Cuba national baseball team

Cuba national baseball team
Country	Cuba
Federation	Baseball Federation of Cuba
Confederation	Pan American Baseball Confederation
Manager	Higinio Vélez
IBAF Rank	1st
World Baseball Classic
Appearances	2 (First in 2006)
Best result	2nd place (2006)
Olympics
Appearances	5 (First in 1992)
Best result	1st Place (1992, 1996 & 2004)
World Cup
Appearances	35 (First in 1939)
Best result	1st Place (1939, 1940, 1942, 1943, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1961, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2001, 2003 & 2005)
Intercontinental Cup
Appearances	13 (First in 1979)
Best result	1st Place (1979, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 2002 & 2006)
Pan American Games
Appearances	15 (First in 1951)
Best result	1st Place (1951, 1963, 1971, 1975, 1979 1983, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003 & 2007)

The Cuba national baseball team is the national team of Cuba. The team is made up of amateur players from the Cuban national baseball system, as there are no professional sports leagues in Cuba. The Cuba national baseball team is currently ranked #1 in the world.^[1]

World Baseball Classic

2006

Cuba participated in the inaugural World Baseball Classic tournament, although there was controversy over Cuban involvement, due to the United States embargo against Cuba. Cuba reached the finals of this tournament, but lost the final to Japan by a score of 10-6.

2009

Cuba again participated in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, playing its first round games in Pool B at Foro Sol in Mexico City. Cuba secured advancement to the second round with wins over South Africa and Australia. However, they lost to Japan twice in the 2nd round and were eliminated. It was their first elimination before finals in international game since 1951.

Olympics

The Cuban team has participated in every Summer Olympic Games since 1992. It has been the most successful team at the Olympics. In the five tournaments contested, they have won the gold medal three times and the silver twice.

2009 IBAF World Cup

Cuba was originally slated to host the 2009 Baseball World Cup, however, they willingly gave up the honor to Europe. In an effort to help baseball grow as a sport in Europe, it will mark the first time in history the Baseball World Cup will not be hosted by a certain country, but rather a whole continent. The 2009 Baseball World Cup will take place from September 9-27. Seven European countries will host and participant in the tournament of 22 teams. The event will be made up of five groups consisting of four teams each, for a total of 20 teams. Italy (Bollate, Bologna, Codogno, Florence, Macerata, Milano, Parma, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia, Rimini, San Marino, Torino, Trieste, Verona & Vicenza) and Netherlands (Rotterdam, Haarlem & Amsterdam) serve as hosts of the sixteen teams of the second round (September 14-20), and therefore receive first round byes. The groups are as follows:^[2]

• Group A (hosted by the Czech Republic in Prague): Czech Republic, Australia, Chinese Taipei & Mexico
• Group B (hosted by Spain in Barcelona): Spain, Cuba, Puerto Rico & South Africa
• Group C (hosted by Sweden in Stockholm): Sweden, Canada, Korea & Netherlands Antilles
• Group D (hosted by Russia in Moscow): Russia, France/Great Britain, Japan & Nicaragua
• Group E (hosted by Germany in Regensburg): Germany, China, U.S.A. & Venezuela^[3]

Tournament placings

Cuban team lining up prior to the gold medal game in the 2006 Intercontinental Cup against the Netherlands

World Baseball Classic

• 2006 - 2nd place
• 2009 - 6th place

Olympics

• 1992 - Gold Medal
• 1996 - Gold Medal
• 2000 - Silver Medal
• 2004 - Gold Medal
• 2008 - Silver Medal

Pan American Games

Gold: 1951 1963 1971 1975 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007

Silver: 1967

IBAF World Cup

Gold: 1939, 1940, 1942, 1943, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1961, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2001, 2003 & 2005

Silver: 1941, 2007

Bronze: 1944 1951

Intercontinental Cup

Gold: 1979 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 2002 2006

Silver: 1981 1997 1999

Central American & Caribbean Games

Gold: Won Gold 14 out of the 17 Central American and Caribbean Games.

References

Cuba portal

1. ^ "IBAF World Rankings". http://www.ibaf.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Files_-_world_rankings/world_rankings_09.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-15. 
2. ^ "IBAF announces groups for first round of 2009 Baseball World Cup". http://www.baseballeurope.com/uploads/media/IBAF_announces_groups_for_first_round_of_2009_BWC.pdf. Retrieved 2009-03-15. 
3. ^ "IBAF World Cup 2009 in Europe". http://www.baseballeurope.com/14/. Retrieved 2009-03-15. 

v • d • e International Baseball Major World Events World Baseball Classic • Olympics • Men's World Cup • Women's World Cup Minor World Events Intercontinental Cup • Haarlem Baseball Week • World Port Tournament • University • Junior AAA • Youth AA Defunct World Events Universiade • Women's Baseball World Series Africa      African Baseball & Softball Association – All-Africa Games Americas      Pan American Baseball Confederation – Pan American Games • Americas Baseball Cup • Central American and Caribbean Games Asia      Baseball Federation of Asia – Asian Championship • Asian Games • Junior AAA • Southeast Asian Games Europe      Confederation of European Baseball – European Championship • European Cup • "Final Four" • Under-21 • Junior AAA • Youth AA • Juveniles Oceania      Baseball Confederation of Oceania – Oceania Championship • Pacific Games IBAF • World Rankings

v • d • e Baseball at the Summer Olympics 1912* • 1920–1932 • 1936* • 1948 • 1952* • 1956* • 1960 • 1964* • 1968–1980 • 1984* • 1988* • 1992 • 1996 • 2000 • 2004 • 2008 * Demonstration sports at these Games List of medalists