The USA is the inventor of the game of baseball. Japan did not invent the game of baseball but with three World Baseball Classic titles may be said to be the country that has perfected it. Japan won all its games in the short series and took the title in the finals in Miami, Florida on 21 March 2023, defeating Team USA.
The USA first took the lead, but Japan promptly moved ahead and maintained its lead. At the end, it would be Shohei Ohtani striking out his Angels teammate and Team USA captain Mike Trout to secure the 3-2 victory in the 2023 World Baseball Classic championship game.
Japan is now the only team to have won twice and thrice the series. Japan has won in 2006, 2009 and in 2023.
22 March 2023