Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why did Olympic baseball often not include Major League Baseball’s top players?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers, wearing a white uniform and helmet, watches his hit while holding a bat during a game at Dodger Stadium. — Baseball Freddie Freeman, shown here in a 2023 game, was named World Series MVP in 2024 after hitting four home runs and driving in 12 runs for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The primary reason Olympic baseball struggled to include Major League Baseball (MLB) stars is that the Summer Olympic Games take place during the MLB regular season.12

Although the International Baseball Federation began permitting professional players to participate in international competitions in the late 1990s, the scheduling conflict prevented top-tier professional athletes from leaving their teams to compete in the Olympics. This inability to attract the sport's best players contributed to the International Olympic Committee's decision in 2005 to remove baseball from the Olympic program following the 2008 Games.12

In response to the need for a high-level international tournament that could accommodate professionals, the World Baseball Classic was established in 2006, allowing for the participation of professional and amateur players alike.12