About USA BASEBALL About USA Baseball  

Due to an act of Congress in 1978, USA Baseball is the National Governing Body for the sport and represents baseball in America as a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the International Baseball Federation (IBAF). 

Virtually every major national amateur baseball organization in America is united as a USA Baseball National Member. As a result, USA Baseball governs more than 12 million amateur players in ballparks and playgrounds across the country.  USA Baseball is responsible for promoting and developing the game of baseball on the grassroots level, both nationally and internationally. As the commissioner's office for amateur baseball, USA Baseball is a resource center for its various membership groups, fans, and players

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC (PROFESSIONAL)

Since 1998, USA Baseball has been selecting teams of Professional-level minor league players to represent the United States in various International competitions. In 2006, USA Baseball selected its first team comprised of Major League Baseball players. The team featuring such stars as Roger Clemens, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez represented the United States in the inaugural World Baseball Classic.

OLYMPIC GAMES (PROFESSIONAL)

The USA Baseball Olympic Team last competed at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia and captured the gold medal with a historic, 4-0 shutout over the two-time defending Olympic champions from Cuba. Team USA was managed by Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda and brought home the USA's first ever official gold medal in baseball since the sport was granted official Olympic medal status in 1992. Team USA consisted of professional level players for the first time ever. For their accomplishment, the USA Olympic Team was named the 2000 Team of the Year by the United States Olympic Committee.

NATIONAL TEAM (COLLEGIATE)

The USA Baseball National Team consists of the top collegiate baseball players in the country. The team performs each summer in a schedule of exhibition games across America and overseas, versus the world's top baseball talent. They also take on the Japanese Collegiate All-Stars in an annual five-game series, and lead the all-time series between the two countries by a 20-14 margin - having never lost the series on home soil.

Players who have worn the Red, White, and Blue for the National Team and have gone onto Major League Baseball success include such notables as Mark Prior, Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Varitek, Todd Helton, Troy Glaus, Tino Martinez, Jason Jennings, Bobby Crosby, Ryan Howard and Huston Street.

JUNIOR NATIONAL TEAM (18-UNDER)

Comprised of the nation's top players aged 18 years and younger, the USA Baseball Junior National Team is a perennial power on the international baseball scene. In the 21-year history of the IBAF Junior World Championship, the United States medaled a record 20 times. The USA winnings include five gold medals, nine silver medals, and six bronze medals.

The team competes in two major events in bi-yearly cycles - the COPABE Junior Pan Am Championship and the IBAF World Junior Championship. Each year, USA Baseball and it's competing National Member Organizations invite the top high school aged players in America to the Tournament of Stars, where players vie for one of 18 spots on the USA Baseball Junior National Team.

Current major leaguers Alex Rodriguez, Mike Mussina, Shawn Green, and Ryan Klesko, as well as 2000 Olympic Gold Medalists Brent Abernathy and Brad Wilkerson, have all worn the USA jersey as juniors.

YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM (16-UNDER)

Having already established itself as an international powerhouse, the USA Baseball Youth National Team has become a golden lightning rod. USA Baseball began selecting and training an official National Team in the 16-under age category in the summer of 1997. Since then, the program has captured seven straight medals in tournament play, including four golds.

In 2005, the USA Baseball Youth National Team captured their fourth consecutive medal at the IBAF World Youth Championships, and will go after their fourth world title in 2007.

USA BASEBALL 14 U NATIONAL TEAM (14-Under)

USA Baseball fielded its first-ever 14 U National Team in 2006, and the team was an immediate success, going undefeated (6-0) in winning the gold medal at the Pan-Am 'A' Regional Qualifying event in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Members of the USA Baseball 14 U National Team are selected exclusively from the pool of players participating in USA Baseball's Champions program of Sectional and Regional tournaments held coast-to-coast followed by a USA Baseball 14 U National Championship.