Cuba national baseball team
history|Federation = Baseball Federation of Cuba |Confederation = Pan American Baseball Confederation |Manager = Higinio Vélez |IBAF Rank = 1st |WBC apps = 2 |WBC first = 2006 |WBC best = 2nd place () |Olympic apps = 5 |Olympic first = 1992 |Olympic best = 1st Place (, & ) |WC apps = 35 |WC first = 1939 |WC best = 1st Place (, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , & ) |IC apps = 13 |IC first = 1979 |IC best = 1st Place (, , , , 1989, , , , 2002 & 2006) |PAG apps = 15 |PAG first = 1951 |PAG best = 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.
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, the Baseball World Cup was hosted by a whole continent for the first time in history. The Baseball World Cup took place from September 9-27. Seven European countries hosted and participated in the tournament of 22 teams. The event was 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) served as hosts of the sixteen teams of the second round (September 14-20), and therefore received first round byes. The groups are as follows:
- 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
Tournament placings
against the Netherlands]]
World Baseball Classic
Pan American Games
Gold:
1951 1963 1971
1975 1979 1983
1987 1991 1995
1999 2003 2007
Silver: 1967
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Silver: 1941, 2007, 2009
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.