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FuzzyRussianHat · 10-25-2025, 09:37 PM

The 2037 World Baseball Championship was the 91^st edition of the event with the host city of Izmir, Turkey. In Division 1, Australia (12-1) and the Czech Republic (11-2) dominated the field to advance. The Australians earned their ninth playoff trip and first since 2024. For the Czechs, it was their eighth playoff berth and first since the 2030-31 repeat.

The three-time defending world champion United States and Poland tied atop Division 2 at 10-3 with the Americans earning the tiebreaker with their 6-2 win against the Poles. Canada (9-4) just missed out while Guatemala, Scotland, and Yemen were each competitive ta 8-5. The USA has advanced 68 times and has won a division title each year of the 2030s. Poland advanced for the 15^th time and the fourth consecutive season.

Division 3 had a three-way tie for first at 10-3 between Bangladesh, Germany, and Taiwan. China (9-4) and last year’s runner-up Somalia (8-5) were both in the mix as well. The Germans were the odd team out as they had head-to-head losses against both (4-2 vs Taiwan, 6-0 vs Bangladesh). The Taiwanese were first place with their 3-2 win against the Bangladeshis. Taiwan advanced for the 12^th time and second time in five years. It was only the third postseason trip for Bangladesh, who also did it in 1984 and 2018.

Malaysia rolled the Division 4 field, becoming only the fourth team in the 14-team division format with an unbeaten 13-0 record. It was also only the second-ever division crown for the Malaysians (2009). Japan (10-3) got the wild card over Ecuador (9-4), Italy (8-5), and Myanmar (8-5). The Japanese advanced for the 28^th time with six trips in the last seven years.

Austria cruised in Division 5 at 11-2, advancing along with 9-4 Pakistan. Last year’s third place finisher India and Ukraine were both one back at 8-5. The Austrians have earned eight playoff trips and three in the last five years. It was the 11^th for the Pakistanis, who have done it thrice in six years.

Egypt took first for D6 at 10-3 while the Netherlands moved forward at 9-4. Russia, Spain, and Uzbekistan each fell one short at 8-5. The Egyptians have ten playoff trips with half of them coming since 2032. The Dutch also have ten postseason berths, having last done it in 2031.

Division 7 saw a three-way tie at the top at 10-3 between Indonesia, Peru, and Mexico. The head-to-head was a rock-paper-scissors as Peru beat Mexico 3-2, Mexico beat Indonesia 7-4, and Indonesia beat Peru 6-3. Run differential against common opponents ousted the Peruvians and gave the Mexicans first place. It was Mexico’s 37^th playoff berth and third in five years. The Indonesians have earned 32 postseason appearances and five in the 2030s.

Lastly for Division 8, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (10-3) and Tanzania (9-4) prevailed while Brazil, Iraq, and Venezuela each missed at 8-5. Last year’s fourth place finisher Nigeria fell to 6-7. The DR Congo earned only its second playoff trip (2026). It was the first one for the Tanzanians, becoming the 92^nd unique nation to move forward at least once.

In Double Round Robin Group A, Australia and Poland both advanced at 4-2 with Tanzania and Malaysia ousted at 2-4. The Netherlands were the top dog in Group B at 4-2 while both Indonesia and Taiwan were 3-3 with Austria at 2-4. The Taiwanese split with the Indonesians, but had the run differential advantage to advance (9-5 win, 11-10 loss).

Over in Group C, Pakistan took first at 4-2 with both Mexico and Bangladesh next at 3-3 and Egypt at 2-4. The Bangladeshis had the run differential tiebreaker over the Mexicans (6-2 win, 7-4 loss). In Group D, the United States (5-1) and Japan (4-2) advanced outright while the DR Congo (2-4) and Czechia (1-5) were sent packing.

Two quarterfinal matchups were 2-0 sweeps with the Australians over the Taiwanese and USA over the Bangladeshis. The Aussies earned their third-ever trip to the final four, having last done it with a fourth place in 2012. The Americans have been in the semifinal 60 times.

After splitting one-run games, the Netherlands beat Poland 9-3 in game three to advance. The Dutch had been to the final four only twice before, most recently with their 2008 runner-up finish. Japan and Pakistan also split one-run games to start their quarterfinal, followed by a 8-2 Japanese win in the clincher. Japan picked up its fourth trip to the semifinal of the 2030s and 16^th overall, second-most among Asian countries behind only China (19).

In the semifinal, the Netherlands earned a sweep over Australia with 2-1, 5-2, and 4-1 wins. The United States opened with a 5-1 win, followed by a 6-4 Japan victory in game two. The Americans then got back-to-back 7-5 wins, including an 11-inning result in game four. The Japanese were officially the third place finisher with the Australians fourth.

The Netherlands had been in the World Championship once before, getting swept by the United States in 2008. 2037 had the same result as the Americans completed the four-peat, moving to 47-9 all-time in the finals. The US has won six of the last seven titles with a 2030s dynasty. It is the second-ever four-peat, joining the Americans’ seven straight from 1971-77.

The series did have competitive games despite being a sweep. The US scored four in the bottom of the eighth inning to rally for a 7-6 win in game one. The clincher was also 7-6 final with both teams scoring once in the ninth. In the tenth, the Americans had four in the top half, while the Dutch could only muster three. The US had 269 hits for the event, tied for the second-most in WBC history.

Tournament MVP was Japan’s Chishou Matsui, a 29-year old LF entering his seventh season in East Asia Baseball. After six seasons with Fukuoka, he signed with Osaka in 2036. Matsui had 32 hits, 22 runs, 4 doubles, 19 homers, 35 RBI, .421/.482/1.250 slash, 385 wRC+, and 3.2 WAR in 21 games. His WAR was the 4th-best by a position player in WBC history and one of only nine above three. Matsui’s homers ranked 4^th and his 95 total bases tied for 5^th.

Best Pitcher went to Pakistan’s Jan Khaleel, a two-time Reliever of the Year winner in the Asian Baseball Federation. The 28-year old right tossed 18 scoreless innings with seven saves and a 3-0 record in ten appearances. Khaleel allowed six hits and five walks with 33 strikeouts and 1.5 WAR.

Other notes: The 2037 event had four no-hitters with Myanmar’s Yazar Win on January 7, Haiti’s Gus Rene on 1/11, Peru’s Roan Herrera on 1/16, and Germany’s Urban Bruggemann on 1/17. The Germans had a team WHIP of 0.622, the second-lowest in WBC history.

Below are the updated all-time tournament stats.

10-25-2025, 09:37 PM	#2524
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 3,185	2037 World Baseball Championship The 2037 World Baseball Championship was the 91^st edition of the event with the host city of Izmir, Turkey. In Division 1, Australia (12-1) and the Czech Republic (11-2) dominated the field to advance. The Australians earned their ninth playoff trip and first since 2024. For the Czechs, it was their eighth playoff berth and first since the 2030-31 repeat. The three-time defending world champion United States and Poland tied atop Division 2 at 10-3 with the Americans earning the tiebreaker with their 6-2 win against the Poles. Canada (9-4) just missed out while Guatemala, Scotland, and Yemen were each competitive ta 8-5. The USA has advanced 68 times and has won a division title each year of the 2030s. Poland advanced for the 15^th time and the fourth consecutive season. Division 3 had a three-way tie for first at 10-3 between Bangladesh, Germany, and Taiwan. China (9-4) and last year’s runner-up Somalia (8-5) were both in the mix as well. The Germans were the odd team out as they had head-to-head losses against both (4-2 vs Taiwan, 6-0 vs Bangladesh). The Taiwanese were first place with their 3-2 win against the Bangladeshis. Taiwan advanced for the 12^th time and second time in five years. It was only the third postseason trip for Bangladesh, who also did it in 1984 and 2018. Malaysia rolled the Division 4 field, becoming only the fourth team in the 14-team division format with an unbeaten 13-0 record. It was also only the second-ever division crown for the Malaysians (2009). Japan (10-3) got the wild card over Ecuador (9-4), Italy (8-5), and Myanmar (8-5). The Japanese advanced for the 28^th time with six trips in the last seven years. Austria cruised in Division 5 at 11-2, advancing along with 9-4 Pakistan. Last year’s third place finisher India and Ukraine were both one back at 8-5. The Austrians have earned eight playoff trips and three in the last five years. It was the 11^th for the Pakistanis, who have done it thrice in six years. Egypt took first for D6 at 10-3 while the Netherlands moved forward at 9-4. Russia, Spain, and Uzbekistan each fell one short at 8-5. The Egyptians have ten playoff trips with half of them coming since 2032. The Dutch also have ten postseason berths, having last done it in 2031. Division 7 saw a three-way tie at the top at 10-3 between Indonesia, Peru, and Mexico. The head-to-head was a rock-paper-scissors as Peru beat Mexico 3-2, Mexico beat Indonesia 7-4, and Indonesia beat Peru 6-3. Run differential against common opponents ousted the Peruvians and gave the Mexicans first place. It was Mexico’s 37^th playoff berth and third in five years. The Indonesians have earned 32 postseason appearances and five in the 2030s. Lastly for Division 8, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (10-3) and Tanzania (9-4) prevailed while Brazil, Iraq, and Venezuela each missed at 8-5. Last year’s fourth place finisher Nigeria fell to 6-7. The DR Congo earned only its second playoff trip (2026). It was the first one for the Tanzanians, becoming the 92^nd unique nation to move forward at least once. In Double Round Robin Group A, Australia and Poland both advanced at 4-2 with Tanzania and Malaysia ousted at 2-4. The Netherlands were the top dog in Group B at 4-2 while both Indonesia and Taiwan were 3-3 with Austria at 2-4. The Taiwanese split with the Indonesians, but had the run differential advantage to advance (9-5 win, 11-10 loss). Over in Group C, Pakistan took first at 4-2 with both Mexico and Bangladesh next at 3-3 and Egypt at 2-4. The Bangladeshis had the run differential tiebreaker over the Mexicans (6-2 win, 7-4 loss). In Group D, the United States (5-1) and Japan (4-2) advanced outright while the DR Congo (2-4) and Czechia (1-5) were sent packing. Two quarterfinal matchups were 2-0 sweeps with the Australians over the Taiwanese and USA over the Bangladeshis. The Aussies earned their third-ever trip to the final four, having last done it with a fourth place in 2012. The Americans have been in the semifinal 60 times. After splitting one-run games, the Netherlands beat Poland 9-3 in game three to advance. The Dutch had been to the final four only twice before, most recently with their 2008 runner-up finish. Japan and Pakistan also split one-run games to start their quarterfinal, followed by a 8-2 Japanese win in the clincher. Japan picked up its fourth trip to the semifinal of the 2030s and 16^th overall, second-most among Asian countries behind only China (19). In the semifinal, the Netherlands earned a sweep over Australia with 2-1, 5-2, and 4-1 wins. The United States opened with a 5-1 win, followed by a 6-4 Japan victory in game two. The Americans then got back-to-back 7-5 wins, including an 11-inning result in game four. The Japanese were officially the third place finisher with the Australians fourth. The Netherlands had been in the World Championship once before, getting swept by the United States in 2008. 2037 had the same result as the Americans completed the four-peat, moving to 47-9 all-time in the finals. The US has won six of the last seven titles with a 2030s dynasty. It is the second-ever four-peat, joining the Americans’ seven straight from 1971-77. The series did have competitive games despite being a sweep. The US scored four in the bottom of the eighth inning to rally for a 7-6 win in game one. The clincher was also 7-6 final with both teams scoring once in the ninth. In the tenth, the Americans had four in the top half, while the Dutch could only muster three. The US had 269 hits for the event, tied for the second-most in WBC history. Tournament MVP was Japan’s Chishou Matsui, a 29-year old LF entering his seventh season in East Asia Baseball. After six seasons with Fukuoka, he signed with Osaka in 2036. Matsui had 32 hits, 22 runs, 4 doubles, 19 homers, 35 RBI, .421/.482/1.250 slash, 385 wRC+, and 3.2 WAR in 21 games. His WAR was the 4th-best by a position player in WBC history and one of only nine above three. Matsui’s homers ranked 4^th and his 95 total bases tied for 5^th. Best Pitcher went to Pakistan’s Jan Khaleel, a two-time Reliever of the Year winner in the Asian Baseball Federation. The 28-year old right tossed 18 scoreless innings with seven saves and a 3-0 record in ten appearances. Khaleel allowed six hits and five walks with 33 strikeouts and 1.5 WAR. Other notes: The 2037 event had four no-hitters with Myanmar’s Yazar Win on January 7, Haiti’s Gus Rene on 1/11, Peru’s Roan Herrera on 1/16, and Germany’s Urban Bruggemann on 1/17. The Germans had a team WHIP of 0.622, the second-lowest in WBC history. Below are the updated all-time tournament stats. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports The Level Playing Field: Alternate MLB History From 1884-Onward Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)