|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. In an era where baseball has continuously lost ground to other popular American sports, it was clear that its players, coaches, and managers needed to give viewers a reason to care. We needed a reason to do more than just turn on our TV’s and watch the games. We needed a reason to scream, cheer, stand up, and hang on every pitch thrown, every bat swung, and every run scored. We needed a reason to rediscover America’s favorite pastime. The World Baseball Classic gave us that reason.
Since its inception in 2006, the World Baseball Classic has felt like nothing more than a forgettable collection of exhibition matches between other countries’ best baseball teams. Other teams and a Team USA with nothing more than amateur players hoping for a start. It came at no surprise that Japan made quick work of the rest of the world by winning both in 2006 and the subsequent Classic in 2009. Outside of the hallmark rivalry matchups between Asian teams like Japan and South Korea, American fans simply did not tune in.
Then, in 2017, it all changed when, against the odds, Team USA managed to pick up their first World Baseball Classic title, besting Puerto Rico in a statement 8-0 game. It seemed that the American spirit had finally awoken to the potential of the international tournament. It was no surprise then that Team USA began filling its ranks with the likes of Mookie Betts, Trea Turner, and team captain, Mike Trout. It would be a true test for the world in facing a star studded team representing the country that invented the sport. In the end, only Japan withstood the test and did so in dramatic fashion, with the riveting final at bat between teammates Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout.
In a true test of wills, wit, passion, and determination, Shohei Ohtani would secure Team Japan their third World Baseball Classic and end Team USA’s run for a back to back title. For fans of baseball, it reignited the love for the sport and drew in viewers from all over the world. Between the highly contentious matchup between USA and Cuba in Miami and Japan’s thrilling victory over Mexico, it was lauded as one of the most historic tournaments in baseball history.
The precise statistics for viewership of the tournament is still being gathered but the Greater Miami Convention and Visitor’s Bureau provided me with insight into the arrivals at Miami International Airport. Over the weekend, both domestic and international arrivals spiked in time for the semifinals between the four remaining teams: Cuba, USA, Mexico, and Japan. International arrivals peaked Sunday ahead of Japan’s game against Mexico and the finals in which the winning team would face defending champs, Team USA. CBS reported that thousands of fans arrived early to the game just to watch Ohtani warmup. The tournament MVP would prove to be the hero of the nation by the end of the night, taking center stage in one of the most memorable nights in baseball history. While the exact numbers on viewership are still being tallied, Japan’s group stage match vs South Korea drew in 62 million viewers in Japan alone, nearly half the country’s population. In total, the tournament has drawn in about 1.3 million fans in attendance, the highest in WBC history.
I think the biggest takeaway from all this is that this tournament has given many fans old and new a reason to be excited about baseball again. What’s more, the United States is far from alone in its passion and talent in the sport. It’s shown that if America and the MLB intend to remain at the top when it comes to playing the best baseball in the world, they will need to hold nothing back.
Before the final game was even played, Rob Manfred, the commissioner for the MLB confirmed that the WBC will return once more for 2026, leaving the defeated Team USA with three years to build back up again for another go at the title. In his closing remarks after the game, captain Mike Trout was clear. “He (Ohtani) won round 1. We’ll be back,” promising to return to the tournament with an even greater lineup of players, the very best America has to offer.
Andres Pena is a Pinecrest resident and graduate of New York University with degrees in both English and American Literature and Political Science. He works for Miami’s Community News as both a writer and administrative assistant. For more inquiries on US and Global News, contact andres@communitynewspapers.com or call 305-951-6726.
ABOUT US:
For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area. Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts about the community, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered.
