations to 69 in less than two years.

16/12/2019 3 Minute Read

President Fraccari: “2019 - The biggest year in int’l baseball, softball history”

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari says a record 2019 sets the stage for greater success in 2020 in his end-of-the-year address.

13/12/2019 3 Minute Read

2019: Men’s Softball WCH - Argentina clinch historic title as Europe hosts for first time

The 2019 WBSC Men’s Men’s Softball World Championship was an unforgettable tournament, with a lot of first-times to remember. From 13-23 June, the top 16 national teams in the world competed in the Czech Republic "For the Title of World Champion" and delivered a unique softball experience to fans all around the world. Argentina claimed the world title for the first time.