Group B Barcelona, Spaina
Barcelona Stadium Information:
Carlos Perez de Rosas
Carrer de Pierre de Coubertin 08038, Barcelona
Spain Baseball World Cup Website
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Spain
In Spain, like most European countries, soccer, or futbol, reigns supreme. Many Spaniards would argue, and maybe rightly so, that the highest levels of the world's most popular game are played in Spain. The domestic league, La Liga, is considered one of the best in the world, and is home to soccer powerhouses Real Madrid, who has won a record 9 UEFA Champions League titles, and Barcelona, the current UEFA Champions League titleholder. The national team has also seen a multitude of success, winning Olympic gold in 1992 on their home soil of Barcelona and a silver at the 2000 Sydney Games. Their victory in Euro 2008, the second most prestigious soccer tournament in the world behind the World Cup, gave them their first international trophy and also catapulted them to #1 in the world rankings, a position they currently hold. In addition to soccer, Spain has also achieved great success in recent years in a many other sports. In tennis, Rafael Nadal has not only won the French Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon, but has also risen to #1 in the world rankings. Many Spanish players have been successful in the NBA, most notably Pau Gasol, and the Spanish national team has also had success, winning a gold medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championships and a silver at the 2008 Olympics. Last year, Carlos Sastre won bike racing's most important event, the Tour de France. Because of these successes, many are calling this the “sporting Golden Age.”Baseball is also enjoying a resurgence in Spain. Originally brought to Spain by Cuban immigrants, baseball enjoyed its heyday in Spain during the 1950's and 1960's, but fell out of favor with the public when television channels began focusing their broadcasts on La Liga. However, baseball has survived. The top domestic league is called the Division de Honor, which annually holds a domestic cup competition, the Copa del Rey de Beisbol. The Division de Honor has been won by Marlins Puerto Cruz the last four years, but has largely been dominated by CB Viladecans, who won 21 straight titles between 1982 and 2002. The champion of the league plays in multiple leagues and championships across Europe, including the Baseball Champions League. The national team has also seen more success lately, winning a bronze medal in each of the last three European Championships.
Visiting Teams
Cuba
Recognized as the national sport of Cuba, baseball has always been first and foremost in the sporting landscape of the island nation. Baseball was introduced in the 1860's by American sailors who were in port in Cuba, and the games popularity quickly spread. In 1868, the first official baseball club was started by the Guillo brothers, both of who had gone to the United States for schooling. The Cuban League was formed in 1878, and existed in its original state until 1961. Prior to Fidel Castro taking power in 1959, many Cubans left their country to play in the United States, including Hall of Famer Tony Perez. However, this has become much more difficult under Castro's control. In total, there have been 159 Cuban position players and 73 Cuban pitchers to compete in the major leagues. To say the Cuban national team has been dominant in international competition is an understatement. Of the 36 Baseball World Cups, Cuba has won 25 golds, including a streak of 9 in a row from 1986 to 2005. In the five Olympics that baseball has been played, Cuba has won gold three times, and the national team reached the final of the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006. It is because of this past success that the Cuban national team is always one of the favorites in every tournament they enter.
South Africa
South Africa has seen its stock in the international sporting world rise dramatically in recent years, culminated with being named host of the 2010 World Cup. In addition to soccer, Australian rules football, rugby and cricket are the primary sports played in South Africa. Introduced in the late 1800's by American gold miners, baseball has predominantly been played on an old cricket or rugby field with no pitcher's mound and high grass. With no official domestic league, the sport has long been considered an afterthought to most South Africans, but that is beginning to change with the emergence of the national team and a few young South Africans playing in the minor leagues.South Africa scored its only international baseball victory in 2000 with a victory over the Netherlands in the Olympics, but has also shown it can be competitive against quality competition by narrowly losing to Canada 11-8 in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. The team also competed in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
Puerto Rico
Baseball continues to be very popular in Puerto Rico, both on the domestic and international levels. With a history steeped in players such as Roberto Clemente, Orlando Cepeda, Roberto Alomar, and Ivan Rodriguez, Puerto Rico has become one of the major hotbeds for baseball talent. Currently, there are over 40 Puerto Ricans playing on major league ball clubs, with many more playing in the minor leagues. Puerto Rico also has its own winter league, the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League, which is comprised of six teams and has been in existence since 1938. The champion of this league earns the right to represent the island in the Caribbean World Series. Internationally, the Puerto Rican national team has had a long and storied history. They have won nine Baseball World Cup medals, won 14 Caribbean Series titles, and placed third in the 1988 Olympics. They also participated in the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009, placing third both times. <//a>
