2006 World Team Japan August 11-13, 2006 - participating countries - tournament schedule - - game summaries - tournament history - - 2003 Team - 2004 Team - 2005 Team -

WORLD TEAM 2006 ROSTER

Sorry - No team photo submitted.

Manager:  Rich Krinks
Coaches: Chuck Moseley, Tim Nelson
Support:  Bill Dal Porto - Director of International Relations
Jenni Marr - President, Ron Matthews - General Manager

Though the "World" tournament team is not officially affiliated with Alameda Babe Ruth, there is a close relationship between the two organizations.  The Alameda World team and Alameda Babe Ruth share players, coaches, fields and other resources.

PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES

Below are the teams tentatively scheduled to attend this year's tournament:

SCHEDULE

World Tournament Itinerary (printable version - Excel)
    

World Tournament Game Schedule (printable version - Excel)
   

GAME SUMMARIES

• SORRY - No game summaries submitted so far.

WORLD TEAM HISTORY

In 1973, the Japanese Boys League wanted to send a team of their 14-15 year olds to California to play a series of friendship games.  Their goal was to promote International understanding and friendship between Japan and the United States.  They asked P.A. Shibata, a well known and respected Japanese businessman living in Hayward, to make this dream possible.  Mr. Shibata arranged games against teams from Hayward, Santa Maria and Gardenia.  The Japanese team at that time stayed at local hotels throughout their visit.  Similar trips occurred in 1975 and 1977.

In 1978, the Japan Boys League asked Mr. Shibata to form a team that would go to Japan for two weeks of friendship games.  Mr. Shibata asked Howard Zenimura of Fresno to manage a team composed of players from the San Francisco Bay Area.  Member families of the Japan Boys League graciously invited the young American players to stay in their homes during their visits.

In 1979, the Japan Boys League team came to California again, with Alameda, Fresno and San Diego offering home stay for the young Japanese players during the trip.  In 1980, a San Diego team led by Al Alvarado went to Japan, and in 1981 a small tournament was held in Gardenia, California with teams from Japan, Mexico and California participating.  By this time it was common practice for the host country to house the young players of foreign teams.

In 1982, an informal organization called the International Boys League was formed.  Its purpose was and remains today to foster international goodwill and friendship by holding a world youth baseball tournament each year.  The host team invites participants, is responsible for organizing the tournament, and provides home stay for the players on the foreign teams.

The First International Boys League tournament was held in Osaka, Japan in 1982 with four Japanese teams and four foreign teams participating.

During the succeeding years, teams from Brazil, Canada, China, Republic of China, Cuba, Guatemala, South Korea, two from Mexico (Rojo - or Red - from Baja California, and Verde - or Green - from Mexico City) and five from the United States (Alameda, Castro Valley, Fresno, Hawaii and San Diego) have participated in these tournaments. 

The past locations and tournament champions are as follows: