World Baseball Classic Exhibit Debuts at Museum

(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – With fans around the world anticipating the sixth edition of the World Baseball Classic next week, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will celebrate the international passion for the game with a new exhibit in Cooperstown.

Featuring artifacts from each of the previous WBC tournaments, the new exhibit – located on the Museum’s second floor in the Whole New Ballgame exhibit – opens today and captures the passion that is poured into each pitch and at-bat during the tournament.

Artifacts on exhibit include:

• First pitch ball from the inaugural WBC game in 2006 between Team South Korea and Team Chinese Taipei
• Jersey worn by Team Japan’s Daisuke Matsuzaka in the championship game in 2006 when he was named tournament Most Valuable Player
• Cap worn by Team Netherlands pitching coach Bert Blyleven in 2009 when the team advanced to the knockout round
• Bat used by Team Japan’s Ichiro Suzuki in 2009 when he recorded 12 hits while helping his club win a second straight title
• Jersey won by Team Dominican Republic’s Fernando Rodney in the 2013 title game when he locked down the championship
• Cap worn by Team Italy coach Mike Piazza during the 2013 WBC
• Cap worn by Team USA’s Marcus Stroman in 2017 when he threw six shutout innings in the championship game en route to Most Valuable Player honors
• Batting helmet worn by Team Israel’s Ryan Lavarnway in 2017 during the club’s debut at the WBC
• Batting helmet worn by Team Japan’s Munetaka Murakami when he homered during the title game in 2023 while helping Japan win its third WBC championship
• Example of the original WBC championship trophy before it was retired prior to the 2023 tournament

Admission to the exhibit is included with regular Museum admission.