One Year Ago: Chinese Taipei’s historic WBSC Premier12 triumph echoes around the world
Exactly one year ago today, on November 24, 2024, world No. 2 Chinese Taipei etched their name in baseball history with an unforgettable 4-0 victory over world No. 1 Japan at the Tokyo Dome to claim their first WBSC Premier12 title.
In front of 41,827 passionate fans, the game turned in the top of the fourth inning — a moment forever engraved in Premier12 lore. Catcher Chia-Cheng Lin launched a solo home run off Japan’s 12-game NPB winner with the the Yomiuri Giants Shosei Togo, before captain Chieh-Hsien Chen followed with a thunderous three-run homer. That one inning changed everything — and sealed the destiny of a passionate baseball region.
The words of veteran reliever Kuan-Yu Chen, who pitched a perfect eighth inning in the final, clearly stated what carried Chinese Taipei to the historic win. "It's the trust that we have in each other and the fearlessness that we showcased throughout the different phases of the tournament that helped us succeed."
Chen, who celebrated his 35th birthday on October 29, spent the first part of his career with NPB's Yokohama and Chiba. He appeared in 55 games for Rakuten of the Chinese Professional Baseball League during the 2025 season. He is one of only five players to have featured in all three editions of the WBSC Premier12. The others are Cuba's Alfredo Despaigne (39), Yoennis Yera (36), Livan Moinelo (30) and the Netherlands' Juan Carlos Sulbaran (36).
"I was one of the youngest players on the team then (in the WBSC Premier12 2015), and I am the oldest now," he told the WBSC after the final. "The mindset of the game and the team, of course, has changed over the years."
Winning the Premier12 is nothing less than sensational for Chinese Taipei. One of Taiwan's most popular social media news platforms, Line Today, ranked the Premier12 title as the No. 1 news story in Taiwan for 2024, ahead of Olympic golds and international sporting milestones.
Fighter jets firing flares as an official salute welcomed the Chinese Taipei National Team upon their return to Taoyuan International Airport before the plane was showered with a water salute as it approached its gate. Thousands of fans wanting to show their support for the team began chanting at the arrival terminal hours before the plane landed. Once Premier12 MVP Chieh-Hsien Chen showed up at the arrival terminal, the scream from the crowd went through the roof.
One day after returning home, a victory parade celebrated the historical achievement in downtown Taipei. The entire team, including players, coaches, scouting teams, support teams, and the cheering squad, passed through Taipei City in jeeps and trucks for an hour-long parade. An estimated 50,000 or more fans participated in the parade.
"I witnessed one of the most emotional moments in WBSC history," recalled President Riccardo Fraccari.
Chinese Taipei road to the title was built on an elite pitching performance. They allowed a 2.51 earned run average. The difference between Japan (3.30), Venezuela (3.74), and the United States (3.91) is clear. It's even clearer that Chinese Taipei pitchers combined fewer walks (20) than Japan (34) or Venezuela (39). USA pitchers showed the same command (20 walks) and struck out more batters (86 versus 77).
Chinese Taipei's pitching staff counted on an outstanding bullpen. Yi Chang pitched five games and didn't allow a run, posting a 3-0 record. Kuan-Yu Chen and En Sih Huang also didn't allow a run, pitching six and four games, respectively.
The WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAUXS showcased impressive talent from players of different generations.
All-World Team starter Rich Hill was born on March 11, 1980, in Boston, Massachusetts. When USA manager Mike Scioscia announced him as the starter for the game against Samurai Japan, the Japanese press noted that at 44, he was double the age of Japanese starting pitcher Hiroto Takahashi.
Hill made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut on June 15, 2005. Cuba's Dario Sarduy was born on November 12, 2005. Taekyeon Kim (KOR) is the other player who participated in the WBSC Premier12 2024, born in 2005. Hill pitched in MLB games for the Kansas City Royals during the 2025 season.
The list of players who went from the WBSC Premier12 2024 to the Big Leagues includes USA catcher Drake Baldwin, who earned the National League's Rookie of the Year honours, his teammates Matt Shaw, who played 126 games for the Chicago Cubs, Chandler Simpson, who stole 44 bases in 109 games for the Tampa Bay Rays, and Carson Williams, 32 games for the Tampa Bay Rays,
Venezuelan catcher Carlos Perez summarised well what international baseball, and the WBSC Premier12 in particular, is all about. "Carrying the Venezuelan flag on my back and having the name of Venezuela on the chest of the uniform is truly an amazing thing."
