2024 in Review - Top Stories of the Year

Below are the news highlights of 2024, month by month. For all stories, click here.

January

January 3 - Kelly Kretschman celebrates softball's Olympic return, heralds momentous growth of women’s softball

January 4 - Yukiko Ueno: Japanese softball superstar doesn't rule out LA28 Olympic Games appearance

January 15 - Baseball5 project: One Year Anniversary celebrated at Azraq Refugee Camp in Jordan

January 17 - WBSC Members Handbook: A tool to further boost Member Federations' development

January 23 - WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari: "We look ahead to an exciting year" in 2024

February

February 2 - The World Games Athlete of the Year 2023: Australian softball star Jack Besgrove finishes in top 10

February 21 - Baseball5: Azraq Refugee Camp assistant coach Reem Hadroos receives WBSC certification

February 22 - WBSC releases Members Handbook in Spanish

February 22 - Baseball5 popularity in Africa: Over 1,000 children participate in seven tournaments in six months

March

March 6 - Japan shut out Europe to open Global Baseball Games

March 7 - Global Baseball Games: Japan win Game Two behind perfect pitching

March 8 - Women's Sport - Playing a major part in the WBSC 2024 season

March 8 - WBSC partners with Cricket; Flag Football, Lacrosse, Squash & LA28 to celebrate International Women’s Day

March 8 - WBSC celebrates International Women’s Day and reaffirms commitment to equality

March 9 - WBSC eBASEBALL™ Series 2023 World Finals - As it happened

March 9 - WBSC eBASEBALL™ Series 2023 World Finals: SHORA crowned World Champion

March 11 - President Riccardo Fraccari hails success of inaugural WBSC eBASEBALL™ Series World Finals

March 15 - Anti-Doping: eBASEBALL™ Series World Finalists receive dedicated ITA workshop

March 21 - #PLAYEVERYWHERE: New Baseball5 documentary released in partnership with WebsEdge

March 28 - WBSC Yearbook 2023: "A memorable journey" of wonderful achievement - President Fraccari

April

April 4 - WBSC Executive Board meeting: New pitch limits amongst rule changes for youth WBSC Baseball World Cups; National Federation updates and WBSC anniversary preparations on 10th May

April 6 - WBSC Legacy Club celebrates first anniversary on International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

April 8 - Venezuela beat Bolivia to win Youth Bolivarian Games Sucre 2024 Baseball5 event

April 9 - New WBSC events bidding calendar published

April 30 - WBSC publishes 2024 Governance Report highlighting significant progress

May

May 8 - IOC President Thomas Bach welcomes WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari, Athlete Commission to Olympic House

May 8 - WBSC Athletes Summit: Over 350 players from 44 countries participate in Inaugural edition at Olympic House

May 9 - WBSC hosts historic Baseball Pro Leagues Summit

May 10 - WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari: Celebrating World Baseball Softball Day, a milestone in our global journey

May 10 - World Baseball Softball Day: The world celebrates WBSC’s 10th anniversary

May 10 - Baseball5’s journey takes centre stage as documentary #PlayEverywhere premieres on World Baseball Softball Day

May 10 - Baseball/Softball community celebrates WBSC 10th Anniversary, World Baseball Softball Day

May 13 - WBSC to use Team Quality Balance in Softball World Cups

May 13 - Bright future to 'Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 and beyond' highlighted by IOC President Thomas Bach in WBSC's 10th Anniversary congratulations message

May 14 - Six months to go: Premier12 2024 trophy unveiled during WBSC Anniversary celebrations

May 21 - Dates confirmed for softball competitions at The World Games Chengdu 2025

May 23 - Three World Cups, 136 games to be played under two-stage format in exciting WBSC international softball season

May 31 - Video: Memories of a wonderful World Baseball Softball Day celebration

June

June 2 - Two WBSC Softball World Cups leave meaningful legacy - two world-class stadiums in Hermosillo

June 7 - WBSC Digital Trophies featured amongst latest IOC Sustainability Case Studies

June 10 - WBSC Softball World Cup Tournament Regulations: New tie-break system starts in Hermosillo

June 13 - IOC confirms new format for Youth Olympic Games; WBSC reiterates excitement for Baseball5’s debut at Dakar 2026

June 16 - WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Group A: Dominican Republic, Australia claim tickets to Finals 2025

June 18 - President Fraccari hosts IOC Executive Board Member and Jordan Olympic Committee President HRH Prince Feisal at WBSC Headquarters

June 20 - World Refugee Day: WBSC reaffirms commitment to positively impacting lives of refugees worldwide

June 21 - Softball Park in Oklahoma City to host Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games softball competition

June 25 - ASOIF Governance Review: WBSC makes further improvements; Top marks for transparency

June 26 - Baseball5 highlights "power of sport in bridging cultural and social gaps" at Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya

June 26 - NEGRAY clinches berth in ePremier12 with win in First Global Qualifier Play-Off

June 26 - WBSC Official Rules of Baseball & Baseball World Cups Tournament Regulations update

July

July 5 - WBSC Women's Softball World Cup - 59 years of success and glory

July 9 - WBSC hits Grand Slam year with record participation in 2024 season

July 11 - WBSC President’s visit to Senegal embraces Baseball5 progress ahead of Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026

July 11 - WBSC President Fraccari emphasises excitement for softball in Oklahoma for LA28 Olympics

July 12 - Italy earns hosting rights for WBSC U-15 Women's Softball World Cup 2025 and WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup 2026

July 14 - WBSC highlights commitment to innovation in eSport and celebrates IOC announcement of Olympic Esports Games in Saudi Arabia

July 14 - WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2024 Group B: Argentina, New Zealand book tickets to Finals 2025

July 19 - WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup: A bright future for Olympic softball

July 20 - Japan outscore USA in final to become Women's Softball World Champions

July 20 - Yukiko Ueno earns Women's Softball World Cup MVP honours

July 21 - WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals: Japan hold world champion and Olympic titles together for first time

July 27 - WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup Group A: Chinese Taipei, Czechia advance to Finals 2025

July 30 - WBSC & Sportradar’s Synergy Sports announce partnership extension

July 31 - HUGAN announced as Title Sponsor of ePremier12

August

August 2 - MLB to broadcast WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup final on its streaming platforms

August 3 - Japan beat USA to win seventh consecutive WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup title

August 3 - Japan's Miu Shiraishi earns WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup MVP honours

August 6 - WBSC and Chinese Baseball Association sign MoU to strengthen country’s commitment to growing sport

August 7 - One year to go to The World Games 2025 Chengdu; Men's & Women's Softball on the programme

August 12 - WBSC Baseball5 Refugee Team face France in historic game in Paris

August 12 - Paris 2024 ends, hands Olympic Flag to Los Angeles 2028: Countdown starts for baseball/softball

August 13 - WBSC releases Integrity Unit Annual Report 2023

August 18 - WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Group B - Final Day: Japan and China advance to Finals 2025

August 21 - WBSC announces new Athlete Transfer Rules to come into effect in 2025

August 21 - World Baseball Classic announces dates and groups for 2026 edition

August 25 - Soya Kokubo's elite defence clinches U-15 Baseball World Title for Japan

August 25 - Kei Kawakami receives MVP honours as six teams represented in All World Team

August 30 - "More magnificent moments" ahead for international baseball as WBSC Premier12 and ePremier12 2024 presented to Japan media in Tokyo

September

September 1 - WBSC introduces key rule changes to enhance Baseball5 safety and game flow

September 2 - WBSC Legacy Club welcomes 365 HA HA HOSPITAL as first Diamond Partner

September 2 - WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup 2024 Group C - Final Day: USA, Canada secure tickets to Finals 2025; Mexico earn wild card

September 5 - WBSC and AHEEN launch new Baseball5 project in Kenya

September 11 - WBSC publishes Blind Baseball Rulebook

September 15 - Japan dominate final, capture second consecutive WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup. Nicaragua win bronze

September 15 - Puerto Rico's Edgardo Villegas named WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup MVP

September 18 - BenZen, Tomokun clinch ePremier12 berths

September 19 - WBSC President Fraccari completes inspirational visit to Bhutan

September 20 - WBSC Premier12 star Shohei Ohtani opens new chapter in baseball history

September 21 - WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2024 - Day 5: USA, Japan book spots at Finals 2025 in Prince Albert, Canada

September 22 - CMWANG, SHE SHE take fifth, sixth spots in HUGAN ePremier12 with wins in Chinese Taipei Finals

September 24 - USA, Japan, Venezuela complete lineup for WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup Finals 2025

September 29 - Cuba win WBSC Blind Baseball International Cup

October

October 1 - DOIYA wins ePremier12 Japan Finals, qualifies for ePremier12

October 3 - WBSC approves new voting process to ensure athletes’ voice is enhanced in WBSC elections

October 3 - Growth of Baseball5 sees WBSC approve expanded format for future World Cups

October 3 - WBSC awards hosting rights: Youth Baseball5 World Cup 2025 to Mexico, Baseball5 World Cup 2026 to Italy

October 3 - Japan and China confirmed as hosts for WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cups 2025 & 2027

October 7 - MSQA clinches spot in ePremier12 with win in Europe Finals

October 12 - WBSC Baseball5 World Cup Hong Kong 2024 - Cuba beat Japan to claim second successive title

October 13 - WBSC Baseball5 World Cup Hong Kong 2024 - Cuba's Briandy and Gonzalez emotional after receiving MVP awards

October 14 - President Fraccari heralds success of WBSC Baseball5 World Cup Hong Kong 2024

October 22 - WBSC announces groundbreaking partnership with Trackman

October 23 - DAZN and WBSC announce Distribution Partnership

October 24 - WBSC shows commitment to good governance, participates in IPACS Annual General Conference

October 24 - Premier12 to expand to 16 teams in 2027 highlighting success of WBSC’s flagship event

October 29 - yg, Jon’sCopyright & compass qualify for ePremier12 in USA Finals; Dashu, BenZen advance to Super Round

October 31 - Tainan to host WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup 2025 from July 25 to August 3

October 31 - WBSC reveals Continent Quota for expanded Baseball5 and Youth Baseball5 World Cups

November

November 4 - ePremier12 2024 Super Round lineup complete after SHORA, NEGRAY win Group B finals

November 6 - Japan to host WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025 in Naha City from September 5 to 14

November 8 - WBSC Premier12 2024 Preview: 12 teams chase international baseball glory

November 9 - WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari addresses International Baseball Community as Premier12 2024 opens in Mexico

November 11 - Legend and WBSC deliver digital trophies in accessible audio format for Blind Baseball International Cup 2024 winners

November 21 - WBSC Premier12 2024 sets new benchmark for global sponsorship in international baseball

November 21 - WBSC Premier12 2024 Group B a huge hit with fans and families in Taiwan

November 23 - SHORA keeps World Champion crown; makes history winning the inaugural WBSC ePremier12

November 24 - Chen homers Chinese Taipei to WBSC Premier12 2024 title over Japan; USA claim bronze

November 24 - Chieh-Hsien Chen is the WBSC Premier12 2024 MVP

November 26 - President Fraccari hails success of WBSC Premier12 as launchpad for further growth of global baseball

November 27 - WBSC/KONAMI Men's Baseball World Ranking update: Chinese Taipei clear second; Venezuela top three for first time after Premier12

November 28 - Premier12 champions Chinese Taipei return home as heroes

November 29 - National pride on display at WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS: Players reflect on the meaning of representing their country

December

December 3 - Japan, Netherlands to face off in RAXUS Samurai Japan Series in Osaka in 2025

December 4 - Japanese star Ayami Sato to play pro baseball in Canada, becomes first-ever women to sign contract with Intercounty Baseball League team

December 6 - Athlete Transfer Rules to come into effect in 2025: What you need to know

December 10 - Second Baseball Champions League Americas to be played in April 2025

December 11 - Ayako Rokkaku: WBSC Athlete Representative taking Baseball to the world

December 12 - Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games unveil Baseball5 illustrations

December 13 - Premier12 title tops Taiwan news topics in 2024

December 16 - 2024 in Review: A Premier12 for the Ages highlights superb International Baseball Year

December 17 - 2024 in Review: Superb Softball season keeps momentum going with three World Cups; LA28 Olympics in sight

December 18 - WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari’s End of Year Message to the global baseball/softball family

December 19 - New WBSC Baseball/Softball Umpire Licensing Framework available

December 19 - 2024 in Review: Baseball5 World Cup "an amazing and memorable moment"

December 19 - New WBSC World Ranking methodology starts in 2025

December 20 - 2024 in Review: WBSC redefines eBaseball™ with a Year of Unforgettable Moments

December 23 - 2024 in Review: Women's Baseball success highlights development activities

December 24 - 2024 in Review: WBSC Legacy Club continues to transform lives during first full year

December 24 - Premier12 one month ago: A celebration of highlights and snapshots

December 27 - 2024 in Review: International Cup takes Blind Baseball to next level

December 30 - 2024 Year in Review - Social Media: Unprecedented growth in a year full of action

December 30 - 2024 Year in Focus

December 31 - WBSC/KONAMI Baseball5 World Ranking: Cuba finish 2024 on top; Record 53 programmes included

December 31 - WBSC/KONAMI Men's Softball World Ranking: Argentina close 2024 on top, Dominican Republic best climber of the year

December 31 - Japan dominate WBSC/KONAMI Women's Baseball World Ranking in 2024

December 31 - WBSC/KONAMI Women's Softball World Ranking: Netherlands gain most points, Sweden make biggest leap as USA stay No. 1 in 2024

December 31 - Japan confirmed as WBSC/KONAMI Men's Baseball World Ranking No. 1 at end of 2024