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Italy national baseball team

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The Italy national baseball team represents Italy in international baseball competitions. The Italian national team was ranked 16th in the world as of 2022.[1] Like the country's association football team and other national teams, the national baseball team is known as the Azzurri ("the Blues"), and wears traditional Savoy blue on its uniforms.[2][3]

Italy national baseball team
Information
Country Italy
FederationItalian Baseball Softball Federation
ConfederationWBSC Europe
ManagerMike Piazza
WBSC ranking
Current 14 Steady (18 December 2023)[1]
Highest9 (December 2012)
Lowest17 (5 times; latest in December 2021)
Uniforms
Italy's national baseball uniform
World Baseball Classic
Appearances5 (first in 2006)
Best result7th (1 time, in 2013)
Olympic Games
Appearances4 (first in 1992)
Best result6th (2 times, most recent in 2000)
World Cup
Appearances17 (first in 1970)
Best result4th (2 times, most recent in 1998)
Intercontinental Cup
Appearances12 (first in 1973)
Best result 3rd (1 time, in 2010)
European Championship
Appearances34 (first in 1954)
Best result 1st (10 times, most recent in 2012)

The team is currently managed by Mike Piazza, an Italian American former Major League Baseball player and National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee.[4]

History

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See also: Baseball in Italy

Debut and European competition

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Italy debuted its national team at the inaugural European Baseball Championship in 1954, which it won. Since then, the team has won nine gold medals at the tournament, with their most recent being in 2012. In total, Italy has won 27 medals (16 silver, 3 bronze). The only country to have fared better is the Netherlands (21 gold, 7 silver). Italy served as the host nation for the 1956, 1964, 1971, 1979, 1983, 1991, and 1999 games.

At the 2019 European Baseball Championship, coming in second and winning the silver medal. Among the players competing for it were John Andreoli, Chris Colabello, Filippo Crepaldi, Murilo Gouvea, Luis Lugo, Alessandro Maestri, Drew Maggi, Giuseppe Mazzanti, Sebastiano Poma, and Alessandro Vaglio.[5]

 
Alessandro Maestri was a longtime member of the Italian national team

Italy on the global stage

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In the 2006 Intercontinental Cup, held in Taichung, Taiwan from November 9 to 9, Italy finished sixth. They secured an impressive 13–3 victory over Chinese Taipei in their first game of the tournament, however, they lost their next three match-ups to Netherlands, Cuba, and Australia (13 innings). After coming back with a victory against the Philippines, Italy lost their next two to Japan and South Korea to end the round robin first phase of the tournament with a 2–5 record. Italy came back to beat South Korea in the first game of the following round, 8–3. In the battle for fifth place, Italy lost to Australia, 3–2.

On November 9, 2007, Italy handed the U.S.A. team their only loss in Team U.S.A.'s route to win the 2007 Baseball World Cup in Taiwan. It was the U.S.'s first loss to Italy in 21 years and the first time it ever lost to Italy with professional players, as the team consisted of Major League Baseball players and top minor league prospects. Both Italy and Panama ended up with 3–4 records in the 2007 games; however, Panama's 5.85 run ratio versus Italy's 4.73 placed them in fifth place while Italy settled for sixth.

 
MLB catcher Francisco Cervelli again represented Italy in the 2017 WBC

The 2009 Baseball World Cup took place from September 9–27. Seven European countries, including Italy, hosted and participated in the tournament of 22 teams. The event was made up of five groups consisting of four teams each, for a total of 20 teams. Italy (Bollate, Bologna, Codogno, Florence, Godo, Macerata, Parma, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia, Rimini, San Marino, Torino, Trieste, Verona, and Vicenza) and Netherlands (Rotterdam, Haarlem and Amsterdam) serve as hosts of the 16 teams of the second round (September 14–20), and therefore received first round byes.[6] The group Italy hosted in the second round included Australia, Canada, Taiwan, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles and the U.S.A.. Italy's first three match-ups against Chinese Taipei, Mexico, and Australia all resulted in losses. Their first victory came against Japan on September 18. Italy lost two more to Canada and the U.S.A. before winning their final game against Netherlands Antilles. Italy finished the second round with a 2–5 record, and were eliminated.[7][8]

 
Mario Chiarini is the captain of the national team since 2010

At the 2010 Intercontinental Cup, Italy gained the first medal in the history of the tournament, beating Chinese Taipei 4–3 in the bronze medal game,.

World Baseball Classic

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At the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006, a new international tournament organized by Major League Baseball with IBAF sanction, Italy competed in Pool D. The pool, which included Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Australia, was played in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, at The Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports. Italy secured an impressive 10–0 win over Australia in its first game, invoking the mercy rule after seven innings. However, they dropped their next two games to Venezuela, 6–0, and the Dominican Republic, 8–3, and failed to qualify for the second round of the tournament.

With only ten players on their roster with any major league affiliation, Italy was a heavy underdog in Pool C of the 2009 World Baseball Classic.[9] With Canada, the U.S.A. & Venezuela completing Pool C, it was arguably the toughest pool in the WBC. Prior to the start of the WBC, Italy played two spring training games against the Washington Nationals and New York Mets. Italy trailed through most of the game against the Nationals until Chris Denorfia and Michael Costanzo drove in a run apiece in the seventh inning, and an eighth-inning two-run home run by Valentino Pascucci tied the game at six. A ninth-inning walk-off three-run home run by Roger Bernadina capped off a late rally in the Nats' 9–6 victory over Italy.[10] Against the Mets, Italy led 2–0 going into the ninth inning. Cory Sullivan hit a two-run home run to tie the game at two, and Jeremy Reed doubled in Daniel Murphy to give the Mets a 3–2 victory.[11]

 
MLB pitcher Jason Grilli represented Italy in the 2006 & 2009 WBC

Italy was again shut out by Venezuela in their first 2009 WBC game, 7–0 on March 7. Starter Mark DiFelice held Venezuela scoreless through the first four innings; however, Venezuela immediately took advantage of Italy's less experienced bullpen, exploding for 4 runs in the fifth.[12] Against Canada on March 9, Italy pulled off one of the more surprising upsets in the 2009 WBC, winning 6–2, and eliminating the heavily favored Canadian team. Italy led 3–0 heading into the fourth inning, until Canada jumped on starter Dan Serafini for two runs. With the bases loaded and only one out, reliever Chris Cooper struck out Peter Orr, then got Chris Barnwell to fly out to center to end the threat, and keep Italy in the lead. In all, Italy's bullpen pitched six innings without giving up a run.[13] With this victory, Italy faced their nemeses, Venezuela, a second time. After three scoreless innings pitched by Italian starter Adam Ottavino, Venezuela again dominated Italy's bullpen, scoring four runs in the fourth, and five in the fifth to win 10–1, and eliminate Italy from the World Baseball Classic.[14]

Again considered a heavy underdog at the 2013 World Baseball Classic, Italy won its first two games in Pool D, 6–5 with a 9th-inning comeback over Mexico[15] and 14–4 over Canada[16] in a game called in the 8th inning due to the mercy rule. They lost both games in Round 2 against the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, thus eliminating them from the tournament.

Under Mike Piazza

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Mike Piazza was named the manager of the national team in 2019, replacing Gilberto Gerali, who resigned when Italy failed to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Piazza, a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, had previously played for Italy at the 2006 Classic, and served as the team's hitting coach at the 2009 and 2013 WBCs. As part of his contract, he exercises control over all of the national federation's youth development system.[17] His debut as Italy's manager was planned for the 2021 World Baseball Classic, but it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the 2021 European Baseball Championship held in Piedmont, the Azzurri defeated Spain to earn the bronze medal, after having lost to Israel in the semifinals. Piazza, who left partway through the tournament for his father's funeral, was replaced on the bench by Doriano Bindi.[18][19]

Piazza has come under criticism for relying extensively on Italian Americans and other players from the Italian diaspora, particularly in the World Baseball Classic. However, Piazza has defended the practice, telling Italian media in 2024 that "sometimes you have to take a step back to move forward." He added that "my dream is to develop a native Italian in every position. Then we can have a player with dual citizenship here and there, but mainly a squadra tricolore. That is the goal."[20]

Results and fixtures

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The following is a list of professional baseball match results currently active in the latest version of the WBSC World Rankings, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.[21]

Legend

  Win   Lose   Void or postponed   Fixture

2019

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Euro Championship GS September 7 France   2–16   Italy Bonn 1, Germany
15:30 CET Boxscore Attendance: 850
Euro Championship GS September 8 Italy   2–1 (F/10)   Croatia Weyersberg Park, Germany
16:00 CET Boxscore Attendance: 150
Euro Championship GS September 9 Italy   10–1   Austria Bonn 1, Germany
11:00 CET Boxscore Attendance: 100
Euro Championship GS September 10 Spain   3–13   Italy Bonn 1, Germany
15:00 CET Boxscore Attendance: 250
Euro Championship GS September 11 Italy   11–4   Belgium Bonn 1, Germany
11:00 CET Boxscore Attendance: 80
Euro Championship QF September 13 Italy   7–5   Germany Bonn 1, Germany
19:00 CET Boxscore Attendance: 1,000
Euro Championship SF September 14 Israel   6–7   Italy Bonn 1, Germany
19:00 CET Boxscore Attendance: 1,000
Euro Championship F September 16 Italy   1–5   Netherlands Bonn 1, Germany
19:00 CET Boxscore Attendance: 2,000

2021

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Euro Championship GS September 12 Greece   3–13 (F/7)   Italy Aluffi Stadium, Italy
15:00 CET Boxscore Attendance: 600
Euro Championship GS September 13 Italy   14–3 (F/7)   Belgium Paschetto Stadium, Italy
20:30 CET Boxscore Attendance: 550
Euro Championship GS September 14 Austria   1–14 (F/7)   Italy Paolo II Palace, Italy
20:30 CET Boxscore Attendance: 300
Euro Championship QF September 16 Italy   8–5   Croatia Aluffi Stadium, Italy
15:00 CET Boxscore Attendance: 200
Euro Championship SF September 17 Israel   11–5   Italy Paolo II Palace, Italy
20:30 CET Boxscore Attendance: 585
Euro Championship 3rd September 19 Italy   2–0   Spain Paschetto Stadium, Italy
15:00 CET Boxscore Attendance: 570

2022

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Haarlem Week GS July 8 Italy   1–2   Netherlands Mulier Stadium, Netherlands
19:30 CET Boxscore
Haarlem Week GS July 10 Italy   0–9   United States Mulier Stadium, Netherlands
12:00 CET Boxscore
Haarlem Week GS July 11 Curaçao   3–5   Italy Mulier Stadium, Netherlands
15:30 CET Boxscore
Haarlem Week GS July 12 Japan   9–0   Italy Mulier Stadium, Netherlands
12:00 CET Boxscore
Haarlem Week GS July 13 Italy   2–0   Cuba Mulier Stadium, Netherlands
12:00 CET Boxscore
Haarlem Week 5th July 14 Cuba   1–5   Italy Mulier Stadium, Netherlands
12:00 CET Boxscore

2023

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World Baseball Classic GS March 9 Italy   6–3 (F/10)   Cuba Taichung Stadium, Taiwan
19:00 NST WP: Matthew Festa (1–0)
 Boxscore LP: Raidel Martínez (0–1)
 Attendance: 6,217
Umpires: HP – Ki Talk Park, 1B – Mark Carlson, 2B – Chris Segal, 3B – Serge Makouchetev
World Baseball Classic GS March 10 Italy   7–11   Chinese Taipei Taichung Stadium, Taiwan
19:00 NST LP: Stephen Woods Jr. (0–1)
 Boxscore WP: Yen-Ching Lu (1–0)
Sv: Chia-Hao Sung (1)
HR: Tzu-Wei Lin (1), Yu Chang (1), Kungkuan Giljegiljaw (1) 		Attendance: 18,799
Umpires: HP – Chris Segal, 1B – Nic Lentz, 2B – Shoji Arisumi, 3B – Ki Talk Park
World Baseball Classic GS March 11 Panama   2–0   Italy Taichung Stadium, Taiwan
12:00 NST WP: Harold Arauz (1–0)
Sv: Javy Guerra (1)
 Boxscore LP: Michele Vassalotti (0–1)
 Attendance: 7,732
Umpires: HP – Shoji Arisumi, 1B – Larry Vanover, 2B – Trent Thomas, 3B – Chris Segal
World Baseball Classic GS March 12 Netherlands   1–7   Italy Taichung Stadium, Taiwan
19:00 NST LP: Mike Bolsenbroek (0–1)
HR: Chadwick Tromp (1) 		Boxscore WP: Matt Harvey (1–0)
 Attendance: 4,985
Umpires: HP – Roberto Ortiz, 1B – Dan Iassogna, 2B – Serge Makouchetev, 3B – Trent Thomas
World Baseball Classic QF March 16 Italy   3–9   Japan Tokyo Dome, Japan
19:00 JST LP: Joe LaSorsa (0–1)
HR: Dominic Fletcher (1) 		Boxscore WP: Shohei Ohtani (2–0)
HR: Kazuma Okamoto (1), Masataka Yoshida (1) 		Attendance: 41,723
Umpires: HP – Pat Hoberg, 1B – Laz Díaz, 2B – Delfin Colon 3B – Cuti Suarez

Tournament record

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Competition Appearances       Total
World Baseball Classic 5 0 0 0 0
Olympic Games 5 0 0 0 0
Amateur World Series, Baseball World Cup, and Premier12 18 0 0 0 0
Intercontinental Cup 13 0 0 1 1
European Championship 34 10 17 4 31
Universiade 0 0 0 0
Total 10 15 4 29

World Baseball Classic

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World Baseball Classic record Qualification record
Year Round Position W L RS RA W L RS RA
  2006 Round 1 10th 1 2 13 14 No qualifiers held
  2009 Round 1 10th 1 2 7 19 No qualifiers held
  2013 Round 2 7th 2 3 29 24 Automatically qualified
  2017 Round 1 12th 1 3 26 33 Automatically qualified
   2023 Quarterfinals 8th 2 3 23 26 Automatically qualified
Total Quarterfinals 5/5 7 13 98 116 - - - -

Team Italia competed in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006,[22] though with a much more Americanized roster than the team ordinarily uses in international play. Of the 30 players on Italy's roster, 23 were born in the United States. A player is eligible to participate on a World Baseball Classic team if:

  • The player is a citizen of the nation the team represents.
  • The player is qualified for citizenship or to hold a passport under the laws of a nation represented by a team, but has not been granted citizenship or been issued a passport, then the player may be made eligible by WBCI upon petition by the player or team.
  • The player is a permanent legal resident of the nation or territory the team represents.
  • The player was born in the nation or territory the team represents.
  • The player has one parent who is, or if deceased was, a citizen of the nation the team represents.
  • The player has one parent who was born in the nation or territory the team represents.[23]


2017

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Italy roster – 2017 World Baseball Classic roster
Players Provisional roster Coaches
Pitchers
 Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

 Manager

Coaches


After a win 10–9 against Mexico, and defeats 11–10 against Venezuela, and 9–3 against Puerto Rico, Italy clinched qualification for the next WBC in 2021.

Olympic Games

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Summer Olympics record Qualification
Year Result Position W L % RS RA Method
  1984 Preliminary 5th[a] 1 2 .333 11 33   1983 European Baseball Championship
  1992 Preliminary 7th 1 6 .143 25 62   1991 European Baseball Championship
  1996 Preliminary 6th 2 5 .286 32 59   1995 European Baseball Championship
  2000 Preliminary 6th 3 4 .429 33 43   1999 European Baseball Championship
  2004 Preliminary 8th 1 6 .143 19 58   European Qualification Tournament
  2008 did not qualify 7th, 2007 European Baseball Championship
  2020 did not qualify 5th, Africa/Europe Qualifying Event
  2028 To be determined To be determined
Total[b] 4/7 7 21 .250 109 222
  1. ^ No medals awarded; tournament was a demonstration sport only
  2. ^ Totals only include years 1992 to 2020, during which baseball was an official medal sport.

Italy failed to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing for the first time since baseball became an official Olympic sport in 1992. Italy's best finish in an Olympics is sixth place, which they did in both 1996 and 2000. The first time an actual baseball tournament was held at an Olympics in 1984, Italy finished with a 1–2 record, with its only victory coming against the Dominican Republic. There was no official placing as Baseball at the 1984 Summer Olympics was a demonstration sport.

At the International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting on July 8, 2005, baseball and softball were voted out of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, becoming the first sports voted out of the Olympics since polo was eliminated from the 1936 Summer Olympics.[24]

Because Team Italy finished in the top five in the 2019 European Baseball Championship it moved on to the 2020 Olympics qualifiers, in Italy September 18–22.[25][26]

WBSC Premier12

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IBAF Amateur World Series, Baseball World Cup, and WBSC Premier12

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Italy's best finish in the Amateur World Series was fourth place, in 1974. In 1986, the event became known as the International Baseball Federation's (IBAF) World Cup. Italy's best finish in a Baseball World Cup is also fourth place, which they did when they served as the host nation in 1998. Italy also hosted the 1978 and 1988 games. The 2009 Baseball World Cup was hosted by Europe. It was the first time in history the World Cup was hosted by a whole continent rather than an individual country.

Intercontinental Cup

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  • 1973 : 6th
  • 1975 : 7th
  • 1977 : did not qualify
  • 1979 : did not qualify
  • 1981 : did not qualify
  • 1983 : 4th
    

The Intercontinental Cup is another international baseball competition sponsored by the IBAF. Italy hosted the first ever Intercontinental Cup in 1973, and finished in sixth place. Italy's best finish ever was third place, which they did in the 2010 games.

European Baseball Championship

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "The WBSC World Ranking". WBSC. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  2. ^ Alessandro Maestri (8 March 2013). "Azzurri: baseball, not soccer". AlessandroMaestri.com. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Azzurri chosen for Club Italia LA28 Olympic Baseball Camp in Arizona and Florida" (1 October 2024). FIBS.it. Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  4. ^ Mayer, Michael (13 November 2019). "Mike Piazza to Manage Team Italy in 2021 WBC". metsmerizedonline.com. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  5. ^ Statistikenbaseball-em.de Archived 12 April 2020 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "IBAF announces groups for first round of 2009 Baseball World Cup" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 March 2009. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
  7. ^ "IBAF Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball (FIBS) Page". Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  8. ^ "IBAF World Cup 2009 in Europe". Archived from the original on 24 March 2009. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
  9. ^ "Italy World Baseball Classic Team Page". Archived from the original on 25 June 2009. Retrieved 11 March 2009.
  10. ^ "Italy drops exhibition opener vs. Nats". Archived from the original on 12 March 2009. Retrieved 11 March 2009.
  11. ^ "Italy lets victory slip away late vs. Mets". Archived from the original on 13 March 2009. Retrieved 11 March 2009.
  12. ^ "Italy watches Venezuela slip away". Archived from the original on 13 March 2009. Retrieved 11 March 2009.
  13. ^ "Bravissimo: Italy boots out Canada". Retrieved 11 March 2009.
  14. ^ "Italy sees its Classic dreams end". Retrieved 11 March 2009.
  15. ^ "Italy Saves Its Best for Last". Archived from the original on 11 March 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  16. ^ "Tuscan Raiders: Italy Serves Up Desert Surprise". Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  17. ^ "Mike Piazza taking cues from Tommy Lasorda for Italy's team". Associated Press. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  18. ^ "Baseball, parte l'Europeo 'Piemonte 2021'. Piazza: "Obiettivo è vincere"" (in Italian). Corriere dello Sport. 11 September 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  19. ^ "Europei 2021: l'Italia batte la Spagna e chiude terza. Olanda campione" (in Italian). Sky Sports. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  20. ^ "Piazza: "I Mets in Italia? Un sogno. Possibile"" (in Italian). Baseball IT. 8 June 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  21. ^ "Italy in the WBSC Ranking (Men's baseball)". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  22. ^ "World Baseball Classic". Archived from the original on 25 June 2009. Retrieved 11 March 2009.
  23. ^ "Dan Serafini Wins One For Team Italy". 10 March 2009. Retrieved 21 March 2009.
  24. ^ "Singapore 2005: 2012 Olympic Sport Vote". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 18 March 2007.
  25. ^ "Retired, shmired | Jewish Baseball News". Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  26. ^ "MLB Monday (August 26-September 1, 2019) | Jewish Baseball News". Retrieved 14 August 2023.
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