[FuzzyRussianHat]

The idea for a baseball tournament of nations had been considered and bounced around in the prior years as the game expanded, but World War II effectively prevented the idea from gaining serious traction. Once the war ended in 1945, the idea was more seriously considered as a way to showcase the game and a way to promote peace and cooperation worldwide.

Major League Baseball, Central American Baseball Association, East Asia Baseball, and Beisbol Sudamerica all partnered together to form the Global Baseball Alliance. The GBA would become the sanctioning body of the World Baseball Championship, and later the Baseball Grand Championship. The additional major leagues that would form in the 21^st Century would join the GBA with efforts to grow and promote the game worldwide. While the leagues were competitors, they also would begin to collaborate and share notes to influence the future of the game.

In 1947, the first World Baseball Championship tournament was held. Deciding which nations would be represented was a contentious issue with many bad feelings still existing especially against Japan from WW2. In the initial edition, the teams participating would be from the Americas, along with Japan, North and South Korea, and China. The field would expand and the format would change in 1950 with the European Baseball Federation’s founding and general expansion of the game. The format in the first three seasons of the WBC had two 12-team divisions playing a round robin. The two division winners advanced to a best-of-seven championship series.

Another sticking point was the locations for such a tournament, but it was ultimately decided to go to a new city and country each year. Since these tournaments were to take place in January, weather had to be considered. Generally, tropical and southern hemisphere cities would have to get the nod as the game expanded. However, the initial WBC would take place in the United States. Houston was selected as the city had become a baseball hotbed due to the Hornets’ early success, plus it was one of the American cities warm enough in January to be playable.



In Division 1 in 1947, the United States took first place at 10-1, followed by Cuba at 8-3 and both Japan and Mexico at 7-4. In Division 2, Canada was undefeated at 11-0. Colombia and Honduras tied for second at 7-4. Officially, the nation awarded third place was Cuba and Honduras was fourth. In the first championship series, the USA defeated Canada in five games to earn the first world title.

The tournament MVP was Canada’s John Roberts. The 33-year old Cincinnati LF from Laval, Quebec in 15 games had 23 hits, 13 runs, 17 stolen bases, and a .418 average. American reliever Wyatt Weis was named the Best Pitcher. The 25-year old San Diego Seals reliever had eight saves in eight appearances with a 0.64 ERA in 14 innings with 34 strikeouts, two hits allowed and three walks.