2009 World Classic
By Hiroshi Hiyama
TOKYO, March 24 AFP – Tokyo, Toronto, Mexico City and San Juan will in 2009 host the opening rounds of the second World Baseball Classic, the sport’s bid to expand its global reach, organisers announced today.
Japan defeated Cuba to win the inaugural 16-nation tournament in 2006, which attracted wide interest for its twists and turns including the surprisingly early elimination of the US team.
“The first World Baseball Classic was an enormous success. It exceeded all of our expectations for the event,” US Major League Baseball chief operating officer Bob DuPuy told a news conference in Tokyo.
“This is truly a worldwide event,” he said. “The World Baseball Classic will be our primary vehicle for celebrating the richness of the baseball culture and people who play our game.”
The next Classic will kick off on March 5, 2009 at the Tokyo Dome with a Pool A competition of China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, MLB announced.
The three other pools will compete in Mexico City, Toronto and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Australia is in Pool B in Mexico City against Mexico, Cuba and South Africa
Dates for later rounds including the final are yet to be set.
“I think it speaks very well for the international growth of the game that all four sites for the first round are located outside of the continental United States in just our second turn,” DuPuy said.
He said that some 750,000 fans around the world had attended the inaugural Classic.
MLB commissioner Bud Selig, in a statement released here, said there had been strong competition to host the Classic, which next year will feature the same 16 teams.
The tournament will switch from a round-robin to a double-elimination competition in the early rounds.
Baseball, despite its wide following in the Americas and Asia, is battling to maintain its foothold among young people who are taking an ever increasing interest in faster, more physical sports such as football.
The sport also sparks little interest in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, leading to its elimination from the Olympics after this year’s Beijing Summer Games.
“Baseball in Puerto Rico is fading,” Boston Red Sox shortstop Alex Cora, a native of the Caribbean island, told the news conference.
“I think having the tournament (in Puerto Rico) again next year is going to be huge… to show passion we have for this game,” he said.
In another bid by MLB to raise international interest, the defending world champion Red Sox are starting their regular season in Tokyo on Tuesday against the Oakland Athletics.
Star pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, who will start for Boston, won a giant contract with Boston after being named the first Classic’s most valuable player.
The right-hander led Japan to its 10-6 win in the final against Cuba.
Publisher: AAPNewswire
27 Mar 11:01 AM
