The World Baseball Softball Confederation Europe, known as WBSC Europe, was established on February 10, 2018, during a Congress of the Confederation of European Baseball and the European Softball Federation in Val d’Europe, France. the establishment of WBSC Europe followed the historic merger of the Confederation of European Baseball (CEB) and the European Softball Federation (ESF).[1] As of September 2022, WBSC Europe counts 40 members for baseball and 39 for softball.[2]

World Baseball Softball Confederation Europe
The logo of World Baseball Softball Confederation Europe
CategorySport governing body
JurisdictionEurope
Membership41
AbbreviationWBSC Europe
AffiliationWorld Baseball Softball Confederation
HeadquartersLausanne, Switzerland
PresidentKrunoslav Karin
Official website
www.wbsceurope.org/en

The CEB was founded in 1953 with 5 members, which were Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy and Spain.[3]

The CEB was responsible for operating the European Baseball Championship, a championship that has been running since 1954 in Europe.[3] In 2010, there were 112,303 players in the CEB countries.[4]

The ESF was founded in 1976 with 6 members, which were Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, and Spain.[5]

The ESF was responsible for operating the European Softball Championships.[6]

Formation

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The Confederation of European Baseball was formed in 1953. The European Softball Federation was formed in 1976, which then merged (baseball and softball) and formed into WBSC Europe in 2018.

WBSC Europe History

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On February 14, 2018, in Paris, France, the delegates of 38 National Baseball and Softball Federations approved the merger of the Confederation of European Baseball (CEB) and the European Softball Federation (ESF) at the joint European Baseball Softball Congress in Paris, France.[7]

In reaction to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, WBSC Europe relocated competitions that had been scheduled to be held in Russia during 2022, and excluded Russian and Belarusian teams from all its 2022 competitions.[8]

CEB History

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In April 1953 in Paris, France, 5 countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Spain) gave birth to the European Baseball Federation, originally named in French Féderation Européenne de Baseball (FEB). The first Executive Committee was formed by President Steno Borghese of Italy, Secretary General Roger Panaye of Belgium and Vice President and head of the Technical Commission Luis Barrio of Spain.

In 1954 the first European Championship was played in Belgium and Italy claimed the victory.

The sixth member country, the Netherlands, was accepted at the 1956 Congress in Milan.

In 1957 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sweden became the seventh member, and FEB became an eight-country federation in London in 1960 when Great Britain was accepted.

In 1963 FEB launched their first club competition. The first European champion of the club competition was Picadero Barcelona.

In 1967 the federations of Italy and the Netherlands announced their withdrawal from FEB and founded a new Federation: Fédération Amateur Baseball. In April 1969 the two Federations re-entered FEB.

In 1971 another Italian, Bruno Beneck, succeeded Steno Borghese during the Congress held in Milan. San Marino was accepted as the ninth member.

In 1972 the organization changed its name to European Amateur Baseball Confederation or CEBA, according to the French Confederation Européenne de Baseball Amateur.

In 1974 the first U-18 European Championship for players of age 18 and under was played. The first title went to the Netherlands. The Dutch also claimed the first U-16 title in 1975. In 1979, during the Congress in Trieste, Italy, Denmark was accepted as the 10th member.

There were already 15 member countries when, in 1985, during the Congress in Zandvoort, Netherlands, Guus Van der Heiden of the Netherlands succeeded Bruno Beneck as the president.

When Van der Heiden died, Italian Federation President Aldo Notari was elected as the 4th president of the organization during the 1987 Congress in Barcelona.

During the 1990s the number of member countries increased dramatically up to 33 by 1994, at which time it was decided to drop the word Amateur from the name of the Confederation, known since then as CEB: Confederation Européenne du Baseball in French and Confederation of European Baseball in English. CEB also created the Cup Winners Cup in 1990 and the CEB Cup in 1993.

Martin Miller of Germany, who had been part of the executive since 1995, succeeded Aldo Notari (who was nominated Honorary President) in 2005, during the Congress in Prague. Miller was confirmed as president during the 2009 Congress in San Marino. During Miller's presidency, the number of European Cups for Clubs was reduced to two. Starting in the 2009 season, only a single European Cup for Clubs is played.

Miller resigned from the presidency during the 2012 Congress in Rotterdam. Petr Ditrich of the Czech Republic was the interim president until the 2013 Congress in Bled, Slovenia, that elected Jan Esselman of the Netherlands as the new president.

ESF History

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In 1976 in Rome, Italy, 6 countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Spain) gave birth to the European Softball Federation (ESF). The first Executive Committee was formed by President Bruno Benek of Italy and Secretary General Theo Vleeshhouwer of Netherlands.[5]

WBSC World Rankings

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Baseball

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Softball

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WBSC Baseball5 Rankings (as of 9 August 2024)[13]
Europe* WBSC +/- National Team Points
1 4     France 2390
2 10     Lithuania 1342
3 12     Turkey 1144
4 18     Netherlands 723
5 19     Belgium 716
6 20     Italy 702
7 21     Czech Republic 681
8 23     Romania 557
9 25     Spain 519
10 28     Bulgaria 394
11 29     Finland 330
12 31     Germany 223
13 33     Moldova 190
14 34     Greece 188
15 35     Latvia 179
16 36     Estonia 150
17 43     Israel 50
*Local rankings based on WBSC ranking points

Historical leaders

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Highest Ranked Europe member in the WBSC Rankings

Championships

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Current title holders

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Competition Year Host country Champions Title Runners-up Next edition Dates
Baseball
European Baseball Championship 2021 Italy   Netherlands 24th   Israel 2023 24 September - 1 October
European Under-23 Baseball Championship 2021 Italy   Netherlands 1st   Germany 2023 8-12 August
U-18 European Baseball Championship 2022 Czech Republic   Spain 1st   Netherlands 2024
U-15 European Baseball Championship 2021 Czech Republic   Czech Republic 3rd   France 2023 18-22 July
U-12 European Baseball Championship 2022 Austria   Germany 2nd   Czech Republic 2023 5-9 July
Women's European Baseball Championship 2022 France   France 1st   Czech Republic 2024
Softball
Men's Softball European Championship 2021 Czech Republic   Czech Republic 11th   Denmark 2023 24-29 July
U-23 Men's Softball European Championship 2022 Czech Republic   Czech Republic   Denmark 2025
U-18 Men's Softball European Championship 2021 Czech Republic   Czech Republic 9th   Denmark 2023 3-8 July
U-16 Men's Softball European Championship 2021 Czech Republic   Czech Republic   Israel 2023 3-8 July
Women's Softball European Championship 2022 Spain   Netherlands 11th   Great Britain 2024
U-22 Women's Softball European Championship 2022 Czech Republic   Italy   Czech Republic 2024
U-18 Women's Softball European Championship 2021 Czech Republic   Czech Republic 2nd   Italy 2023 30 July - 5 August
U-15 Women's Softball European Championship 2022 Netherlands   Czech Republic   Italy 2024
Men's Slowpitch European Championship 2022 Italy   Great Britain   Netherlands 2024
ESF Co-Ed Slowpitch European Championships 2022 Slovenia   Great Britain 12th   Germany 2024
Baseball5
Baseball5 European Championship 2020 Lithuania   France 1st   Lithuania 2023 7-11 November
U-17 Baseball5 European Championship 2022 Bulgaria   France   Turkey 2024
Club
European Cup 2022 Germany   Parma 15th   Amsterdam Pirates 2023 6-10 June
European Confederation Cup 2022 France   Huskies de Rouen 2nd   Hoboken Pioneers 2023 7-11 June
European Federation Cup 2022 Belgium   Astros Valencia 2nd   Brasschaat Braves 2023 19-24 June
Men’s Softball European Super Cup 2022 Czech Republic   Oslo Alligators   Hørsholm Von Holmbäck Hurricanes 2023 28 August - 2 September
Women’s Softball European Cup 2022 Italy   Stabroek Chicaboo's   A.S.D. Avigliana Rebels 2023 23-26 August
Coed Slowpitch European Cup 2021 Bulgaria   Waynes Pardubice   UCE Travellers 2023

Medals

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Last Updated: 6 August 2023

National Events

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  1. Men's European Baseball Championship (1954-2021) - 36 Editions
  2. Women's European Baseball Championship (2019-2022) - 2 Editions
  3. Men's Softball European Championship (1993-2023) - 16 Editions
  4. Women's Softball European Championship (1979-2022) - 23 Editions
  5. European Under-23 Baseball Championship (2017-2021) - 3 Editions
  6. European Under-21 Baseball Championship (2006-2016) - 6 Editions
  7. European Under-18 Baseball Championship (1974-2022) - 32 Editions
  8. European Under-15 Baseball Championship (1975-2023) - 31 Editions
  9. European Under-12 Baseball Championship (1992-2023) - 30 Editions
  10. Baseball5 European Championship (2020) - 1 Editions
  11. ESF Junior Boys Championship (U-18) (1998-2015) - 9 Editions
  12. ESF Junior Girls Championship (U-18) (1991-2023) - 17 Editions
  13. ESF Co-Ed Slowpitch European Championships (1998-2022) - 13 Editions
  14. U-22 Women's Softball European Championship (2008-2020) - 7 Editions
  15. U-15 Women's Softball European Championship (2002-2022) - 11 Editions
  16. U-13 Women's Softball European Championship (2002-2010) - 5 Editions
  17. U-23 Men's Softball European Championship (2022) - 1 Editions
  18. U-16 Men's Softball European Championship (2017-2021) - 2 Editions
  19. U17 Baseball5 European Championship (2022) - 1 Editions
  20. Men's Slowpitch European Championship (2018-2022) - 2 Editions
  21. Super 6 Baseball and Softball (2018) - 1 Editions + 1 Editions
RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1  Netherlands854725157
2  Italy705620146
3  Czech Republic474739133
4  Great Britain1551131
5  Russia12262361
6  Germany782136
7  France671023
8  Denmark317424
9  Spain393446
10  Belgium151723
11  Ukraine1258
12  Ireland04913
13  Israel0358
14  Moldova0303
15  Lithuania0257
16  Greece0213
  Slovenia0213
18  Poland0167
19  Austria0123
20  Romania0112
21  Serbia0101
  Turkey0101
23  Sweden0066
24  Croatia0044
25  Bulgaria0011
  Estonia0011
  Slovakia0011
Totals (27 entries)250250252752

Club Events

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Source:[16]

  1. European Champions Cup (1963-2023) - 59 Editions
  2. European Confederation Cup (1993-2023) - 23 Editions
  3. European Federation Cup (2016-2023) - 7 Editions
  4. European Champion Cup Final Four (2008-2012) - 5 Editions
  5. ESF men's EC club championships (1990-2022) - 32 Editions
  6. ESF men's CWC club championships (2002-2011) - 10 Editions
  7. ESF Co-Ed Slowpitch European Super Cup (2007-2021) - 10 Editions
  8. Men’s Softball European Super Cup (-) - Editions - Not Counted in this Table
  9. Women’s Softball European Cup (-) - Editions - Not Counted in this Table
  10. ESF women's EC club championships (-) - Editions - Not Counted in this Table
  11. ESF women's CWC club championships (-) - Editions - Not Counted in this Table
  12. Coed Slowpitch European Cup (-) - Editions - Not Counted in this Table
RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1  Italy504026116
2  Netherlands33293597
3  Czech Republic14161646
4  Denmark1211831
5  Spain1081634
6  Great Britain76518
7  San Marino43310
8  Germany39820
9  Belgium371323
10  Croatia3115
11  France261018
12  Austria2147
13  Ireland1416
14  Norway1102
15  Slovenia1001
16  Sweden0303
17  Russia0112
18  Hungary0011
  Ukraine0011
Totals (19 entries)146146149441

2023

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Source:[17]

Coed Slowpitch European Super Cup 2023 07/08/2023 12/08/2023

August European Softball Massimo Romeo Youth Trophy - Sport Division 2023 European Softball Massimo Romeo Youth Trophy - Sport Division 2023 16/08/2023 19/08/2023

August European Softball Massimo Romeo Youth Trophy - Future Division 2023 European Softball Massimo Romeo Youth Trophy - Future Division 2023 16/08/2023 19/08/2023

August Women’s Softball European Premier Cup 2023 Women’s Softball European Premier Cup 2023 21/08/2023 26/08/2023

August Women’s Softball European Cup Winners Cup “A” 2023 Women’s Softball European Cup Winners Cup “A” 2023 21/08/2023 26/08/2023

August Women’s Softball European Cup Winners Cup “B” 2023 Women’s Softball European Cup Winners Cup “B” 2023 21/08/2023 26/08/2023

August Women’s Softball European Cup 2023 Women’s Softball European Cup 2023 23/08/2023 26/08/2023

August Men’s Softball European Super Cup 2023 Men’s Softball European Super Cup 2023 28/08/2023 02/09/2023

October Men's European Softball Masters Cup 2023 Men's European Softball Masters Cup 2023 25/10/2023 28/10/2023

October Women's European Softball Masters 2023 Women's European Softball Masters 2023

Members

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Baseball

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Code Association National teams Founded Member since Membership IOC
member
Note
ARM   Armenia (M, W) 2005 2005 Full Yes
AUT   Austria (M, W) 1983 1983 Full Yes
BLR   Belarus (M, W) 1992 1994 Full Yes
BEL   Belgium (M, W) 1975 1953 Full Yes
BUL   Bulgaria (M, W) 1988 1992 Full Yes
CRO   Croatia (M, W) 1986 1992 Full Yes
CYP   Cyprus (M, W) 1999 Full Yes
CZE   Czech Republic (M, W) 1992 1993 Full Yes
DEN   Denmark (M, W) 2008 1979 Full Yes
EST   Estonia (M, W) 2016 1992 Full Yes
FIN   Finland (M, W) 1981 1981 Full Yes
FRA   France (M, W) 1924 1953 Full Yes
GEO   Georgia (M, W) 1992 Full Yes
GER   Germany (M, W) 1950 1953 Full Yes
GBR   Great Britain (M, W) 1987 1960 Full Yes
GRE   Greece (M, W) 1997 1999 Full Yes
HUN   Hungary (M, W) 1992 1993 Full Yes
IRL   Ireland (M, W) 1989 1994 Full Yes
ISR   Israel (M, W) 1986 1995 Full Yes
ITA   Italy (M, W) 1969[a] Full Yes
KOS   Kosovo (M, W) 2006 Full Yes
LAT   Latvia (M, W) 2007 2009 Full Yes
LTU   Lithuania (M, W) 1992 1992 Full Yes
MLT   Malta (M, W) 1983 1983 Full Yes
MDA   Moldova (M, W) 1993 Full Yes
NED   Netherlands (M, W) 1912 1969[b] Full Yes
NOR   Norway (M, W) 1991 1993 Full Yes
POL   Poland (M, W) 1978 1990 Full Yes
POR   Portugal (M, W) 1994 Full Yes
ROU   Romania (M, W) 1990 1991 Full Yes
RUS   Russia (M, W) 1987 1992 Full Yes
SMR   San Marino (M, W) 1969 1971 Full Yes
SRB   Serbia (M, W) 2006 2006 Full Yes
SVK   Slovakia (M, W) 1993 Full Yes
SLO   Slovenia (M, W) 1992 Full Yes
ESP   Spain (M, W) 1944 1953 Full Yes
SWE   Sweden (M, W) 1956 1957 Full Yes
SUI   Switzerland (M, W) 1982 Full Yes
TUR   Turkey (M, W) 2001 2001 Full Yes
UKR   Ukraine (M, W) 1992 1992 Full Yes

Softball

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Code Association National teams Founded Member since Membership IOC
member
Note
AUT   Austria (M, W) 1983 1983 Full Yes
BEL   Belgium (M, W) 1975 1953 Full Yes
BUL   Bulgaria (M, W) 1988 1992 Full Yes
CRO   Croatia (M, W) 1994 1992 Full Yes
CYP   Cyprus (M, W) 1999 Full Yes
CZE   Czech Republic (M, W) 1963 1993 Full Yes
DEN   Denmark (M, W) 1978 1979 Full Yes
FIN   Finland (M, W) 1981 1981 Full Yes
FRA   France (M, W) 1924 1953 Full Yes
GEO   Georgia (M, W) 1992 Full Yes
GER   Germany (M, W) 1950 1953 Full Yes
GBR   Great Britain (M, W) 1988 1960 Full Yes
GRE   Greece (M, W) 1997 1999 Full Yes
GGY   Guernsey (M, W) 1950 1953 Provisional No [Note 1]
HUN   Hungary (M, W) 1992 1993 Full Yes
IRL   Ireland (M, W) 1989 1994 Full Yes
ISR   Israel (M, W) 1979 1995 Full Yes
ITA   Italy (M, W) 1969[c] Full Yes
KOS   Kosovo (M, W) 2006 Full Yes
LTU   Lithuania (M, W) 2014 1992 Full Yes
MLT   Malta (M, W) 1983 1983 Full Yes
MDA   Moldova (M, W) 1993 Full Yes
NED   Netherlands (M, W) 1912 1969[d] Full Yes
NOR   Norway (M, W) 1991 1993 Full Yes
POL   Poland (M, W) 1978 1990 Full Yes
ROU   Romania (M, W) 1990 1991 Full Yes
RUS   Russia (M, W) 1987 1992 Full Yes
SMR   San Marino (M, W) 1969 1971 Full Yes
SRB   Serbia (M, W) 2005 2006 Full Yes
SVK   Slovakia (M, W) 1991 1993 Full Yes
SLO   Slovenia (M, W) 1992 Full Yes
ESP   Spain (M, W) 1944 1953 Full Yes
SWE   Sweden (M, W) 1956 1957 Full Yes
SUI   Switzerland (M, W) 1982 Full Yes
TUR   Turkey (M, W) 2001 2001 Full Yes
UKR   Ukraine (M, W) 1992 1992 Full Yes

Former members

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Association Baseball National teams Softball National teams Years
  Czechoslovakia (M, W) (M, W) 19891993
  Iceland (M, W) (M, W)
  Serbia and Montenegro (M, W) (M, W) 19962006
  Soviet Union (M, W) (M, W) 19962006
  Tunisia (M, W) (M, W) 19571962
  Yugoslavia (M, W) (M, W) 19831992

Notes

  1. ^ Member from 1953 to 1967 as well.
  2. ^ Member from 1956 to 1967 as well.
  3. ^ Member from 1953 to 1967 as well.
  4. ^ Member from 1956 to 1967 as well.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "History". WBSC Europe.
  2. ^ "Members". WBSC Europe.
  3. ^ a b "CEB History 1953-2005". CEB.
  4. ^ "Yearbook 2010" (PDF). European Baseball. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "History". European Softball Federation.
  6. ^ "About Softball Europe". European Softball Federation.
  7. ^ "history". WBSC Europe.
  8. ^ "Russian and Belarusian teams excluded from all the WBSC Europe 2022 competitions". WBSC Europe.
  9. ^ "The WBSC World Ranking". WBSC. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  10. ^ "The WBSC Women's Baseball World Ranking". WBSC. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  11. ^ "The WBSC Men's Softball World Ranking". WBSC. 26 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  12. ^ "The WBSC Women's World Ranking". WBSC. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  13. ^ "The WBSC Baseball5 World Ranking". WBSC. 9 August 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  14. ^ "National Teams Competitions - wbsceurope.org". www.wbsceurope.org.
  15. ^ "Softball Europe Planning 2021-2029 | European Softball Federation".
  16. ^ "CEB Tournaments 2007". Archived from the original on 2022-12-23.
  17. ^ "Events - wbsceurope.org". www.wbsceurope.org.

Further reading

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