Israel at the World Baseball Classic

Israel at international baseball competitions

Teams Israel national baseball team
Results

Israel has competed in the World Baseball Classic since the 2013 World Baseball Classic. In 2017 Israel competed at the World Baseball Classic qualifier for the second time, and for the first time qualifying for the main tournament.[1]

Player eligibility

Under WBC rules, any player eligible for citizenship of a country, even if they do not have it, may play for that team.[2] Therefore, this entitles Israel to have non-Israeli citizens of Jewish heritage play for the team. Based on the Law of Return anyone with one Jewish grandparent or people married to a Jew, is eligible for citizenship.[3]

In 2013, a number of Major League players of Jewish descent, including Ian Kinsler and Kevin Youkilis, publicly expressed interest in playing for Israel in the World Baseball Classic.[4][5] However, while some of the qualifying rounds were played after the conclusion of the 2012 season and included Major League players, Israel's qualifier was played in September 2012, during the Major League season. Without its Major League players, Israel narrowly lost its qualifier to Spain (which had no Major League players at the time and thus was not affected by the scheduling).

Israel was put into the same position during the qualifiers for the 2017 tournament. Three of the four qualifiers took place during 2016 spring training and included Major League players. However, Israel's qualifier is scheduled for September 2016.

Record

World Baseball Classic record Qualification record
Year Host(s) Round Position W L RS RA Host W L RS RA
2006 Did not enter No qualifiers held
2009 Did not enter No qualifiers held
2013 Did not qualify United States 2 1 18 14
2017 Qualified - TBD United States 3 0 15 3
Total – – – – – – – – 5 1 33 17

2009 tournament bid

Israel applied, to participate in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.[6] In 2007, the inaugural season of the Israel Baseball League brought a large interest to the sport in Israel, causing Israel to apply to entry for the tournament.[7] The Israel Association of Baseball (IAB) hoped appearing in the tournament would increase interest in the sport within Israel,[8] in an effort to capitalize on the growing support.[9] Israel had hoped that if the IBL was success they would be able to build a team with Israeli born talent.[10] Marvin Goldklang, head of the IAB, however, talked about eventually having a team made up of Jewish Major Leaguers.[11] Although not accepted in 2009, they were subsequently invited to participate in the newly created qualifying round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

2013 tournament

Israel was competed in the 2013 World Baseball Classic qualifier. The qualifying round was held in September, while the Major League Baseball season still in progress, therefore it could not feature major league players such as those who qualified to play for Team Israel.

The highest-level players involved in the qualifier were minor-league players.[12] Team Israel included minor league pitchers Eric Berger (1–0) and Brett Lorin, first baseman Nate Freiman (.417; 4 HR in 12 AB), second baseman Josh Satin (.273), shortstops Jake Lemmerman and Ben Orloff, and outfielders Cody Decker, Adam Greenberg, Ben Guez, Joc Pederson (.308), and Robbie Widlansky.[13][14] Also, retired former major league All Star Shawn Green played for Israel (.333).[13][15] In addition to Brad Ausmus as manager, the team's coaches included Shawn Green, Gabe Kapler, and Mark Loretta.[16]

The team competed in the September 2012 qualifier, in Jupiter, Florida against Spain, France, and South Africa. Israel competed in their first qualifying match for the 2013 tournament on 19 September 2012 and defeated South Africa by a score of 7-3. Nate Freiman had two home runs in the victory.[17] Israel's second qualifying match was against Spain on 21 September 2012, which Israel won 4-2. Nate Freiman once again homered twice for Israel in the victory.[18] Israel's third qualifying match was once again against Spain on 23 September 2012, and lost 9-7 in 10 innings. With the victory Israel was eliminated from the tournament and Spain moved on to the next round.[19] Although Israel had won their first two games they were eliminated due to the tournaments modified double-elimination format. This meant that the final game was winner-take-all.

Date Local Time Road Team Score Home Team Inn. Venue Game Time Attendance Boxscore
Sep 19, 2012 19:00 Israel  7–3  South Africa   Roger Dean Stadium 3:16 1,581 Boxscore
Sep 21, 2012 13:00 Israel  4–2  Spain   Roger Dean Stadium 2:43 814 Boxscore
Sep 23, 2012 17:00 Spain  9–7  Israel 10 Roger Dean Stadium 4:50 4,463 Boxscore

2017 tournament

Team Israel wearing their kippahs during Hatikvah before the game against Great Britain on September 22, 2016.

Israel, was placed in the 4th Qualifier for the 2017 World Baseball Classic. They played September 22–25, 2016 at MCU Park, in Brooklyn, New York,[20] against Pakistan, Brazil, and Great Britain[21] This marked the second time Israel competed for a spot in the World Baseball Classic.

Colorado Rockies coach Jerry Weinstein served as the manager.[22] On August 15, 2016 It was announced that MLB veteran Craig Breslow would join the pitching staff for Israel for the qualifier. The full roster was released on August 26, 2016,[23] including 20 MLB-affiliated minor leaguers, making up 86% of the team, more than any other team in the qualifiers even before including recent Major Leaguers Breslow, Ike Davis, Josh Satin, and Jason Marquis.

Israel won all three of their games in the qualifier, beating Great Britain twice[24][25] and Brazil once.[26] With the win, Israel will play in Pool B in South Korea in March 2017, against South Korea, Taiwan, and Netherlands.

Qualifier
Date Local Time Road Team Score Home Team Inn. Venue Game Time Attendance Boxscore
Sep 22, 2016 7:00 Great Britain  2-5  Israel 9 MCU Park 3:08 3,919 [24]
Sep 23, 2016 12:00 Brazil  0-1  Israel 9 MCU Park 2:56 1,862 [26]
Sep 25, 2016 6:00 Great Britain  1-9  Israel 9 MCU Park 2:44 2,019 [25]
Main tournament
Date Local Time Road Team Score Home Team Inn. Venue Game Time Attendance Boxscore
Mar 6, 2017 19:00 Israel  –  South Korea   Gocheok Sky Dome     Boxscore
Mar 7, 2017 12:30 Israel  –  Chinese Taipei   Gocheok Sky Dome     Boxscore
Mar 9, 2017 12:30 Israel  –  Netherlands   Gocheok Sky Dome     Boxscore

See also

References

  1. ↑ Israel qualifies for World Baseball Classic for first time
  2. ↑ http://deadspin.com/5167239/dan-serafini-wins-one-for-team-italy
  3. ↑ Omer-Man, Michael (7 August 2011). "This Week in History: Jewish right to aliya becomes law". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  4. ↑ Ben, Daniel (May 1, 2010). "Baseball / Jewish MLB stars could play for Israel". Haaretz. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  5. ↑ Neistat, Aimee (August 24, 2012). "Baseball / World Classic / Youkilis says he will play for Israel, if it qualifies for tournament". Haaretz. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  6. ↑ Pro baseball coming to Israel
  7. ↑ Professional Baseball Coming to Israel!
  8. ↑ Here's the pitch - baseball in Israel
  9. ↑ Former big leaguers to pioneer baseball in Israel
  10. ↑ Taking the Ballgame Out to the World: An Analysis of the World Baseball Classic as a Global Branding Promotional Strategy for Major League Baseball
  11. ↑ Baseball in the Holy Land: Take two
  12. ↑ "World Baseball Classic: There are plenty of prospects to watch in this month's World Baseball Classic qualifiers". worldbaseballclassic.com. September 21, 2012. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  13. 1 2 "World Baseball Classic: Team – Israel". worldbaseballclassic.com. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  14. ↑ "World Baseball Classic: Stats". worldbaseballclassic.com. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  15. ↑ ".". Washington Post. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Mets' Q-and-A with utility player Josh Satin". NJ.com. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  17. ↑ Morosi on World Baseball Classic 04/20/16
  18. ↑ Morosi on World Baseball Classic
  19. ↑ Morosi on World Baseball Classic
  20. ↑ 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifiers are set
  21. ↑ 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifiers are set
  22. ↑ How a Survivor’s Son Is Bringing Baseball to Israel
  23. ↑ http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/rosters-wbc-qualifier-brooklyn/
  24. 1 2 Israel 5 - Great Britain 2
  25. 1 2 Israel 9 - Great Britain 1
  26. 1 2 Israel 1 - Brazil 0
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