[FuzzyRussianHat]

The 2006 World Baseball Championship was the 60^th edition of the event and was in West Africa for the first time since 1994, this time hosted in Dakar, Senegal. Division 1 was incredibly competitive with Ethiopia and Egypt tying for first at 6-3, while Greece, Peru, Portugal, and Taiwan were all 5-4. Three others were at 4-5. The tiebreaker gave the Ethiopians their first-ever division title, denying a repeat for the Egyptians.

In Division 2, Turkey at 7-2 was a surprise winner over the defending champion United States and Canada both at 6-3. This was only the 11^th time that the Americans didn’t get to the elite eight and the second time in three years. This was the third division title for the Turks, who also had advanced in 1997 and 1985.

Germany claimed Division 3 at 7-2, fending off 6-3 efforts by both China and the Philippines. It was the 10^th time advancing for the Germans and the first since 2003. Japan was one of two teams at 8-1, taking Division 4. They needed that dominance to outlast 7-2 efforts by Ghana and New Zealand. The Japanese were one of two teams to make it back to the Round Robin from the prior year, advancing for the 18^th time.

The other 8-1 team was Brazil atop D5, defeating 6-3 efforts by North Korea and Ukraine. It was the 31^st time advancing for the Brazilians and ended a two-year drought. Division 6 had Colombia and South Korea tied at 7-2. The tiebreaker went to the Colombians, advancing for the 16^th time and the first time since 1999.

Spain topped the Division 7 field at 7-2, besting both Mexico and Nigeria by a game. It was the seventh division title for the Spanish, who last did it back in 1990. And in D8, Italy earned a third straight division title. The Italians won it at 7-2, topping both Argentina and Pakistan by a game. This was the 14^th division crown for Italy.

Round Robin Group A saw Colombia on top at 5-1 for their 10^th semifinal berth and first since 1999. Japan advanced at 3-3, while Ethiopia and Turkey were both 2-4. This gave the Japanese repeat semifinal appearances and their third in five years. It was the ninth time in total that Japan had been in the final four.

Italy was unbeaten at 6-0 in Group B, also earning repeat semifinal berths. It was their seventh berth overall. Germany took the other slot at 3-3, while Spain was 2-4 and Brazil was 1-5. This was the sixth time the Germans made the final four, last accomplishing the feat in 2002.

Germany edged Colombia 3-2 in their semifinal for their third-ever championship berth (1983, 1991). On the other side, it was Japan over Italy 3-1. It was also the third finals for the Japanese, but it was a very long time coming with the other appearances in 1951 and 1953. The Colombians were officially third, matching their best-ever finish for the seventh time. Italy was fourth for the fifth time.



Both Germany and Japan were 1-1 in their previous finals appearances. In the 60^th World Championship, the Japanese prevailed 4-2, taking their second world title 52 years after winning their first. Leading the way was Tournament MVP Shigeyoshi Taguchi, the reigning Japan League MVP with Chiba. The 26-year old right fielder in 21 starts had 22 hits, 18 runs, 10 home runs, 18 RBI, a .293/.372/.707 slash, 209 wRC+, and 1.5 WAR.



Best Pitcher went to France’s Jacky Coutant, a 34-year old CABA closer from the French Caribbean island of Martinique. The reigning Mexican League Reliever of the Year tossed 12.1 scoreless innings with 18 strikeouts and five hits allowed.

Other notes: Japan’s title pushed them ahead of Indonesia and Russia in the all-time tournament standings, now sitting seventh overall. The Japanese are the sixth country to win the world title twice, joining the United States, Canada, Brazil, China, and Mexico. It is also the 16^th consecutive year that the title went to either a North American or Asian team.