The cream of Dominican baseball players could join together against the rest of the world come 2006 for the first World Baseball Classic in the United States. The next tournament is due to take place in 2009, and then every four years after that, in the style of the soccer world cup. The first tournament would be played during Major League Baseball spring training in 2006. MLB Commissioner Bud Selig announced the international competition’s tentative dates would be 4-20 March. “Our goal is to grow the game globally. I have very strong feelings on that subject,” Selig said at a press conference.
Paul Archey, MLB’s vice president of international business operations, said invitations will be sent out to countries in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. Some of the likely participants are Japan, Korea, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, the Netherlands, Italy and Cuba. He explained that all, except Cuba, would be able to pull from MLB talent to stock their national teams. The Cubans would bring their own nationals.
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