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Why was the World Baseball Classic created?

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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 World Baseball Classic (WBC) was created primarily to serve as a platform to broaden the international appeal of baseball.1

Prior to its inception, international baseball competition faced significant challenges. While baseball was an Olympic sport, the Summer Olympic Games occurred during the Major League Baseball season, which prevented the sport's top professional players from participating. Following the decision by the International Olympic Committee to remove baseball from the Olympic program after 2008, the need for a premier international tournament became more apparent.2

Launched in 2006, the WBC was designed to feature the world’s best players representing their national teams, including professionals from various international leagues. Despite initial concerns from some team owners regarding player injury risks, the tournament was established with the support of major professional organizations, such as the MLB, the MLB Players Association, Nippon Professional Baseball, and the Korea Baseball Organization, to showcase the sport on a global stage.21