Past Olympic Baseball Medalists
Only three countries have appeared in all four medal editions of the Olympics: Cuba, Italy and Japan.
- 1992
GOLD Cuba
SILVER Chinese Taipei
BRONZE Japan
Recap: Cuba went undefeated, winning all nine of their games, including against the United States in the semifinal and an 11-1 win over Chinese Taipei in the gold-medal game. Japan defeated the U.S. Team twice in the tournament, including in the bronze medal game, 8-3. Future major-leaguers who played for the U.S. In the tournament included Darren Dreifort, Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Giambi, Jeffrey Hammonds, Rick Helling, Charles Johnson, Phil Nevin, Michael Tucker, Jason Varitek.
- 1996
GOLD Cuba
SILVER Japan
BRONZE United States
Recap: In Atlanta, Cuba again rolled through the competition undefeated, defeating the Americans 10-8 in the round-robin round, Nicaragua 8-1 in the semifinal and Japan 13-9 in the gold-medal game. Japan, which lost to the U.S. In the round-robin round 15-5, knocked the Americans the bronze medal game with an 11-2 romp in the semifinals. Future major-leaguers who played for the U.S. In the tournament as amateurs included Kris Benson, Troy Glaus, Travis Lee, Augie Ojeda, Chad Allen, Jacque Jones, Mark Kotsay, Matt LeCroy, Braden Looper, Warren Morris, Jeff Weaver and Billy Koch. Future big-league pitcher Jose Contreras pitched for the Cuban team, and future major-league players Tadahito Iguichi and Kosuke Fukudome played for Japan. - 2000
GOLD United States
SILVER Cuba
BRONZE South Korea
Recap: A team of American minor-leaguers won the 2000 games in Sydney. Cuba lost to the Netherlands in the round-robin round – their first Olympics loss since it became a medal sport -- and lost to the Americans in the gold-medal game 4-0 behind a complete-game shutout by future major-leaguer Ben Sheets. South Korea won the bronze medal, beating Japan 3-1. The American team consisted of future major-leaguers Brett Abernathy, Kurt Ainsworth, Sean Burroughs, Adam Everett, Ryan Franklin, Doug Mientkiewicz, Roy Oswalt, Sheets, Brad Wilkerson and former big-league catcher Pat Borders, who had been playing in the minors. The Japanese team featured future Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, then 19. Future major-leaguers Jose Contreras pitched for Cuba in his second Olympics.
- 2004
GOLD Cuba
SILVER Australia
BRONZE Japan
Recap: The Americans didn't even make it to Athens, losing a qualifying game to Mexico 1-0 in a single-elimination tournament. Cuba returned to the gold-medal stand, defeating Australia 6-2 in the gold-medal game. Japan, which defeated Cuba during the round-robin round, defeated Canada 11-2 for the bronze after losing a 1-0 game to Australia in the semifinals. Future big-leaguers Daisuke Matsuzaka, Kenji Johjima and Kosuke Fukudome played for the Japanese team. - 2008
Qualifying teams: China, Cuba, Japan, Netherlands, United States, three TBA.
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