In a few days, the 2023 version of the World Baseball Classic is set to open up in four international cities. I’m not suggesting this will be the biggest or best, and that everyone should care.
The tournament has expanded to 20 teams, up from 16. I’m linking to a pretty good preview from mlb.com. I’ll share some of my thoughts having attended the first round of the first tournament back in 2006.
While it’s always been mis-marketed to Americans, the ultimate purpose is to grow the game internationally-especially in countries not associated with the game. Since that first year, I’ve spoken with dozens of players that watched the tournament as young men and how it opened up doors in other countries.
As is the case with most international sporting events, the decks are stacked. Back in 2006, Team USA was in the same pool with Canada, Mexico and South Africa. I purchased my tickets the week they went on sale and eagerly anticipated the games. While I thought the US would fare better, I was curious to see South Africa.
The bigger games (those not involving South Africa) were all played at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix. Before the term “sports bubble” was coined, the fans attending the WBC in Phoenix were in our own little bubble. Fans didn’t drift between the games and Cactus League play. Due to geography, the second largest group of fans came from Mexico.
While I didn’t possess credential, and didn’t have on-field access, I did speak to a few players and wrote about the experience from a fan’s perspective. I don’t remember playing golf during that brief 5-day stay, but I did catch an exhibition between the Brewers minor leaguer and Team Japan (the eventual champs). Only a few hundred fans learned of the game. For me it was my lone shot at seeing Sadaharu Oh up close and in person.
At the time it was a foregone conclusion that the US would be playing for gold. The lineup was stacked: Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Jake Peavy, and Ken Griffey Jr. to name but a few stars. As is always the case, there were several players whose names you haven’t heard or thought about in years, filling in key spots on the roster.
Seventeen years later, one has to wonder what the general manager and his staff were thinking. It was a different time and many of the relative nobodies, played bigger roles with their respective teams. When did you last think of Vernon Wells, Gary Majewski, or Mike Timlin?
I’d love to interview the members of that team today-about that experience. I also would love the chance to cover future tournaments.
Note that there have already been several changes in the various rosters. The story should give you a fair idea of what to expect and if it’s worth your time and trouble.
Editor’s note: I returned a couple weeks later for some spring training games. 2006 was also my first year covering the Arizona Fall League. Three separate trips to Arizona in the same year for baseball.
I'd rather be sitting in a ballpark. 