Panama national baseball team

The Panama national baseball team (Spanish: Selección de béisbol de Panamá) is the baseball team that represents Panama at an international level. Along with Nicaragua, they are considered to be the best baseball team in Central America, and one of the best in Latin America. Panama has medalled at multiple international tournaments at both junior and senior levels throughout the sport's history, including one silver medal and two bronze medals at the Baseball World Cup. They are currently the 14th ranked baseball team in the world.

History

Towns including Colón and Panama City in the Canal Zone had one or more clubs in which British West Indian middling classes played cricket. Cricket became a prime symbol of what Afro-Caribbeans knew made them “Britishers.” As decolonization progressed, the popularity of baseball increased in Panama. The similarity in skills required for cricket and baseball meant that an athlete who primarily practiced one sport could also excel in the other. Oscar Levy was a baseball player who had left Panama in 1920 for the United States. In 1928 the Panama Tribune reported on the success of “famous local pitcher” Chick Levy as a “hero in Cuba.”

Panama was placed in Pool C of the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006, playing at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Puerto Rico. In their opening game, they fell to hosts, 2-1, before losing to Cuba, 8-6, in extra innings. They concluded play with a 10-0, 7-inning loss to Netherlands, failing to get a hit off Dutch pitcher Shairon Martis.

Panama once again was sent to Puerto Rico for the 2009 World Baseball Classic, this time as part of the double-elimination Pool D. They opened their campaign with a 7-0 defeat to Puerto Rico, setting up an elimination game against the Dominican Republic, which they lost 9-0. Having failed to score a single run, Panama finished in 15th place overall, just ahead of South Africa.

After finishing last in their pool for the 2009 Classic, Panama was forced to qualify for the 2013 edition. They were selected as the host for Qualifier 3 and were favored to qualify. However, they were upset by Brazil, 3-2, in their opener. After defeating Nicaragua and Colombia in elimination matches, they faced off with Brazil again. Despite having multiple Major League Baseball players to Brazil's one, Panama fell again, 1-0, and missed the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Panama was again forced to qualify for the 2017 edition. They were selected as the host for Qualifier 3. After defeating France in their opener they fell to Colombia. After defeating France again, they set up a rematch with Colombia but lost the elimination game after Colombia's Dilson Herrera hit a late homer.

Panama requalified for the 2023 World Baseball Classic, after again hosting the Americas qualifying tournament at Rod Carew National Stadium.

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of professional baseball match results currently active in the latest version of the WBSC World Rankings, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Legend

  Win   Lose   Void or postponed   Fixture

2019

2022

2023

Current roster

International Tournaments

Baseball World Cup

• Silver  : 2003
• Bronze  : 1945, 2005

Central American Games

• Gold  : 1997, 2010
• Silver  : 1977, 2013, 2017

Intercontinental Cup

• Bronze  : 2002

Central American and Caribbean Games

• Silver  : 1935, 1938, 2002
• Bronze  : 1930, 1959, 1982

U-15 Baseball World Cup

• Silver  : 2018
• 2016: 4th

U-23 Baseball World Cup

• 2016: 4th
• 2021: 5th

Bolivarian Games

• Gold  : 2001, 2009, 2013
• Silver  : 1981, 1985, 1989, 2017
• Bronze  : 1951, 1961, 1965, 1970, 1973

References

External links

• Connor, Joe, Welcome to Panama. ESPN (MLB), January 17, 2006. Retrieved 2009-12-16.