2009 Baseball World Cup

The 2009 Baseball World Cup (BWC) was the 38th international men's amateur baseball tournament. The tournament was sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation, which titled it the Amateur World Series from the 1938 tournament through the 1986 AWS. The 2009 tournament was held, for the first time, across a continent — with games played in 27 cities across eight European countries, from September 9 to 27. The final was a repeat of the previous BWC final, with the United States again defeating Cuba, winning its fourth title. Canada won the bronze medal, the nation's first medal in the tournament, after defeating Puerto Rico 6–2.[1]

2009 Baseball World Cup
Tournament details
CountriesCroatia
Czech Republic
Germany
Italy
Netherlands
San Marino
Spain
Sweden
Dates9–27 September
Teams22
Final positions
Champions United States (4th title)
Runner-up Cuba
Third place Canada
Fourth place Puerto Rico
Tournament statistics
Games played92
Attendance126,799 (1,378 per game)
MVPUnited States Justin Smoak
← Taiwan 2007
Panama 2011 →

All statistics correct as of 27 September 2009.

There were 22 participating countries (which stands as the most ever in tournament history), with 20 teams split into five groups for the first round, after which "official" host Italy and 2007 European Champion Netherlands joined the advancing 14 teams in the second round.

The next competition would be the last amateur championship held as the BWC tournament, which was replaced in 2015 by the quadrennial WBSC Premier12.

Format

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Previous editions of the World Cup were held with no more than 18 teams. These teams were initially broken up into two pools, with the top teams from each pool qualifying for the final knockout stage. With 22 teams competing in the 2009 tournament, the format has been expanded into three phases. Teams that play from the first round and finish among the top eight teams of the tournament will now have played as many as 15 games, making it one of the longest campaigns for any international baseball tournament.

All of the teams, with the exception of Italy and Netherlands, will compete in the first round (as hosts for the second-round games, Italy and Netherlands receive a bye through the first round). The teams will be broken into five pools of four teams each. Each pool will be held in a different country, with the hosts Czech Republic, Spain, Sweden, Croatia and Germany assigned to the corresponding pools. (Previously, Russia had been set as the host nation for Pool D, however they were replaced by Croatia in an announcement from the IBAF.)[2] Unlike the 2009 World Baseball Classic, the pools will be conducted in single round-robin format.[3] The top two teams from each pool will automatically qualify for the second round, while four of the five third-place finishers will also qualify as wild cards.[4] In some respects, the first round is like a final qualifying tournament, similar to the format used for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The second round operates similarly to the first, but on an expanded scale. The field of teams is split into two pools, one hosted in Italy, the other in the Netherlands. The fourteen qualifiers from the first round are assigned to the pools, and commence a single round-robin competition.[4] The top four teams from each pool then qualify for the third and final round.[5]

The third round is broken into two parts: a partial round-robin and then four classification games, including the final. Each team will play four games during the round-robin phase, against the teams they have not yet faced (in Round 2) who also qualified – i.e. the teams from the Italian pool will face the teams from the Netherlands pool, but not each other. The teams are then ranked on their results in this phase and in games of the 2nd round between qualified teams, but in two groups based on the pool they qualified from. Each team then plays a classification game against their counterpart from the opposite group to determine their final placings in the tournament – i.e. the fourth place Italian qualifier faces the fourth place Netherlands qualifier to determine seventh and eighth positions, the third place qualifiers compete for fifth and sixth positions, and so on. The winner of the final classification game will be declared the winner of the World Cup for 2009.[5]

Tiebreaking procedures

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The IBAF employs a standard tiebreaking system across all tournaments it sanctions, though it will use a modified version for this World Cup. Ordinarily there are five criteria available to be used when two or more teams finish the tournament (or a section thereof) with the same winning percentage; if the first method does not split the teams involved, the next one is used, continuing down the list of methods until a distinction is achieved. The criteria used to determine the higher placed finishing team, in order, are:

  1. the team with the better head-to-head record for the teams involved
  2. the team with the better ratio of runs allowed per fielding inning subtracted from the ratio of runs scored per batting inning, referred to as the "Team Quality Balance", from the games involving the tied teams
  3. the team with the better "Earned Run Team Quality Balance" – the same as No. 2 but using only earned runs as opposed to all runs
  4. the team with the highest batting average from the head-to-head games
  5. a coin flip.

For this World Cup though, a simplified method of tiebreaking will be used:

  1. the team with the better head-to-head record for the teams involved
  2. the team with the fewest runs allowed
  3. the team with the lowest earned run average
  4. the team with the highest batting average.

In the case of determining the four wild card teams that will progress from the first to the second round, the first measure will automatically be skipped, as it will be impossible for the teams to have played against each other.[6]

Teams

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Twenty-two teams qualified for the tournament, either through finishing high enough in the 2007 World Cup, placing high enough in regional tournaments that doubled as qualifying tournaments for the event, or by automatic qualification by hosting some part of the tournament.

Round 1
Pool A Pool B Pool C Pool D Pool E
 
Australia
6th, 2007 World Cup  
Cuba
  2007 World Cup  
Canada
Qualified, 2008 Olympics  
Croatia
Replacing Russia,
Host nation
 
China
Qualified, 2008 Olympics
 
Chinese Taipei
Qualified, 2008 Olympics  
Puerto Rico
  2008 Americas
Baseball Cup
 
Netherlands Antilles
4th, 2008 Americas
Baseball Cup
 
Great Britain
  2007 European
Championship
 
Germany
4th, 2007 European
Championship
 
Czech Republic
Host nation  
South Africa
African qualifier  
South Korea
5th, 2007 World Cup  
Japan
  2007 World Cup  
United States
  2007 World Cup
 
Mexico
  2008 Americas
Baseball Cup
 
Spain
  2007 European
Championship
 
Sweden
Host nation  
Nicaragua
  2008 Americas
Baseball Cup
 
Venezuela
5th, 2008 Americas
Baseball Cup
Round 2
Pool F Pool G
 
Netherlands
  2007 European Championship  
Italy
Host nation

Round 1

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Group A

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Qualified for the 2nd round
Qualified for the 2nd round as wild card
Team W L R RA PCT
  Mexico 3 0 27 9 1.000
  Australia 2 1 33 19 .667
  Chinese Taipei 1 2 15 16 .333
  Czech Republic 0 3 5 36 .000
9 September 2009 Czech Republic   4–17   Australia   Prague, Czech Republic
Attendance: 800
Boxscore

10 September 2009 Chinese Taipei   0–8   Mexico   Prague, Czech Republic
Attendance: 700
Boxscore

11 September 2009 Australia   7–5   Chinese Taipei   Prague, Czech Republic
Attendance: 1,000
Boxscore
11 September 2009 Mexico   9–0   Czech Republic   Prague, Czech Republic
Attendance: 1,200
Boxscore

12 September 2009 Australia   9–10   Mexico   Prague, Czech Republic
Attendance: 2,500
Boxscore
12 September 2009 Czech Republic   1–10   Chinese Taipei   Prague, Czech Republic
Attendance: 2,500
Boxscore

Group B

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Qualified for the 2nd round
Qualified for the 2nd round as wild card
Team W L R RA PCT
  Cuba 3 0 25 9 1.000
  Puerto Rico 2 1 17 13 .667
  Spain 1 2 22 10 .333
  South Africa 0 3 5 37 .000
9 September 2009 Spain   15 – 0 (F/6)   South Africa   Barcelona, Spain
Attendance: 350
Boxscore

10 September 2009 Puerto Rico   0 – 10 (F/7)   Cuba   Barcelona, Spain
Attendance: 1,500
Boxscore

11 September 2009 Cuba   10–5   South Africa   Barcelona, Spain
Attendance: 500
Boxscore
11 September 2009 Spain   3–5   Puerto Rico   Barcelona, Spain
Attendance: 1,500
Boxscore

12 September 2009 Cuba   5–4   Spain   Barcelona, Spain
Attendance: 1,500
Boxscore
12 September 2009 South Africa   0 – 12 (F/7)   Puerto Rico   Barcelona, Spain
Attendance: 150
Boxscore

Group C

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Qualified for the 2nd round
Qualified for the 2nd round as wild card
Team W L R RA PCT
  Canada 3 0 43 2 1.000
  Netherlands Antilles 2 1 19 28 .667
  South Korea 1 2 11 19 .333
  Sweden 0 3 10 34 .000
9 September 2009 Sweden   8–10   Netherlands Antilles   Sundbyberg, Sweden
Attendance: 1,223
Boxscore

10 September 2009 Canada   9–1   South Korea   Sundbyberg, Sweden
Attendance: 662
Boxscore

11 September 2009 South Korea   5–1   Sweden   Sundbyberg, Sweden
Attendance: 1,307
Boxscore
11 September 2009 Netherlands Antilles   0 – 15 (F/7)   Canada   Sundbyberg, Sweden
Attendance: 1,408
Boxscore

12 September 2009 South Korea   5–9   Netherlands Antilles   Sundbyberg, Sweden
Attendance: 1,722
Boxscore
12 September 2009 Sweden   1 – 19 (F/5)   Canada   Sundbyberg, Sweden
Attendance: 2,091
Boxscore

Group D

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Qualified for the 2nd round
Qualified for the 2nd round as wild card
Team W L R RA PCT
  Nicaragua 3 0 28 5 1.000
  Japan 2 1 26 18 .667
  Great Britain 1 2 11 20 .333
  Croatia 0 3 5 27 .000
10 September 2009 Great Britain   7–9   Japan   Zagreb, Croatia
Attendance: 180
Boxscore
10 September 2009 Croatia   1–10   Nicaragua   Zagreb, Croatia
Attendance: 450
Boxscore

11 September 2009 Nicaragua   10 – 0 (F/7)   Great Britain   Zagreb, Croatia
Attendance: 150
Boxscore
11 September 2009 Japan   13 – 3 (F/7)   Croatia   Zagreb, Croatia
Attendance: 400
Boxscore

12 September 2009 Japan   4–8   Nicaragua   Zagreb, Croatia
Attendance: 380
Boxscore
12 September 2009 Croatia   1–4   Great Britain   Zagreb, Croatia
Attendance: 600
Boxscore

Group E

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Qualified for the 2nd round
Team W L R RA PCT
  Venezuela 3 0 42 12 1.000
  United States 2 1 26 14 .667
  Germany 1 2 16 22 .333
  China 0 3 3 39 .000
9 September 2009 Germany   14 – 1 (F/7)   China   Regensburg, Germany
Attendance: 5,300
Boxscore

10 September 2009 United States   9 – 13 (F/11)   Venezuela   Regensburg, Germany
Attendance: 4,200
Boxscore

11 September 2009 Venezuela   17 – 2 (F/5)   China   Regensburg, Germany
Attendance: 6,100
Boxscore
11 September 2009 United States   9–1   Germany   Regensburg, Germany
Attendance: 9,600
Boxscore

12 September 2009 China   0–8   United States   Regensburg, Germany
Attendance: 5,900
Boxscore
12 September 2009 Germany   1 – 12 (F/8)   Venezuela   Regensburg, Germany
Attendance: 6,900
Boxscore

Wild cards

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Qualified for the 2nd round as wild card
Team Pool W L R RA PCT
  Spain B 1 2 22 10 .333
  Chinese Taipei A 1 2 15 16 .333
  South Korea C 1 2 11 19 .333
  Great Britain D 1 2 11 20 .333
  Germany E 1 2 16 22 .333

Round 2

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Group F

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Qualified for the 3rd round
Team W L R RA PCT 1st Tiebreaker
Head–to–head record
2nd Tiebreaker
Head–to–head runs allowed
3rd Tiebreaker
Head–to–head record[7]
  Netherlands 6 1 44 23 .857 1–1 7 1–0
  Puerto Rico 6 1 46 16 .857 1–1 7 0–1
  Cuba 6 1 42 10 .857 1–1 8
  Venezuela 3 4 26 37 .429 1–0
  South Korea 3 4 30 24 .429 0–1
  Nicaragua 2 5 24 48 .333 1–0
  Spain 2 5 31 47 .286 0–1
  Great Britain 0 7 12 50 .000
13 September 2009 Netherlands   4–2   South Korea   Amsterdam, Netherlands
Attendance: 3,500
Boxscore
13 September 2009 Cuba   6–0   Great Britain   Haarlem, Netherlands
Attendance: 327
Boxscore
13 September 2009 Venezuela   7–4   Nicaragua   Rotterdam, Netherlands
Attendance: 250
Boxscore
13 September 2009 Puerto Rico   12 – 2 (F/7)   Spain   Amsterdam, Netherlands
Attendance: 211
Boxscore

14 September 2009 South Korea   15 – 5 (F/8)   Great Britain   Amsterdam, Netherlands
Attendance: 91
Boxscore
14 September 2009 Spain   8–1   Venezuela   Amsterdam, Netherlands
Attendance: 61
Boxscore
14 September 2009 Nicaragua   1–4   Cuba   Haarlem, Netherlands
Attendance: 350
Boxscore
14 September 2009 Netherlands   5–2   Puerto Rico   Rotterdam, Netherlands
Attendance: 2,041
Boxscore

16 September 2009 Puerto Rico   3–2   South Korea   Rotterdam, Netherlands
Attendance: 251
Boxscore
16 September 2009 Great Britain   1–4   Nicaragua   Rotterdam, Netherlands
Attendance: 112
Boxscore
16 September 2009 Spain   5–10   Netherlands   Haarlem, Netherlands
Attendance: 2,500
Boxscore
16 September 2009 Cuba   10 – 0 (F/8)   Venezuela   Amsterdam, Netherlands
Attendance: 479
Boxscore

17 September 2009 Puerto Rico   3–2   Great Britain   Haarlem, Netherlands
Attendance: 1,477
Boxscore
17 September 2009 Netherlands   8–5   Venezuela   Haarlem, Netherlands
Attendance: 3,117
Boxscore
17 September 2009 Spain   0–10   Cuba   Amsterdam, Netherlands
Attendance: 108
Boxscore
17 September 2009 Nicaragua   2–7   South Korea   Rotterdam, Netherlands
Attendance: 400
Boxscore

18 September 2009 Spain   5–9   Nicaragua   Amsterdam, Netherlands
Attendance: 300
Boxscore
18 September 2009 Cuba   2–5   Puerto Rico   Amsterdam, Netherlands
Attendance: 1,600
Boxscore
18 September 2009 Venezuela   4–1   South Korea   Haarlem, Netherlands
Attendance: 334
Boxscore
18 September 2009 Great Britain   0–6   Netherlands   Rotterdam, Netherlands
Attendance: 2,225
Boxscore

19 September 2009 Great Britain   3–10   Spain   Rotterdam, Netherlands
Attendance: 433
Boxscore
19 September 2009 South Korea   1–5   Cuba   Rotterdam, Netherlands
Attendance: 1,400
Boxscore
19 September 2009 Venezuela   3–5   Puerto Rico   Haarlem, Netherlands
Attendance: 1,116
Boxscore
19 September 2009 Nicaragua   4–8   Netherlands   Amsterdam, Netherlands
Attendance: 3,000
Boxscore

20 September 2009 Nicaragua   0 – 16 (F/7)   Puerto Rico   Haarlem, Netherlands
Attendance: 406
Boxscore
20 September 2009 Netherlands   3–5   Cuba   Rotterdam, Netherlands
Attendance: 4,000
Boxscore
20 September 2009 Venezuela   6–1   Great Britain   Haarlem, Netherlands
Attendance: 800
Boxscore
20 September 2009 South Korea   2–1   Spain   Amsterdam, Netherlands
Attendance: 354
Boxscore

Group G

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Qualified for the 3rd round
Team W L R RA PCT 1st Tiebreaker
Head–to–head record
2nd Tiebreaker
Head–to–head runs allowed
3rd Tiebreaker
Head–to–head record[7]
  United States 7 0 60 15 1.000
  Australia 5 2 47 27 .714 1–1 8 1–0
  Canada 5 2 50 29 .714 1–1 8 0–1
  Chinese Taipei 5 2 32 29 .714 1–1 9
  Japan 2 5 28 25 .286 1–1 9
  Italy 2 5 32 54 .286 1–1 10
  Mexico 2 5 28 38 .286 1–1 12
  Netherlands Antilles 0 7 27 87 .000
13 September 2009 Australia   19 – 6 (F/7)   Netherlands Antilles   Piacenza, Italy
Attendance: 383
Boxscore
13 September 2009 Italy   2–5   Chinese Taipei   Florence, Italy
Attendance: 1,800
Boxscore
13 September 2009 Japan   9–3   Mexico   Parma, Italy
Attendance: 604
Boxscore
13 September 2009 United States   8–0   Canada   Reggio Emilia, Italy
Attendance: 300
Boxscore

14 September 2009 Mexico   6–3   Italy   Bologna, Italy
Attendance: 500
Boxscore
14 September 2009 Canada   3 – 5 (F/10)   Australia   Novara, Italy
Attendance: 200
Boxscore
14 September 2009 Netherlands Antilles   1 – 11 (F/7)   United States   Verona, Italy
Attendance: 850
Boxscore

15 September 2009 Chinese Taipei   5 – 4 (F/10)   Australia   Godo, Italy
Attendance: 450
Boxscore
15 September 2009 United States   4–2   Japan   Macerata, Italy
Attendance: 1,900
Boxscore

16 September 2009 Japan   1 – 3 (F/10)   Chinese Taipei   Serravalle, Republic of San Marino
Attendance: 120
Boxscore
16 September 2009 Mexico   2–4   Canada   Turin, Italy
Attendance: 400
Boxscore

17 September 2009 Chinese Taipei   3 – 14 (F/7)   United States   Turin, Italy
Attendance: 1,000
Boxscore
17 September 2009 Canada   3 – 2 (F/10)   Japan   Bologna, Italy
Attendance: 450
Boxscore
17 September 2009 Australia   5–4   Italy   Parma, Italy
Attendance: 1,522
Boxscore
17 September 2009 Mexico   9–8   Netherlands Antilles   Serravalle, Republic of San Marino
Attendance: 300
Boxscore

18 September 2009 Netherlands Antilles   2 – 19 (F/6)   Canada   Godo, Italy
Attendance: 650
Boxscore
18 September 2009 Italy   6–4   Japan   Novara, Italy
Attendance: 1,000
Boxscore
18 September 2009 Chinese Taipei   1 – 0 (F/10)   Mexico   Verona, Italy
Attendance: 600
Boxscore

19 September 2009 Japan   0–5   Australia   Bologna, Italy
Attendance: 400
Boxscore
19 September 2009 Netherlands Antilles   3–12   Chinese Taipei   Novara, Italy
Attendance: 350
Boxscore
19 September 2009 Canada   16–7   Italy   Reggio Emilia, Italy
Attendance: 817
Boxscore
19 September 2009 Mexico   3–7   United States   Vicenza, Italy
Attendance: 500
Boxscore

20 September 2009 Australia   6–5   Mexico   Macerata, Italy
Attendance: 1,300
Boxscore
20 September 2009 Canada   5 – 3 (F/6)   Chinese Taipei   Parma, Italy
Attendance: 323
Boxscore
20 September 2009 Japan   10–1   Netherlands Antilles   Verona, Italy
Attendance: 550
Boxscore
20 September 2009 Italy   3–12   United States   Turin, Italy
Attendance: 1,000
Boxscore

21 September 2009 Italy   7–6   Netherlands Antilles   Vicenza, Italy
Attendance: 150
Boxscore
21 September 2009 United States   4–3   Australia   Bologna, Italy
Attendance: 250
Boxscore

Round 3

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Semi finals

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Group 1

Team W L R RA PCT
  Cuba 5 2 35 15 .714
  Puerto Rico 4 3 24 20 .571
  Netherlands 3 4 36 38 .429
  Venezuela 2 5 28 46 .289

Group 2

Team W L R RA PCT
  United States 7 0 48 14 1.000
  Canada 4 3 32 28 .571
  Australia 2 5 24 29 .289
  Chinese Taipei 1 6 19 56 .143
22 September 2009 Cuba   2–1   Australia   Grosseto, Italy
Attendance: 300
Boxscore
22 September 2009 Puerto Rico   0–3   Canada   Nettuno, Italy
Attendance: 500
Boxscore
22 September 2009 United States   6–3   Venezuela   Florence, Italy
Attendance: 170
Boxscore
22 September 2009 Netherlands   11–2   Chinese Taipei   Stadio Primo Nebiolo Messina, Italy
Attendance: 350
Boxscore

23 September 2009 Canada   9–2   Venezuela   Chieti, Italy
Attendance: 300
Boxscore
23 September 2009 Australia   5–2   Netherlands   Grosseto, Italy
Attendance: 250
Boxscore
23 September 2009 Puerto Rico   0–3   United States   Florence, Italy
Attendance: 130
Boxscore
23 September 2009 Chinese Taipei   0–8   Cuba   Nettuno, Italy
Attendance: 500
Boxscore

24 September 2009 United States   5–3   Cuba   Nettuno, Italy
Attendance: 2,000
Boxscore
24 September 2009 Chinese Taipei   2–8   Puerto Rico   Chieti, Italy
Attendance: 250
Boxscore
24 September 2009 Canada   11–5   Netherlands   Grosseto, Italy
Attendance: 250
Boxscore
24 September 2009 Venezuela   9–4   Australia   Florence, Italy
Attendance: 104
Boxscore

25 September 2009 Cuba   5–1   Canada   Florence, Italy
Attendance: 1,100
Boxscore
25 September 2009 Venezuela   6–4   Chinese Taipei   Grosseto, Italy
Attendance: 200
Boxscore
25 September 2009 Australia   2–4   Puerto Rico   Chieti, Italy
Attendance: 300
Boxscore
25 September 2009 Netherlands   2–8   United States   Nettuno, Italy
Attendance: 1,000
Boxscore

Final round

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7th place game

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26 September 2009 Venezuela   6–3   Chinese Taipei   Florence, Italy
Attendance: 110
Boxscore

5th place game

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26 September 2009 Netherlands   1–4   Australia   Stadio Primo Nebiolo Messina, Italy
Attendance: 300
Boxscore

Bronze medal game

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26 September 2009 Puerto Rico   2–6   Canada   Grosseto, Italy
Attendance: 1,000
Boxscore

Final

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27 September 2009 Cuba   5–10   United States   Stadio Steno Borghese, Nettuno, Italy
Attendance: 5,000
Boxscore

Final standings

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Awards

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The IBAF announced the following awards at the completion of the tournament.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Canada wins bronze at World Cup". Baseball Canada. 26 September 2009. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  2. ^ "IBAF Announces Relocation of One of the 2009 Baseball World Cup First Round Sites from Russia to Croatia". International Baseball Federation. 17 July 2009. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2009. Games featuring Japan, Great Britain, Nicaragua and Croatia to be held in Zagreb from September 9–12
  3. ^ Yokoo, Masaru (19 June 2009). "2009 World Cup Game Schedule – 1st Round" (PDF). International Baseball Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
  4. ^ a b Yokoo, Masaru (19 June 2009). "2009 World Cup Game Schedule – 2nd Round" (PDF). International Baseball Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
  5. ^ a b Yokoo, Masaru (19 June 2009). "2009 World Cup Game Schedule -Finals" (PDF). International Baseball Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
  6. ^ Yokoo, Masaru (1 July 2009). "IBAF Official Competitions Technical/Organizational Norms" (PDF). International Baseball Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 November 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  7. ^ a b "2009 IBAF Baseball World Cup Final Round Team Capsules". International Baseball Federation. 22 September 2009. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  8. ^ "2009 Baseball World Cup Final Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 May 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2009.
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