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FuzzyRussianHat · 09-17-2025, 08:31 AM

The 2035 World Baseball Championship was the 89^th edition and returned to the United States, hosted in Dallas, Texas. The last time it was in WBC was 2025 in Orlando. In Division 1, last year’s third place finisher South Africa took first at 10-3, advancing for the third time in four years and fourth time overall. Belgium and Kazakhstan tied for second at 9-4 with both Australia and Bangladesh at 8-5. The Kazakhs advanced over the Belgians on the tiebreaker for their sixth playoff berth and first since 2027.

The defending champion USA finished first in Division 2 at 11-2, advancing along with 10-3 France. Chad (9-4), Scotland (8-5) and Taiwan (8-5) were the closest competitors. The Americans advanced for the 66^th time and for the sixth consecutive year. The French moved forward for the 17^th time, ending a drought back to 2027.

Poland dominated Division 3 and had the best record of any team at 12-1, earning back-to-back division titles and their 13^th overall. The second place slot with to 9-4 Pakistan, holding off 8-5 efforts by China and Cuba. The Pakistanis earned their 10^th playoff trip overall and their third in seven years.

The 2034 runner-up Philippines claimed D4 at 10-3, advancing along with 9-4 Nicaragua. Just short by one game at 8-5 were Finland, Malaysia, and Venezuela. The Filipinos are now 18-time division champs. This was only the second-ever playoff berth for Nicaragua, whose only other one was way back in 1971. Japan, the fourth place finisher in 2034, was at 7-6 along with Cambodia and Madagascar.

Division 5 was a complicated mess as Germany, India, Somalia, and Spain each finished 8-5. Ethiopia, Liberia, Sweden, and Zimbabwe were all right there too at 7-6. After tiebreakers were sorted, the Somalis took first and the Indians were second. Somalia got its second berth in three years and the Indians got their 15^th overall. Since 2024, India has advanced eight times, including in five of the last six editions.

Austria won Division 6 at 10-3 with Russia second at 9-4. The first teams out at 8-5 were Myanmar and Vietnam. The Austrians earned their seventh playoff trip overall and second in three years. The Russians made it four straight years with their 20^th advancement overall.

Switzerland won a top-heavy Division 7 at 10-3 for only their fifth division title. The Swiss hadn’t done it since 1990. Second place had a four-way tie at 9-4 between Colombia, Nigeria, South Korea, and Uganda. The tiebreakers favored the Koreans for their 21^st postseason appearance and second in five years.

Lastly in Division 8, Brazil and Ukraine dominated the field each at 11-2. Distant third places at 8-5 were Indonesia, Israel, and Romania. The Brazilians were first place on the tiebreaker, advancing for the third straight year and 39^th time overall. The Ukrainians picked up a 16^th playoff trip and their second in four years.

Ukraine rolled in Round Robin Group A at 5-1, while both the Philippines and South Africa were 3-3 and France was 1-5. The tiebreaker moved the South Africans into the quarterfinal. Poland was top dog at 4-2 in Group B with both Russia and South Korea 3-3 and Somalia at 2-4. The Russians would advance via the tiebreaker over the Koreans.

Austria prevailed in Group C at 5-1 with India second outright at 3-3. Pakistan and Switzerland were both ousted at 2-4. And in Group D, the United States rolled at 5-1, advancing along with 4-2 Brazil. Kazakhstan missed at 3-3 and Nicaragua was the lone winless at 0-6.

Russia won their quarterfinal 2-0 against rival Ukraine, sending the Russians to their first semifinal appearance since the 2001 runner-up finish. This was the tenth trip to the final four by Russia. The other three quarterfinal matchups needed all three games. The United States kept its repeat bid alive by besting India, securing a 58^th semifinal appearance. Brazil edged Austria for their 24^th final four berth and third in five years. Poland held off South Africa for an eighth semis appearance, having last done it as the 2028 runner-up.

Both semis were 3-0 sweeps with the United States rolling Brazil and Poland pounding Russia. The Russians were officially third for the fourth time and the Brazilians earned fourth for the fifth time. The Poles earned their sixth finals appearance with the lone win back in 2018 over Iran. They had been defeated in 1959 by Canada, 1964 by the US, 2022 by Nigeria, and 2028 by England.

The Americans held onto the throne and won the 89^th World Championship 4-1 over Poland. The United States had won just over half of the events to date with a 45-9 finals record. The American pitching staff had 441 strikeouts, second-best in event history. Their offense drew 128 walks, also the second-most.

Las Vegas ace Bo Jackson led the way for the US pitching, although he was surprisingly third in Best Pitcher voting. In 50.1 innings, Jackson had a 0.72 ERA, 4-0 record, 74 strikeouts, 2 shutouts, and 3.7 WAR. The WAR mark was the second-best ever by a pitcher in the event behind Nick Hedrick’s 4.66 from 1957. One of Jackson’s shutouts was a no-hitter with 18 strikeouts and three walks facing Scotland. In July 2034, the 28-year old from Sandy Springs, Georgia signed a seven-year, $193,200,000 extension to stay with the Vipers.

Three-time American Association MVP Alair White led the way offensively for the US. The Vancouver 1B had 30 hits, 29 runs, 5 doubles, 16 homers, 32 RBI, 20 walks, 1.084 OPS, 196 wRC+, and 2.2 WAR. The 25-year old lefty from Clarksdale, Mississippi was second in MVP voting behind Austria’s Eduard Heller. Heller had been only a two-year starter in the European Baseball Federation with Lyon.

The Austrian 1B in 22 starts had 36 hits, 24 runs, 16 home runs, 31 RBI, 13 walks, 84 total bases, .414/.500/.966 slash, 1.466 OPS, 300 wRC+, and 2.96 WAR. Heller’s WAR was the ninth-best ever by a position player in WBC history. He nearly had an unprecedented event Triple Crown, finishing only one RBI behind White and second in average behind only Italy’s Emilian Bohler at .500.

India’s Hari Zulfikkur won Best Pitcher. The 30-year old righty had won three straight Reliever of the Year awards in South Asia Baseball and was signed with Visakhapatnam for 2035. Zulfikkur tossed 26 innings with a 0.35 ERA, 3-0 record and 3 saves in six appearances, 43 Ks, 7 walks, and 2.0 WAR.

Other notes: Only the 13^th perfect game in WBC history came on January 5 from Kenya’s Leon Kamau with nine strikeouts against Moldova. That day also had a no-hitter from Portugal’s Panduru Firmino with 14 Ks and 3 BB facing Algeria. There were two other no-hitters, one was the before mentioned effort by Bo Jackson. The other was January 13 by Thailand’s Chaiyo Mokkhavesa with the unusual line of 4 Ks and 7 BB. Only once prior was there a no-hitter with more walks, as Italy’s Roberto Di Vaio walked eight in 1971 against New Zealand.

Poland reliever Marcin Olejnik set an event record with 18 appearances. Below are the updated all-time event stats:

09-17-2025, 08:31 AM	#2450
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,958	2035 World Baseball Championship The 2035 World Baseball Championship was the 89^th edition and returned to the United States, hosted in Dallas, Texas. The last time it was in WBC was 2025 in Orlando. In Division 1, last year’s third place finisher South Africa took first at 10-3, advancing for the third time in four years and fourth time overall. Belgium and Kazakhstan tied for second at 9-4 with both Australia and Bangladesh at 8-5. The Kazakhs advanced over the Belgians on the tiebreaker for their sixth playoff berth and first since 2027. The defending champion USA finished first in Division 2 at 11-2, advancing along with 10-3 France. Chad (9-4), Scotland (8-5) and Taiwan (8-5) were the closest competitors. The Americans advanced for the 66^th time and for the sixth consecutive year. The French moved forward for the 17^th time, ending a drought back to 2027. Poland dominated Division 3 and had the best record of any team at 12-1, earning back-to-back division titles and their 13^th overall. The second place slot with to 9-4 Pakistan, holding off 8-5 efforts by China and Cuba. The Pakistanis earned their 10^th playoff trip overall and their third in seven years. The 2034 runner-up Philippines claimed D4 at 10-3, advancing along with 9-4 Nicaragua. Just short by one game at 8-5 were Finland, Malaysia, and Venezuela. The Filipinos are now 18-time division champs. This was only the second-ever playoff berth for Nicaragua, whose only other one was way back in 1971. Japan, the fourth place finisher in 2034, was at 7-6 along with Cambodia and Madagascar. Division 5 was a complicated mess as Germany, India, Somalia, and Spain each finished 8-5. Ethiopia, Liberia, Sweden, and Zimbabwe were all right there too at 7-6. After tiebreakers were sorted, the Somalis took first and the Indians were second. Somalia got its second berth in three years and the Indians got their 15^th overall. Since 2024, India has advanced eight times, including in five of the last six editions. Austria won Division 6 at 10-3 with Russia second at 9-4. The first teams out at 8-5 were Myanmar and Vietnam. The Austrians earned their seventh playoff trip overall and second in three years. The Russians made it four straight years with their 20^th advancement overall. Switzerland won a top-heavy Division 7 at 10-3 for only their fifth division title. The Swiss hadn’t done it since 1990. Second place had a four-way tie at 9-4 between Colombia, Nigeria, South Korea, and Uganda. The tiebreakers favored the Koreans for their 21^st postseason appearance and second in five years. Lastly in Division 8, Brazil and Ukraine dominated the field each at 11-2. Distant third places at 8-5 were Indonesia, Israel, and Romania. The Brazilians were first place on the tiebreaker, advancing for the third straight year and 39^th time overall. The Ukrainians picked up a 16^th playoff trip and their second in four years. Ukraine rolled in Round Robin Group A at 5-1, while both the Philippines and South Africa were 3-3 and France was 1-5. The tiebreaker moved the South Africans into the quarterfinal. Poland was top dog at 4-2 in Group B with both Russia and South Korea 3-3 and Somalia at 2-4. The Russians would advance via the tiebreaker over the Koreans. Austria prevailed in Group C at 5-1 with India second outright at 3-3. Pakistan and Switzerland were both ousted at 2-4. And in Group D, the United States rolled at 5-1, advancing along with 4-2 Brazil. Kazakhstan missed at 3-3 and Nicaragua was the lone winless at 0-6. Russia won their quarterfinal 2-0 against rival Ukraine, sending the Russians to their first semifinal appearance since the 2001 runner-up finish. This was the tenth trip to the final four by Russia. The other three quarterfinal matchups needed all three games. The United States kept its repeat bid alive by besting India, securing a 58^th semifinal appearance. Brazil edged Austria for their 24^th final four berth and third in five years. Poland held off South Africa for an eighth semis appearance, having last done it as the 2028 runner-up. Both semis were 3-0 sweeps with the United States rolling Brazil and Poland pounding Russia. The Russians were officially third for the fourth time and the Brazilians earned fourth for the fifth time. The Poles earned their sixth finals appearance with the lone win back in 2018 over Iran. They had been defeated in 1959 by Canada, 1964 by the US, 2022 by Nigeria, and 2028 by England. The Americans held onto the throne and won the 89^th World Championship 4-1 over Poland. The United States had won just over half of the events to date with a 45-9 finals record. The American pitching staff had 441 strikeouts, second-best in event history. Their offense drew 128 walks, also the second-most. Las Vegas ace Bo Jackson led the way for the US pitching, although he was surprisingly third in Best Pitcher voting. In 50.1 innings, Jackson had a 0.72 ERA, 4-0 record, 74 strikeouts, 2 shutouts, and 3.7 WAR. The WAR mark was the second-best ever by a pitcher in the event behind Nick Hedrick’s 4.66 from 1957. One of Jackson’s shutouts was a no-hitter with 18 strikeouts and three walks facing Scotland. In July 2034, the 28-year old from Sandy Springs, Georgia signed a seven-year, $193,200,000 extension to stay with the Vipers. Three-time American Association MVP Alair White led the way offensively for the US. The Vancouver 1B had 30 hits, 29 runs, 5 doubles, 16 homers, 32 RBI, 20 walks, 1.084 OPS, 196 wRC+, and 2.2 WAR. The 25-year old lefty from Clarksdale, Mississippi was second in MVP voting behind Austria’s Eduard Heller. Heller had been only a two-year starter in the European Baseball Federation with Lyon. The Austrian 1B in 22 starts had 36 hits, 24 runs, 16 home runs, 31 RBI, 13 walks, 84 total bases, .414/.500/.966 slash, 1.466 OPS, 300 wRC+, and 2.96 WAR. Heller’s WAR was the ninth-best ever by a position player in WBC history. He nearly had an unprecedented event Triple Crown, finishing only one RBI behind White and second in average behind only Italy’s Emilian Bohler at .500. India’s Hari Zulfikkur won Best Pitcher. The 30-year old righty had won three straight Reliever of the Year awards in South Asia Baseball and was signed with Visakhapatnam for 2035. Zulfikkur tossed 26 innings with a 0.35 ERA, 3-0 record and 3 saves in six appearances, 43 Ks, 7 walks, and 2.0 WAR. Other notes: Only the 13^th perfect game in WBC history came on January 5 from Kenya’s Leon Kamau with nine strikeouts against Moldova. That day also had a no-hitter from Portugal’s Panduru Firmino with 14 Ks and 3 BB facing Algeria. There were two other no-hitters, one was the before mentioned effort by Bo Jackson. The other was January 13 by Thailand’s Chaiyo Mokkhavesa with the unusual line of 4 Ks and 7 BB. Only once prior was there a no-hitter with more walks, as Italy’s Roberto Di Vaio walked eight in 1971 against New Zealand. Poland reliever Marcin Olejnik set an event record with 18 appearances. Below are the updated all-time event stats: __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)