Going...going...global--World Cup of baseball would be international coup.
03/31/03 - Posted 11:57:09 PM from the Daily Record newsroom Elaine Turner / Daily Record illustration By Staff Reports, <a href=news.google.com>Daily Record
On stoops and street corners during the 1950s, baseball fans in New York spent hours debating the merits of center fielders Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle and Duke Snider.
It was a discussion with no resolution because there didn’t have to be one. Mays played for the Giants, Mantle for the Yankees and Snider for the Dodgers.
But what if you had to pick just one to start for the United States in a winner-take-all world tournament?
That’s the attraction of a World Cup, an idea that has grabbed the attention of many decision-makers around baseball and could come to fruition in as soon as two years.
Forget Willie, Mickey and the Duke. Do you want Derek, Nomar or A-Rod?
“You hate to say it, but something like that could become bigger than the World Series,” Mets pitcher Tom Glavine said. “I know one thing: Everybody would want to play for their country, and it would be great for the game.”
Former Major League Baseball president Paul Beeston was among the first to advocate a World Cup, raising the idea seven years ago with little response. But commissioner Bud Selig now supports the concept.
“It works in soccer to an incredible degree and it would benefit baseball,” Selig said. “It’s something our people are working on.”
The World Cup is one idea on which Selig and MLB Players Association director Donald Fehr agree.
“It’s something which needs to happen,” said Fehr, a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee. “If baseball is going to grow worldwide — and everybody involved in the game wants it to — then one of the tried-and-true ways is through international competition and teams representing nations.”
The current model is for an eight- or 16-team tournament to be held in the United States in February or March 2005. There are baseball federations in 112 countries, making expansion of such a tournament inevitable as years pass and the pool of players expands.
“There are obstacles, but everybody seems to be for the idea,” said Paul Archey, MLB’s vice president for international affairs.
“Ownership, players, foreign leagues — they all want to do it. Now it’s a question of logistics.”
According to Archey, the key is finding a good time of the year and a format that could produce a deserving champion without overextending the players, particularly pitchers. The idea would meet with resistance from those players used to a certain routine.
“You need to get everybody on the same page, and that will take a lot of work,” Archey said. “But the payoff would be tremendous in terms of showcasing the best players to an international audience.”
Mets first baseman Mo Vaughn played for the U.S. national team in 1988 after his sophomore year at Seton Hall. Losing to the Cubans in the amateur World Championship still riles him.
“I would love another chance to play for my country,” he said. “I’d want to play in a second if they asked me.”
It’s a sentiment many of the best players in the game share.
“That’s something I’ve wanted to do, but it never worked out,” Yankees right-hander Roger Clemens said. “It’s one thing to represent the city you play for, but it’s a whole different game to represent your country. I don’t know if it would ever be possible, but it does cross your mind.”
Added Derek Jeter: “To talk with the people who have played in the Olympics, it’s a special feeling. Yeah, I’d love to do it.”
The U.S., based simply on its deep talent pool, would be favored. But in a tournament format, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Japan, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela would be formidable. South Korea and Canada would not be far behind.
“I’ve always wanted to see a game between the United States and the rest of the world,” said Mets second baseman Roberto Alomar, who is Puerto Rican. “But if they could do a World Cup like soccer, that’s the next best thing. Other countries would catch up like they did in basketball.”
International players, such as Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui, would welcome the exposure.
“If it’s a format where the best players in the world would play, then yes, I’d certainly want to play,” he said.
Expos outfielder Vladimir Guerrero smiled at the thought.
“Everybody in the Dominican would watch that game,” he said. “That would be bigger than anything.”
The possibilities are endless. Clemens and Mike Piazza in the same battery. Pedro Martinez starting for the Dominican Republic against the U.S. and Randy Johnson. Imagine the controversy when it comes to picking a manager.
“It’s fantasy baseball come to life,” Archey said. “People would love it.”
Staff Reports can be reached at (973) 428-6670.