Canada national baseball team

Canada national baseball team
Country Canada
Federation Baseball Canada
Confederation COPABE
Manager Ernie Whitt
IBAF World Rank 7th
World Baseball Classic
Appearances 3 (First in 2006)
Best result 9 (2006)
Olympic Games
Appearances 2 (First in 2004)
Best result 4 (2004)
World Cup
Appearances 17 (First in 1970)
Best result Bronze: 2 – (2009, 2011)
Intercontinental Cup
Appearances ? (First in 1973)
Best result ?
Pan American Games
Best result Gold: 2 – (2011), (2015)

The Canadian national baseball team is the baseball team which represents Canada in international tournaments. They are currently ranked sixth in the world.[1] Their manager is Ernie Whitt, a former Major League Baseball catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Tournament record

World Baseball Classic

 Canada
World Baseball Classic
Tournament Results
United States 2006 9th
Canada 2009 13th
United States 2013 12th
Medal Tally
Gold		 -
Silver		 -
Bronze		 -
World Baseball Classic record Qualification record
Year Host(s) Round Position W L RS RA Host W L RS RA
2006 United States Round 1 9th 2 1 20 23 No qualifiers held
2009 Canada Round 1 13th 0 2 7 12 No qualifiers held
2013 United States Round 1 12th 1 2 18 26 Germany 3 0 38 9
2017 Automatically qualified
Total 4/4 3 5 45 61 3 0 38 9
Team Canada plays at the 2009 WBC as hosting fans cheer the players on

2006 WBC

In June 2005, Major League Baseball announced the formation of the World Baseball Classic (WBC), an international competition to be held in March 2006 for the first time. Canada was one of the sixteen teams invited to play in the inaugural classic. Because the event will be held in March, before the North American baseball season traditionally starts, players active in Major League Baseball or any minor league affiliates are eligible to play in the WBC, making the team markedly different from the teams which represented Canada in the 2005 World Cup or the 2004 Olympics.

Several high profile Canadian players declined the opportunity to participate, including Ryan Dempster, Shawn Hill, Danny Klassen, Éric Gagné and Rich Harden, who were injured. Los Angeles Dodgers' prospect Russell Martin was named to the team, but pulled out in favor of reporting to Spring training. In addition, Larry Walker, who retired after the 2005 season, opted not to participate, choosing instead to serve in a coaching capacity.

Before being eliminated after the first round, Canada played in Pool B of the tournament with Mexico, South Africa and the United States.

vs. South Africa

Team Canada was heavily favoured to win their first game against South Africa, a team made up almost entirely by amateurs. However, South Africa put up a tough challenge to the Canadian team. South African starter, Carl Michaels pitched outstandingly; Canada could not get a run until the 5th inning, when they scored 3. However, the South Africans shockingly scored 4 runs of their own in the bottom of the 5th against Paul Quantrill. It was back and forth from then on. It looked like South Africa might pull off a monumental upset as they went into the 9th with an 8-7 lead. However, in the top of the 9th, the Canadians scored 4 times to win the game 11-8.

vs. the United States

Adam Stern

After almost being upset by a surprising South African team, Canada pulled off an upset of its own with an 8-6 victory over the star-studded United States team. Scoring in each of the first five innings, the Canadians built an 8-0 lead using a combination of timely, patient hitting, steady pitching and clutch fielding. In the bottom of the fifth, the United States threatened a comeback, exploding for 6 runs, capped off by a Jason Varitek grand slam. The Canadian team held off the US the rest of the way, as neither team crossed the plate again in the game. Adam Stern had a strong outing, going 3 for 4, a double shy of the cycle, with an inside-the-park home run, as well as making several spectacular plays in center field to keep his team ahead.

vs. Mexico

After Canada's victory over the United States, they got shocked by the Mexican team in a 9-1 resounding defeat. Unfortunately for the Canadian side, this victory would eventually cost them the trip to the 2nd round of the tournament after the United States beat South Africa 17-0 and clinched the second place in Pool B. Canada, USA, and Mexico each finished with a 2-1 record in the pool, but Canada lost the tie-breaker based on runs allowed.

Results

Round One

2009 WBC

Canada also competed in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, hosting the Pool C games at Rogers Centre in Toronto. The Canadians lost a close game against the United States by a 6-5 score in the Pool C opener. Canada was eliminated from the tournament after losing 6-2 to underdog Italy. Canada exited the WBC with an 0-2 record and 6.35 runs allowed per 9 innings, to secure thirteenth place overall.

2013 WBC

Canada won a qualifying tournament in Armin-Wolf-Arena in Regensburg, Germany, in September 2012, that also featured the Czech Republic, Germany and Great Britain. Canada moved on to the 1st Round.[2]

The Canadian team was placed in 2013 World Baseball Classic – Pool D against Italy, Mexico and the United States. On March 8, Canada lost to the Italian baseball team 14-4 after the game ended in the 8th inning due to the mercy rule in place after Italy scored five additional runs during the bottom of the 8th inning.

On March 9, Canada faced off against Mexico. With Canada already leading the game, third baseman Luis Cruz motioned the pitcher Arnold Leon to bean the next batter, Rene Tosoni, which resulted in a bench clearing brawl. Seven players from both teams ejected from the game. Despite this, they clinched a 10-3 win over Mexico. They lost the final game against the United States 9-4, thus eliminating Canada from the tournament. The Canadian team missed out on advancing to the next round for the third time, but still managed to claim their automatic qualification for the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

Olympic Games

 Canada
Baseball at the Olympics
Demonstration
United States Los Angeles, 1984 5th (tie)
South Korea Seoul, 1988 7th
Medal Event
Greece Athens, 2004 4th
China Beijing, 2008 6th
Medal Tally
Gold		 -
Silver		 -
Bronze		 -
Summer Olympics record Qualification
Year Host Round Position W L RS RA
1984 United States Preliminary 5th (tied) [lower-alpha 1] 1 2 10 11
1988 South Korea Preliminary 5th (tied) [lower-alpha 1] 1 2 17 19
1992 Spain Did not qualify
1996 United States Did not qualify
2000 Australia Did not qualify 1999 Pan American Games
2004 Greece Finals 4th 5 4 46 36 2004 Americas Olympic Baseball Qualifying Tournament
2008 People's Republic of China Preliminary 6th 2 5 26 23 4th, American Qualifying Tournament
Final Qualifying Tournament
Total [lower-alpha 2] 2/5 7 9 72 59
  1. 1 2 No medals awarded; tournament was a demonstration sport only
  2. ↑ Totals only include years 1992 to 2008, during which baseball was an official medal sport.

Canada has qualified for two Olympic Games, in 2004 and 2008. Canadian teams also competed twice when baseball was a demonstration sport, in 1984 and 1988.

1984 Summer Olympics

In the 1984 Summer Olympics, the team finished third in their pool, the equivalent of a tie for fifth overall.

1988 Summer Olympics

In the 1988 Summer Olympics, the team finished seventh.

2004 Summer Olympics

In the 2004 Summer Olympics, the team finished fourth.

2008 Summer Olympics

Canada qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics by finishing 1st place in the final qualifying tournament. They finished the tournament in 6th.

World Cup

 Canada
Baseball World Cup
Amateur World Series
Colombia Colombia, 1970 9th (tie)
Cuba Cuba, 1971 6th (tie)
Nicaragua Nicaragua, 1972 9th
Nicaragua Nicaragua, 1973 6th (tie)
United States United States, 1974 4th (tie)
Italy Italy, 1978 9th
Japan Japan, 1980 5th
South Korea South Korea, 1982 5th
World Cup
Italy Italy, 1988 5th
Canada Canada, 1990 8th
Nicaragua Nicaragua, 1994 14th
Italy Italy, 1998 6th in Pool B
Taiwan Taiwan, 2001 6th in Pool B
Cuba Cuba, 2003 5th in Pool A
Netherlands Netherlands, 2005 5th in Pool A
Taiwan Taiwan, 2007 9th
European Union Europe, 2009 3rd
Panama Panama, 2011 3rd
Medal Tally
Gold		 -
Silver		 -
Bronze		 2
Rank		 14th

Canada has competed at 9 World Cups and 8 more times in its predecessor the Amateur World series. Their best finish was a bronze at the 2009 World Cup and at the 2011 World Cup.

Pan American Games

At the 2011 Pan American Games, Canada beat the USA 2-1 to win Canada's first ever baseball gold medal. Canada won their second consecutive gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Games, defeating the USA 7-6 (10 innings) in the final.

Players

Manager
Ernie Whitt
Coaches
Larry Walker, Denis Boucher, Stubby Clapp, Greg Hamilton, Tim Leiper, Paul Quantrill
Player No. Pos. DOB and age Team League
Albers, AndrewAndrew Albers 27 P October 6, 1985 Toronto Blue Jays (minors) Major League Baseball
Aumont, PhillippePhillippe Aumont 17 P January 7, 1989 Philadelphia Phillies Major League Baseball
Axford, JohnJohn Axford 59 P April 1, 1983 Milwaukee Brewers Major League Baseball
Crain, JesseJesse Crain 28 P July 5, 1981 Chicago White Sox Major League Baseball
Hardy, MarkMark Hardy 26 P May 3, 1988 San Diego Padres (minors) Major League Baseball
Henderson, JimJim Henderson 51 P October 21, 1982 Milwaukee Brewers Major League Baseball
Hill, ShawnShawn Hill 45 P April 28, 1981 Detroit Tigers Major League Baseball
Johnson, JayJay Johnson 57 P December 21, 1989 Philadelphia Phillies (minors) Major League Baseball
Leroux, ChrisChris Leroux 63 P April 14, 1984 Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball
Magnuson, TrystanTrystan Magnuson 38 P June 6, 1985 Toronto Blue Jays (minors) Major League Baseball
Mathieson, ScottScott Mathieson 47 P February 27, 1984 Yomiuri Giants Nippon Professional Baseball
Molleken, DustinDustin Molleken 35 P August 21, 1984 Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters Nippon Professional Baseball
Taillon, JamesonJameson Taillon 18 P November 18, 1991 Pittsburgh Pirates (minors) Major League Baseball
Robinson, ChrisChris Robinson 30 C May 12, 1984 Baltimore Orioles (minors) Major League Baseball
Suomi, JohnJohn Suomi 55 C October 5, 1980 Kansas City Royals (minors) Major League Baseball
Green, TaylorTaylor Green 5 IF November 2, 1986 Milwaukee Brewers Major League Baseball
Iorg, CaleCale Iorg 16 IF September 6, 1985 Detroit Tigers (minors) Major League Baseball
Lawrie, BrettBrett Lawrie 13 IF January 18, 1990 Oakland Athletics Major League Baseball
Malo, JonathanJonathan Malo 11 IF September 29, 1983 Québec Capitales Can-Am League
Morneau, JustinJustin Morneau 33 IF May 15, 1981 Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball
Orr, PetePete Orr 4 IF June 8, 1979 Philadelphia Phillies Major League Baseball
Van Ostrand, JimmyJimmy Van Ostrand 29 IF August 7, 1984 Washington Nationals (minors) Major League Baseball
Votto, JoeyJoey Votto 19 IF September 10, 1983 Cincinnati Reds Major League Baseball
Gillies, TysonTyson Gillies 24 OF October 31, 1988 Philadelphia Phillies (minors) Major League Baseball
Loewen, AdamAdam Loewen 21 OF April 9, 1984 Toronto Blue Jays (minors) Major League Baseball
Saunders, MichaelMichael Saunders 20 OF November 19, 1986 Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball
Tosoni, ReneRene Tosoni 9 OF July 2, 1986 Milwaukee Brewers (minors) Major League Baseball
Smith, TimTim Smith 14 DH June 14, 1986 Atlanta Braves (minors) Major League Baseball

Uniforms

Home

Away

See also

References

  1. ↑ IBAF World Rankings
  2. ↑ World Baseball Classic. "Schedule" Accessed October 3, 2012. http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com/wbc/2013/schedule_and_tickets/

External links

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