Blind Baseball
Blind baseball is growing across the UK. As evidence of this growth, and as a foundation for continued growth, the UK will be hosting the WBSC Blind Baseball International Cup 2024 at Farnham Park from 27th to 29th September. This largest ever blind baseball competition will feature an expanded lineup of nine teams, including defending International and European champions, Italy.
Find out all about the event here
Great Britain Blind Baseball
In 2022, the first ever WBSC Blind Baseball International Cup was held at Beek in the Netherlands, featuring teams from the Netherlands, Italy, France, Germany, and Great Britain competing over the course of two days.
After a short but intensive preparation programme, GB headed to Beek with high hopes. Their hard work paid off immediately with an unprecedented draw against favourites Italy in the opening game of the tournament. A powerful display against France sent GB to a semi-final game against the USA, where a tight 3-2 victory set up a rematch with Italy in the gold medal game.
Although the final didn’t go GB’s way, achieving a silver medal demonstrated the progress and determination of the GB squad.
2023 saw the first ever WBSC Blind Baseball European Championships, held at Bologna in Italy. GB narrowly lost out on a place in the gold medal game after one of the greatest games of blind baseball ever played. Tied 1-1 with the Netherlands after the regulation five innings, the game went to two extra innings before the Dutch plated a second run. GB could not convert their scoring chances, and the Dutch ran out 2-1 winners.
GB bounced back from this heartbreak immediately, soundly beating France to bring home the bronze medal, the second medal for GB in two tournaments.
In 2024, the second International Cup will take place at Farnham Park from 27th to 29th September. The event will be organised by WBSC, hosted by BBF and BSUK, and supported by AIBxC.
The Great Britain squad has been selected with players from Hartlepool, Liverpool, Manchester, and Sheffield, and represents a combination of experience and new talent. The squad is working hard to deliver their best performances on home soil, and are keen to build on previous success.
The International Cup is also an exciting step forward for the entire baseball community in the UK, representing the first international-level baseball event hosted in the UK for more than 25 years.
British Blind Baseball Team Contacts
Manchester Baseball Club: www.manchesterbaseballclub.co.uk
Liverpool Trojans: www.trojansbaseball.co.uk
Sheffield Strikers: Facebook
Hartlepool: Details to follow
Blind Baseball CYMRU: www.facebook.com/blindbaseballcymru
Preston Galloways: www.galloways.org.uk
Other contacts
Britishbaseball4blind@gmail.com or gb.blindbaseball@gmail.com
