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Exhibition Baseball Americana

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones’s (b. 1985) cap, Team USA, World Baseball Classic Finals, 2017. Courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum (097.00.00)
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World Baseball Classic

Pakistan, South Africa, and even once disdainful Germany were among the nations attempting to qualify for the quadrennial World Baseball Classic in 2017, and Israel’s unexpectedly successful run in the main draw signified that the sport has extended beyond its traditional strongholds. Still, the tournament has crowned only the usual suspects—Japan (2006, 2009), the Dominican Republic (2013), and the USA (2017)—as champions. Team USA’s recent roster featured major league stars, including Adam Jones, Andrew McCutchen, Buster Posey, and Giancarlo Stanton.