A week ago, or so, I said that I’d post about my WBC experience back in 2006 and the recent Tarik Skubal news hastened this post. The two-time CY winner said that he’d be making only one appearance in the tournament but would like to return and watch from the bench. Given the money the Tigers are paying him and his importance to their success, this course of action in understandable.

Sometime in late 2005 I purchased a ticket for the opening round of the first WBC in Scottsdale/Phoenix. While I bought what MLB was selling and believed the tournament would be more popular than it was. Nobody had any idea what to expect–and MLB did a mediocre job of explaining and marketing the event.

After numerous blind queries, prayers and some arm twisting, I landed a freelance gig covering that first round from a fan’s perspective. I didn’t bother pursuing media credentials for fear that I’d be denied or laughed at. Editor’s note: 2005 was my first year of attending Cactus League games ergo I wasn’t a Vally expert yet.

As much as I tried to familiarize myself with the four teams playing in Phoenix (USA, Canada, Mexico and South Africa), it was difficult sledding as the rosters were pretty fluid heading into first pitch and a few players from the US pulled out at the last moment.

No matter what the powers that be claim today, the folks running things then really didn’t understand who their target market was. They foolishly believed that spring training regulars would flock to the early games in Arizona and follow Team US to Florida and Los Angeles. The presumption was that the US would medal at the very least and that the rest of the world would jump at the chance to come here to see their home country advance.

Aside from poor local media coverage, an early sign that this was a niche event at best became clear to me before one of the games at the BOB (Bank One Ballpark back then). I was enjoying a pregame pop at a sports bar near the ballpark. I was glad to see a few parties of 10+ baseball fans gathered, only to found out that nobody had any idea what the WBC was despite being 100 feet away. The groups were season ticketholders diving up their seats before Opening Day. I figured then that if real local fans were uninformed the series would be poorly attended.

When I purchased my ticket package, I was under the impression (ordering ticket online was much different back then) and I ended up in the upper deck, but moved around eventually because of the smaller crowds.

Like most international sporting events the format was round robin. Team USA played their games against Canada and Mexico at the BOB and Scottsdale Stadium for their finale against South Africa. The action shifted from Phoenix to Scottsdale each day.

Unlike my Cactus League experiences, I happily caught two games twice and enjoyed learning the roads and finding spots for makeshift dinners coincidentally with many of the visitors from Mexico following their team. I enjoyed their enthusiasm and company at the games and watering holes.

While the Canadians were boisterous, they didn’t pay as close attention to the games without Canada. Everyone appreciated the effort from South Africa even if nobody knew who anyone was. After a couple games, however players like Ian Butcher earned the respect of all the fans. We saw how outmatched they were in each contest but appreciated that they never gave in or up.

While they pretended the groups were based on geography, most everyone in the ballparks felt that the tournament was rigged so that Team US would face off against Japan in the finals. Ergo when we did not romp in our sectional, fans were disappointed to say the least. Two teams from each section advanced which meant one of our neighbors would go home.

Even twenty years later, certain players from each team stand out and not necessarily for their resumes or future HOF status. Former catcher and Blue Jay, Ernie Whitt, managed Team Canada and Larry Walker was a coach. But do Jeff Francis, Stubby Clapp, and Rheal Cormier strike fear in your heart.

Most of Team Mexico’s roster were veterans of professional ball in Mexico with only a few MLB reps. Adrian Gonzalez was the most decorated player on the team. What are your fondest memories of Jorge Cantu?

Eventual HOF’er Lee Smith was South Africa’s pitching coach and minor league manager Rick Magnante the skipper.

As was the case with the 1988 US Men’s Olympic hoops team, the stars representing the USA are forgotten despite their reputations. Ken Griffey Jr., Arod, Dereks Jeter and Lee, Chipper Jones couldn’t get it done. It’s a lot harder to assemble a winning team amongst all the stars. Roger Clemons and Jake Peavy were the aces of the staff, but I remember Brian Fuentes (and his parents), Chad Cordero and Gary Majewski.

One of the hardest things to figure out was handling of pitchers and to this day, I’m not sure if the pitch limits were mere suggestions or enforced. The primary reason for the limits was to protect the pitchers from themselves. I don’t know if managers and analytics departments know how to maximize what they can get from pitchers with limits. Meting out innings isn’t as exact a science as we all think. In the last twenty years, there is plenty of data to suggest that openers that allow runs in the first inning can be hazardous to one’s health.

As was the case when I returned home in early March in 2006, I believe the WBC is a great tool for growing the game on a world scale. The game has grown exponentially in Europe, Asia, South America and Africa in the last twenty years because of this international tournament. There’s still a lot to be ironed out, namely the timing and location(s), but once we get over the fact that the US is not the target audience, we can enjoy it. While nobody born in the States’ interest in the game has grown because of the WBC, merch sales have skyrocketed. For the next couple of seasons, you’ll see more WBC jerseys and caps in ballparks across the country. We might not get to see Ohtani v. Trout again, but that doesn’t mean we’ll lack for drama.