Manny Ramirez is not playing in the WBC!!!

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Wow!

While Manny Ramirez will be showing up late on March 1 for the Boston Red Sox, he won't be showing up at all for the World Baseball Classic.

"You know, from our perspective, we'd love to ... you know, we want to support the Baseball Classic but it's actually a plus for us that he's coming here March 1st and not playing there," owner John Henry told ESPN 890 in Boston on Thursday.

Henry added that the team did not ask Ramirez to pull out of the event, The Boston Globe reported.

If Ramirez had played in the WBC for the Dominican Republic team, he would have had to report to the Dominican team on March 2, meaning he would have spent exactly one day in Sox camp before March 20, when the event ends. Instead, it appears Ramirez will spend the entire month of March with the Red Sox in Fort Myers.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/worldclassic2006/news/story?id=2342169

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Manny is not playing in the WBC and not one comment for the BBF members? :confused:

[Cubano100%]

Manny is not playing in the WBC and not one comment for the BBF members? :confused:

He is not the first big name player to pull out. Is he going to say later that he wants to play after all?

[TonyStarks]

Manny being Manny.

I had heard that he wasn't playing in the WBC...but then Enrique Wilson said that Manny will be playing in the WBC. Papi also stated that if Enrique says Manny will be there to count on it.

But then again...we all know Manny.
The guy changes his mind everytime he blinks.

[julusnc]

The World Championships are going to be about as exciting as a late season Devil Rays game considering the majority of the all-star calibur players are jumping ship.

The contest in theory and hopes would be amazing but when just one of the best are absent the joy of watching is lost by so many.

[Bonus]

I think Manny can still be persuaded to play--provided that the right people say the right things.

What I have not heard--granted the Boston sports media do not reflect Dominican viewpoints that extensively--is an outcry from Dominicans. I heard a lot of griping when A-Rod said he might play for the US. "...not a real Dominican...no sense of culture and pride...etc." Now, arguably the only other hitter as good as A-Rod says he won't play (worse, he lets John Henry say it for him: "this will work out great"--great for everyone other than baseball fans and the DR), and where are the upset Dominicans?

I am a Red Sox fan, and not Dominican, and I should be happy about this right? Wrong. I think the best should be play in the WBC. But Manny willl not listen to people like me. He needs to hear it from his countrymen. You get a chance to play for your country, and you do it. This is not a war. He is not being sent to Vietnam. This is flippin' game, but it happens to mean a whole lot to a whole lot of people, including the people of DR.

Regret is one of the worst emotions. If Manny joins the other spoiled brats, greedy pigs and steroid abusers (take your pick with Sheffield) who are sitting out, he will quickly realize that he turned his back on a rare, unmatched opportunity to make his country feel proud. Maybe Papi and Enrique Wilson can explain it to Manny.

[TonyStarks]

Well if anyone can convince that nut named ManRam it's Papi and Enrique...otherwise...I think Encarnacion will do fine in LF! I'd even take WilyMo!

[Honus Wagner Rules]

THe WBC really needs to be played in July or October.

[TonyStarks]

I could go with the WBC in July.
Play the WBC instead of the All-Star game....but extend the All-Star weekend to an entire week.

Any listening to WFAN right now?
Chris is on there saying no one cares about the WBC....I dunno wth he's talking about...but he's lost his marbles.

[Street20]

I think that not everybody necessarily thinks the tournament is a good idea, but I sure do!

[Bonus]

Another blow....

...Vlad "the impaler" Guerrero is out of the WBC now too. I will refrain from my usual griping, as Vlad lost family members and we all, I'm sure, extend our condolences to him and his family at his moment of need.

But, this only underscores the petty stupidity and selfishness of the other players, who have no bona fide reason not to play.

[TonyStarks]

Well seems like the Dominican team is dropping like flies.

Pedro...Manny...Aramis..Vlad.

I'm just waiting for news on Tejada and Pujols withdrawing now.

[wamby]

Another blow....

...Vlad "the impaler" Guerrero is out of the WBC now too. I will refrain from my usual griping, as Vlad lost family members and we all, I'm sure, extend our condolences to him and his family at his moment of need.

But, this only underscores the petty stupidity and selfishness of the other players, who have no bona fide reason not to play.

I don't see any bona fide reason why the players should play in this tournament. They should be more concerned about getting ready to play for the teams that pay them in the upcoming season.

[Bonus]

Perhaps you are right. These guys are so much richer than us, why should they bother trying to represent us in an international competition, even though must of us would give anything to have the talent that they do. Screw the Dominican Republic and Japan. They have other plenty of other things to make themselves happy. Plus, international competition, like the Olympics and the World Cup, are totally overrated--spring training is much more important.

[DownUnderDodger]

Plus, international competition, like the Olympics and the World Cup, are totally overrated--spring training is much more important.
Unfortunately there are many who truly believe this!! :ughh :(

[wamby]

Perhaps you are right. These guys are so much richer than us, why should they bother trying to represent us in an international competition, even though must of us would give anything to have the talent that they do. Screw the Dominican Republic and Japan. They have other plenty of other things to make themselves happy. Plus, international competition, like the Olympics and the World Cup, are totally overrated--spring training is much more important.

Just because these guys are wealthy does not mean they should neglect their training and their jobs.

Count me as one who does not believe in the importance of internal competiton, whether it is the WBC, the Olympics or anything else.

[runningshoes]

If he has to go through life dumb as a stump, at least he can afford to be stupid.

[Bonus]

Count me as one who does not believe in the importance of internal [sic] competiton, whether it is the WBC, the Olympics or anything else.

Given that this is an International Baseball board, do you see anything ironic about your attitude?

I don't much like Dungeons & Dragons; but you'd never see me posting at a D&D message board, telling people how much they are wasting their lives.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Given that this is an International Baseball board, do you see anything ironic about your attitude?

I don't much like Dungeons & Dragons; but you'd never see me posting at a D&D message board, telling people how much they are wasting their lives.
This is just one forum that is part of a much bigger baseball board. wamby is just one user who has long been against the concept of the WBC for very legitimate reasons, a rationale which is shared by a lot of the players, apparently.
The players are getting pressured into doing something that has been slapped together hatdash. It seems practically forced. If the IOC hadn't cancelled baseball in the Olympics, we wouldn't even be having this tournament to begin with.
.

[Bonus]

The players are getting pressured into doing something that has been slapped together hatdash. It seems practically forced. If the IOC hadn't cancelled baseball in the Olympics, we wouldn't even be having this tournament to begin with.
.

I doubt the players are getting pressured into doing something they don't want to. In fact, the facts demonstrate otherwise. The clubs (especially the Yankees and the White Sox) are pressuring the players not to play. Why does John Henry say that Manny's skipping of the WBC will "work out perfectly"? Why does he go out of his way to say that he never asked Manny not to play? And yes, I agree that it is slapped together and forced, much like the baseball steroid policy, the ban on "greenies," the ban on chewing tobacco in the minors but not the majors, and the anti-collusion rules relating to free agency.

wamby is just one user who has long been against the concept of the WBC for very legitimate reasons, a rationale which is shared by a lot of the players, apparently.

The fact that most American baseball fans are insular and fear change is no justification in my book to be against the WBC. Every team sport (except, of course, America football) has a senior international competition. Those competitions have not destroyed those sports. Why is Allen Iverson feeling snubbed by USA basketball, if international competition is so stupid? Why is the World Cup (I don't even need to specify for which sport) the biggest sporting event in the world, if it is so pointless? Why were hockey players, who play a clearly more dangerous sport, eager to schlep themselves to Torino, and the owners willing to suspend the season, if injuries to players in international competition cannot be tolerated?

What members of baseball's flat-earth fraternity seem to miss is that the WBC in the long run is good for the game. As demonstrated in soccer, a world cup leads to an expansion of the sport's talent development, both intensively (meaning more people want to play in the countries that already play) and extensively (meaning that more people start playing in countries that didn't use to play). Thanks to the World Cup, there has been an explosion of soccer talent developed in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Even the US, which was barely on the soccer map before 1994, and had only qualified for one world cup (by luck and thanks to Mexican cheating), is now heading towards its 5th straight world cup, with a new crop of talented players who were in their formative years when the US hosted WC '94.

Right now, baseball is a main sport in only a small handful of countries: the US, Taiwan, DR, PR, Venezuela, (maybe Nicaragua and Panama, I'm not sure), and Japan. However, in the US, Venezuela, and Japan, the sport is having its position challenged, mostly be soccer in the latter two countries. In the US, baseball is now just another sport in the increasingly crowded talent market. This is most visible in the decline in the number of black players on major league rosters. MLB now has more non-American players than ever before--a trend fueled by Latin players.

Baseball is played, however, as a second tier or fringe sport, in more and more countries that didn't use to produce talent, as Canada, South Korea, Australia, Holland and Colombia can attest. This growth has been very slow, though, compared to the growth of younger sports like basketball, or more popular sports like soccer. The WBC is an important vehicle in turning baseball from a largely colonial American past-time to a major world sport like soccer and basketball (and even hockey).

For Americans, accepting and understanding international play is going to be a belated learning process to get to the point where, as in other sports, it is second-nature. American fans have been at this belated crossroads before, forced to choose whether to go along with an establishment that was against integration 5 decades ago, free agency 3 decades ago, and steroid testing until basically 4 months ago. The arguments against the WBC (injuries, confusion, disruption) are echoed in the arguments that baseball insiders have against banning "greenies"--amphetamines that have been used openly and notoriously in baseball for decades. Just because players will have a hard time playing a 162 game schedule is no justification for allowing illegal drug use. And just because the WBC is an adjustment to Americans is no justification for being the only so-called major team sport without a senior international competition.

[Bonus]

By the way, Pedro is now out of the WBC. The way things are going for the DR, they will have to decide whether Nelson (http://bostondirtdogs.boston.com/Headline_Archives/2004/09/playoff_bound.html)should pitch or play outfield.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Personally, I liked the concept of the WBC. But I understand why there is not an overload of support.
Just remember, the Olympics cancelled baseball and softball. If that's supposedly the highest level of international competition, and baseball can't make it there, why would this have worked?
They needed more time to plan this out, simply put. It was like, "We're having this big tournament next week, come be patriotic and play for your country and nevermind what's going on with your actual responsibility to your employer." That's what I am referring to. It's not about these players being concerned about the money, but if their obligations are elsewhere, why should that be compromised.
This has been poorly planned at every level. It's a good idea without anything pushing it.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

The problem with the WBC is that it has no history. In soccer the World Cup is the most important tournament. You don't see soccer players backing out using lame excuses about "wanting to get ready for the season" or "wanting to be with their team". Why is that soccer players "get it" and baseball players don't? I know the timing is all wrong. The WBC should be played in July.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I doubt the players are getting pressured into doing something they don't want to. In fact, the facts demonstrate otherwise. The clubs (especially the Yankees and the White Sox) are pressuring the players not to play. Why does John Henry say that Manny's skipping of the WBC will "work out perfectly"? Why does he go out of his way to say that he never asked Manny not to play? And yes, I agree that it is slapped together and forced, much like the baseball steroid policy, the ban on "greenies," the ban on chewing tobacco in the minors but not the majors, and the anti-collusion rules relating to free agency.



The fact that most American baseball fans are insular and fear change is no justification in my book to be against the WBC. Every team sport (except, of course, America football) has a senior international competition. Those competitions have not destroyed those sports. Why is Allen Iverson feeling snubbed by USA basketball, if international competition is so stupid? Why is the World Cup (I don't even need to specify for which sport) the biggest sporting event in the world, if it is so pointless? Why were hockey players, who play a clearly more dangerous sport, eager to schlep themselves to Torino, and the owners willing to suspend the season, if injuries to players in international competition cannot be tolerated?

What members of baseball's flat-earth fraternity seem to miss is that the WBC in the long run is good for the game. As demonstrated in soccer, a world cup leads to an expansion of the sport's talent development, both intensively (meaning more people want to play in the countries that already play) and extensively (meaning that more people start playing in countries that didn't use to play). Thanks to the World Cup, there has been an explosion of soccer talent developed in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Even the US, which was barely on the soccer map before 1994, and had only qualified for one world cup (by luck and thanks to Mexican cheating), is now heading towards its 5th straight world cup, with a new crop of talented players who were in their formative years when the US hosted WC '94.

Right now, baseball is a main sport in only a small handful of countries: the US, Taiwan, DR, PR, Venezuela, (maybe Nicaragua and Panama, I'm not sure), and Japan. However, in the US, Venezuela, and Japan, the sport is having its position challenged, mostly be soccer in the latter two countries. In the US, baseball is now just another sport in the increasingly crowded talent market. This is most visible in the decline in the number of black players on major league rosters. MLB now has more non-American players than ever before--a trend fueled by Latin players.

Baseball is played, however, as a second tier or fringe sport, in more and more countries that didn't use to produce talent, as Canada, South Korea, Australia, Holland and Colombia can attest. This growth has been very slow, though, compared to the growth of younger sports like basketball, or more popular sports like soccer. The WBC is an important vehicle in turning baseball from a largely colonial American past-time to a major world sport like soccer and basketball (and even hockey).

For Americans, accepting and understanding international play is going to be a belated learning process to get to the point where, as in other sports, it is second-nature. American fans have been at this belated crossroads before, forced to choose whether to go along with an establishment that was against integration 5 decades ago, free agency 3 decades ago, and steroid testing until basically 4 months ago. The arguments against the WBC (injuries, confusion, disruption) are echoed in the arguments that baseball insiders have against banning "greenies"--amphetamines that have been used openly and notoriously in baseball for decades. Just because players will have a hard time playing a 162 game schedule is no justification for allowing illegal drug use. And just because the WBC is an adjustment to Americans is no justification for being the only so-called major team sport without a senior international competition.

Awesome post, Bonus!!!! :clapping

[Bonus]

But a 2- to 3-week tournament in July means either depriving teams with their stars (or players who happen to have Italian-sounding names) for that time or an outright suspension of the season. MLS and NHL both have suspensions, but they don't result in shortened schedules. Meaning the owners get their respective 30+ and 80 games in respectively. I can't see MLB going for suspension unless, just thinking outloud, the season were to start one or two weeks early (I can already hear the complaints about that) and end one or two weeks later (can hear more compaints) so that the owners get their ridiculous 162 game schedule in. I would be happy if the season were put back to 154 or something slightly more reasonable, but MLB wouldn't.

My idea would have been to play after the World Series, and try to keep the players going before they shut down for the winter for another few weeks (longer for the guys who don't make the playoffs). I have never heard someone even mention this plan, so I assume that it would be a stillborn idea.

[Captain Cold Nose]

November some place warm would probably be a better idea than March, so close to the regular season's beginning where jobs are on the line.

[wamby]

I doubt the players are getting pressured into doing something they don't want to. In fact, the facts demonstrate otherwise. The clubs (especially the Yankees and the White Sox) are pressuring the players not to play. Why does John Henry say that Manny's skipping of the WBC will "work out perfectly"? Why does he go out of his way to say that he never asked Manny not to play? And yes, I agree that it is slapped together and forced, much like the baseball steroid policy, the ban on "greenies," the ban on chewing tobacco in the minors but not the majors, and the anti-collusion rules relating to free agency.



I don't agree about the players not being pressured. This ia a co-production of Selig's off and the Players Association, and I think players were being pressured by both of those entities. From what I've read about it, it sounds like ARod was getting the most pressure to perform. I think owners like Steinbrenner who oppose this thing are showing a lot of sense because they don't want the possibility of players, who they have millions invested in, to get hurt during a meaningless exhibition. I thionk most of the players who will participate will be treating this as an exhibition and the level of play won't be that high.

[wamby]

Given that this is an International Baseball board, do you see anything ironic about your attitude?

I don't much like Dungeons & Dragons; but you'd never see me posting at a D&D message board, telling people how much they are wasting their lives.

Not really, since I was responding about Manny Ramirez dropping out. I have what I think is a valid opinion about international baseball.

[SamtheBravesFan]

Just remember, the Olympics cancelled baseball and softball. If that's supposedly the highest level of international competition, and baseball can't make it there, why would this have worked?


You do know why baseball and softball were kicked out of the London Olympics, don't you? They were deemed "too American", for one thing. Also, Major League Baseball wouldn't succumb to the pressure to suspend the season to send their best players over to the Games to play. And there was the matter of performance enhancers. Softball is just a victim in the crossfire: hey, it's just like baseball! Plus, the Americans dominate it! Kick it out!

[wamby]

You do know why baseball and softball were kicked out of the London Olympics, don't you? They were deemed "too American", for one thing. Also, Major League Baseball wouldn't succumb to the pressure to suspend the season to send their best players over to the Games to play. And there was the matter of performance enhancers. Softball is just a victim in the crossfire: hey, it's just like baseball! Plus, the Americans dominate it! Kick it out!

I'm glad baseball didn't succumb to the pressure to suspend the season. I can't see any reason to stop the season cold for a few games that are completely meaningless.

[caribeño]

Perhaps a better way could be playing the World Cup after the " World Series " , with a lot less teams , in a warm , and nearby area like South Cal , Texas , Florida , and/or somewhere in the Caribbean to avoid too much traveling for so many tired players - . Even thought i simpatize with the idea of " world " competition , teams like Africa and China do not belong , yet . Eight teams at this moment would have been a lot better . And perhaps an all-against-all format . If planned carefully with the help of players , and baseball people this event can become what the " World Cup " means in some other sports : A Top event .
And will do what it is suppose to do : to provide both quality and quantity in our sport around the planet . And as a sub-product , it will provide a lot of additional talent to MLB .

[Bonus]

I have what I think is a valid opinion about international baseball.

Which is what, that it shouldn't exist?

The fact that you call the WBC a "meaningless exhibition" is telling, and hardly worth arguing. Baseball's flat-earth society finds a game between the Royals and D-Rays played at the Trop (which is worth 1/162nd of a 1/8th share in the playoffs) to be a meaningful non-exhibition. On the other hand, a series of games that determine which country gets to claim the title as best in world at baseball is meaningless. I suppose the FIFA World Cup is also a "meaningless exhibition."

[wamby]

Which is what, that it shouldn't exist?

The fact that you call the WBC a "meaningless exhibition" is telling, and hardly worth arguing. Baseball's flat-earth society finds a game between the Royals and D-Rays played at the Trop (which is worth 1/162nd of a 1/8th share in the playoffs) to be a meaningful non-exhibition. On the other hand, a series of games that determine which country gets to claim the title as best in world at baseball is meaningless. I suppose the FIFA World Cup is also a "meaningless exhibition."

The best in the world? Please. I don't understand why anyone would care about a title like that. I think the WBC is about as meaningless as any exhibition can be.

I don't know anything about FIFA and truthfully I'm not interested in it.

[GiantPickle]

The best in the world? Please. I don't understand why anyone would care about a title like that. I think the WBC is about as meaningless as any exhibition can be.

I don't know anything about FIFA and truthfully I'm not interested in it.


Presumably, you live in Alabama. Is this why you are not as open minded as others about the WBC?:confused:


We are interested in FIFA and WBC as well. You are in the wrong Thread. You should consider opening a Thread about Spring Training and the future expansion team "The Alabama Red Necks".

[wamby]

Presumably, you live in Alabama. Is this why you are not as open minded as others about the WBC?:confused:


We are interested in FIFA and WBC as well. You are in the wrong Thread. You should consider opening a Thread about Spring Training and the future expansion team "The Alabama Red Necks".

Even here in Alabama I can still tell a bad idea when I see one.

[MudvilleMike]

Just because these guys are wealthy does not mean they should neglect their training and their jobs.


They would be doing their jobs by playing in the WBC. Unfortunately, some shortsighted owners don't appreciate the potential club benefits to increasing baseball's international popularity.

[MudvilleMike]

Even here in Alabama I can still tell a bad idea when I see one.

When you make comments like, "I don't know anything about FIFA and truthfully I'm not interested in it" you lose a lot of credibility.

[wamby]

When you make comments like, "I don't know anything about FIFA and truthfully I'm not interested in it" you lose a lot of credibility.

Why? What is so credible about having any interest in the FIFA? Especially in regards to baseball?

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Why? What is so credible about having any interest in the FIFA? Especially in regards to baseball?
You don't have to have interest in FIFA to know what it is? Do you even know what the FIFA World Cup is? I realize baseball will never be as popular as soccer but the idea of having a Baseball "World Cup" is something I've been waiting for 20 years. I just love the idea of the best baseball nations playing in an international tournament to determine the "World Champions. Besides, the WBC will only be once every four years. If you don't care for the WBC then that is fine, but most baseball fans are very excited about.

[brewcrew82]

The problem with the WBC is that it has no history. In soccer the World Cup is the most important tournament. You don't see soccer players backing out using lame excuses about "wanting to get ready for the season" or "wanting to be with their team". Why is that soccer players "get it" and baseball players don't? I know the timing is all wrong. The WBC should be played in July.

Another thing is, baseball is a club sport (not an representative sport), whereas something like Rugby is more of a representative (how many prople truely care about club rugby? International competitions are focused on more than the club comp). I don't see the Olympics, WBC or anything concievable making baseball into a representative sport.
Soccer on the other hand is one of those games in which club competition is almost as important as international competition.

I hope this makes sense, its all logical when I'm thinking about it but putting it into words it comes out a little odd. :grouchy

[aarond23]

I agree brewcrew82 as of right now International baseball for major league players has not been a priority but I do think with the right amount of passion and great games, some that we have already seen, you might see it start to change, but it will take a generation.

[brewcrew82]

It may change, but ever so slightly...If you look at alot of the traditionally international sports (soccer, rugby, cricket etc) they rooted themselves internationally almost from the outset, baseball has gome 150+ years as a club sport and only now is trying to make global competition.

Basketball is developing deeper roots overseas becuase it was played by competing nations long before baseball considered doing so, but basketball is still very much a club sport and will continue to do so for [probably] a very long time.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Another thing is, baseball is a club sport (not an representative sport), whereas something like Rugby is more of a representative (how many prople truely care about club rugby? International competitions are focused on more than the club comp). I don't see the Olympics, WBC or anything concievable making baseball into a representative sport.
Soccer on the other hand is one of those games in which club competition is almost as important as international competition.

I hope this makes sense, its all logical when I'm thinking about it but putting it into words it comes out a little odd. :grouchy
It doesn't. :confused: Can you elaborate?

[brewcrew82]

What I was trying to say is baseball is not built for international competition, it is a club sport, where club success is the ultimate measure of a players career whereas other sports I mentioned International success is where the most pride and accomplishment is garnered from.

That seems a little more coherent. :)

[Andruw]

What I was trying to say is baseball is not built for international competition


History World Cup Baseball
It all started in August 1938 when the first World Cup was held. In London, only two countries participated: the United States and Great Britain. Between August 13 and 18, the two teams faced each other five times and it was the British squad which won four games and therefore became the first-ever world champion. This not only was to be the only world title for the British, it also was their only appearance ever on a World Cup tournament! Great Britain opened with a 3-0 win, followed by a 8-6 victory. Next, the USA won with a 5-0 shutout, but the British recovered and finished with 4-0 and 5-3 wins. In order to consolidate and promote international competition, the International Baseball Federation was founded and the American Leslie Mann was named the first Secretary General.
But to find the introduction to a world championship, we have to go a few years back. In 1931 it was the same Leslie Mann, who founded the National Baseball Congress to promote baseball in the USA. Mann was a popular former professional player and had a lot of influence. Four years later (1935) Takiso Matsumoto, a professor of the Meji University in Japan, invited an American baseballteam for a game. Amongst the members of the committee that selected the American squad were Leslie Mann and Avery Brundage, who later became President of the International Olympic Committee.

The big break-through for international baseball came during the Olympic Games of 1936 in Berlin. The exhibition game between two American teams was a enormous success and was attended in the huge Olympic Stadium by 125.000 spectators! It was proven that baseball could grow internationally. Two years later, the first world championships was played.

In 1939, three countries (Cuba, Nicaragua, USA) participated in Cuba in the second World Cup. The three teams together played nine games. In front of a home crowd, Cuba captured the title for the first time. In the next years, 23 more titles would follow, giving the country an all-time record of 24 world titles.

The first 'real' World Championships, with multiple participants, took place in 1940. In this event, which also was held in Cuba, seven countries participated. Again, Cuba was the strongest country.

In the first years, it were countries from North, Central and South America, that participated in the World Cup. It was not until 1970, during the 18th World Cup tournament that the 'American' countries got company from two European teams. In Colombia, it were Italy and The Netherlands that represented Europe. For the first time in 32 years, Europa was back again.

The first Asian countries (Japan and Chinese Taipei) participated in the 20th World Championships, which was held in 1972 in Nicaragua. A few weeks after this event, Nicaragua was struck by a devastating earthquake. The wellknown player Roberto Clemente, who played in the American Major League for the Pittsburgh Pirates and had just hit the 3000th basehit in his career a few months earlier, was one of the volunteers to help. On the last day of 1972, Clemente left his home country Puerto Rico with a cargo plane loaded with supplies en route to Nicaragua. Unfortunately, the plane crashed into the ocean shortly after take off and Clemente lost his life. The baseball world had lost one of its best players ever.

In 1974, the African continent was represented for the first time by South Africa during the 23rd World Cup in the USA. It took until 1978, when the 25th World Cup was held in Italy, Oceania became the last continent to join with the participation of Australia. The 33rd World Cup in 1998, which also took place in Italy, became the first of only two events so far where all five continents were represented. The other tournament took place three years later (2001) in Chinese Taipei. In 2003, in Cuba, Australia, as well as its replacement Guam both withdraw its participation, meaning Oceania didn't participate. The 36th World Cup, which in 2005 will take place for the second time in The Netherlands, therefore will become only the third event in the Championships-history where all five continents will be represented!

[wamby]

You don't have to have interest in FIFA to know what it is? Do you even know what the FIFA World Cup is? I realize baseball will never be as popular as soccer but the idea of having a Baseball "World Cup" is something I've been waiting for 20 years. I just love the idea of the best baseball nations playing in an international tournament to determine the "World Champions. Besides, the WBC will only be once every four years. If you don't care for the WBC then that is fine, but most baseball fans are very excited about.

I know what the World Cup is. I don't like soccer and have no interest in the World Cup. I've watched some of the WBC, but it is not holding my interest. I've never liked international sports in the past and I still don't.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I know what the World Cup is. I don't like soccer and have no interest in the World Cup. I've watched some of the WBC, but it is not holding my interest. I've never liked international sports in the past and I still don't.
Wow, really, I can't get enough. So I guess you only care about baseball in the America...

[wamby]

Wow, really, I can't get enough. So I guess you only care about baseball in the America...

In the American League and the National League.

[aarond23]

Yeah all I can say is wamby you are missing out....this is a great tournament with lots of passion.

[wamby]

Yeah all I can say is wamby you are missing out....this is a great tournament with lots of passion.

I've watched a little bit of it and have not been overwhelmed by what I saw.

[brewcrew82]

I'm with Wamby...