WBSC Europe

The World Baseball Softball Confederation Europe, known as WBSC Europe, was established on February 10, 2018, during a Congress of the Confederation of European Baseball and the European Softball Federation in Val d’Europe, France. the establishment of WBSC Europe followed the historic merger of the Confederation of European Baseball (CEB) and the European Softball Federation (ESF).^[1] As of September 2022, WBSC Europe counts 40 members for baseball and 39 for softball.^[2]

World Baseball Softball Confederation Europe

The logo of World Baseball Softball Confederation Europe
Abbreviation	WBSC Europe
Type	International sport federation
Purpose	Sport governing body
Headquarters	Lausanne, Switzerland
Region served	Europe
Membership	41
Official language	English
President	Krunoslav Karin
Parent organization	World Baseball Softball Confederation
Website	https://www.wbsceurope.org/en

The CEB was founded in 1953 with 5 members, which were Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy and Spain.^[3]

The CEB was responsible for operating the European Baseball Championship, a championship that has been running since 1954 in Europe.^[4] In 2010, there were 112,303 players in the CEB countries.^[5]

The ESF was founded in 1976 with 6 members, which were Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, and Spain.^[6]

The ESF was responsible for operating the European Softball Championships.^[7]

WBSC Europe History

On February 14, 2018, in Paris, France, the delegates of 38 National Baseball and Softball Federations approved the merger of the Confederation of European Baseball (CEB) and the European Softball Federation (ESF) at the joint European Baseball Softball Congress in Paris, France.^[8]

In reaction to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, WBSC Europe relocated competitions that had been scheduled to be held in Russia during 2022, and excluded Russian and Belarusian teams from all its 2022 competitions.^[9]

CEB History

In April 1953 in Paris, France, 5 countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Spain) gave birth to the European Baseball Federation, originally named in French Féderation Européenne de Baseball (FEB). The first Executive Committee was formed by President Steno Borghese of Italy, Secretary General Roger Panaye of Belgium and Vice President and head of the Technical Commission Luis Barrio of Spain.

In 1954 the first European Championship was played in Belgium and Italy claimed the victory.

The sixth member country, the Netherlands, was accepted at the 1956 Congress in Milan.

In 1957 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sweden became the seventh member, and FEB became an eight-country federation in London in 1960 when Great Britain was accepted.

In 1963 FEB launched their first club competition. The first European champion of the club competition was Picadero Barcelona.

In 1967 the federations of Italy and the Netherlands announced their withdrawal from FEB and founded a new Federation: Fédération Amateur Baseball. In April 1969 the two Federations re-entered FEB.

In 1971 another Italian, Bruno Beneck, succeeded Steno Borghese during the Congress held in Milan. San Marino was accepted as the ninth member.

In 1972 the organization changed its name to European Amateur Baseball Confederation or CEBA, according to the French Confederation Européenne de Baseball Amateur.

In 1974 the first U-18 European Championship for players of age 18 and under was played. The first title went to the Netherlands. The Dutch also claimed the first U-16 title in 1975. In 1979, during the Congress in Trieste, Italy, Denmark was accepted as the 10th member.

There were already 15 member countries when, in 1985, during the Congress in Zandvoort, Netherlands, Guus Van der Heiden of the Netherlands succeeded Bruno Beneck as the president.

When Van der Heiden died, Italian Federation President Aldo Notari was elected as the 4th president of the organization during the 1987 Congress in Barcelona.

During the 1990s the number of member countries increased dramatically up to 33 by 1994, at which time it was decided to drop the word Amateur from the name of the Confederation, known since then as CEB: Confederation Européenne du Baseball in French and Confederation of European Baseball in English. CEB also created the Cup Winners Cup in 1990 and the CEB Cup in 1993.

Martin Miller of Germany, who had been part of the executive since 1995, succeeded Aldo Notari (who was nominated Honorary President) in 2005, during the Congress in Prague. Miller was confirmed as president during the 2009 Congress in San Marino. During Miller's presidency, the number of European Cups for Clubs was reduced to two. Starting in the 2009 season, only a single European Cup for Clubs is played.

Miller resigned from the presidency during the 2012 Congress in Rotterdam. Petr Ditrich of the Czech Republic was the interim president until the 2013 Congress in Bled, Slovenia, that elected Jan Esselman of the Netherlands as the new president.

ESF History

In 1976 in Rome, Italy, 6 countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Spain) gave birth to the European Softball Federation (ESF). The first Executive Committee was formed by President Bruno Benek of Italy and Secretary General Theo Vleeshhouwer of Netherlands.^[10]

WBSC World Rankings

Baseball

WBSC Men's Rankings (as of 31 December 2022)^[11] Europe* WBSC +/- National Team Points 1 7   1   Netherlands 2468 2 15   1   Czech Republic 1309 3 16   1   Italy 1206 4 18     Germany 1071 5 19     Spain 806 6 20     Israel 702 7 21   1   France 672 8 22   2   Great Britain 450 9 24   1   Belgium 412 10 26   4   Austria 305 11 27   1   Russia 266 12 31   1   Croatia 227 13 32   3   Ukraine 210 14 34   1   Slovakia 170 15 35   2   Lithuania 165 16 36   2   Greece 136 17 37   3   Sweden 116 18 42   8   Switzerland 84 19 47   5   Hungary 73 20 48   5   Belarus 65 21 49   5   Serbia 64 22 51   10   Ireland 60 23 56   3   Poland 42 24 57   11   Bulgaria 40 25 63   6   Finland 31 26 66   4   Slovenia 23 27 70   14   Romania 20 28 73   7   Norway 17 29 79   6   Turkey 3 30 81   7   Estonia 2 *Local rankings based on WBSC ranking points

WBSC Women's Rankings (as of 31 December 2021)^[12] Europe* WBSC +/- National Team Points 1 13     Netherlands 155 2 16     France 100 3 20     Czech Republic 10 *Local rankings based on WBSC ranking points

Softball

WBSC Men's Softball Rankings (as of 31 December 2022)^[13] Europe* WBSC +/- National Team Points 1 6   1   Czech Republic 2221 2 11   1   Denmark 1069 3 16   2   Netherlands 412 4 20   2   Croatia 182 5 21   2   Israel 181 6 23     France 156 7 26     Slovakia 76 8 30   2   Sweden 50 9 32   11   Great Britain 26 10 33   1   Lithuania 24 *Local rankings based on WBSC ranking points

WBSC Women's Rankings (as of 31 December 2022)^[14] Europe* WBSC +/- National Team Points 1 7   4   Czech Republic 1789 2 8   1   Italy 1776 3 10     Netherlands 1498 4 11   6   Spain 936 5 12   8   Israel 844 6 14   4   France 791 7 15   6   Germany 779 8 16   4   Great Britain 761 9 17   2   Ireland 710 10 20   6   Poland 608 11 21   10   Greece 591 12 23   5   Croatia 504 13 24   5   Austria 498 14 25   7   Ukraine 453 15 26   11   Slovakia 439 16 29   5   Russia 362 17 30   4   Belgium 303 18 32   3   Denmark 267 19 34   8   Switzerland 256 20 44   4   Sweden 128 21 45   1   Lithuania 112 22 48     Malta 95 23 49   4   Hungary 94 24 51   3   Turkey 80 25 52     Finland 73 26 54   10   Bulgaria 65 *Local rankings based on WBSC ranking points

Baseball5

WBSC Baseball5 Rankings (as of 12 January 2023)^[15]

Europe*	WBSC	+/-	National Team	Points
1	3		France	1650
2	7		Lithuania	1213
3	10		Italy	819
4	13		Netherlands	714
5	14		Romania	710
6	15		Czech Republic	600
7	16		Belgium	532
8	17		Russia	528
9	19		Bulgaria	466
10	20		Turkey	465
11	21		Israel	434
12	22		Belarus	420
13	27		Estonia	276
14	30		Moldova	253
15	31		Latvia	251
16	32		Germany	223
17	36		Greece	188
18	39		Switzerland	96
19	40		Sweden	60
*Local rankings based on WBSC ranking points

Historical leaders

Highest Ranked Europe member in the WBSC Rankings

Men's baseball

Women's baseball

Men's softball

Women's softball

Championships

Baseball Men's European Baseball Championship European Under-23 Baseball Championship U-18 European Baseball Championship U-15 European Baseball Championship U-12 European Baseball Championship Women's European Baseball Championship Women Club European Cup (baseball) Defunct European Champion Cup Final Four European Under-21 Baseball Championship Super 6 Baseball and Softball

Softball Men's Men's Softball European Championship U-23 Men's Softball European Championship U-18 Men's Softball European Championship U-16 Men's Softball European Championship Men's Slowpitch European Championship Women's ESF Women's Championship U-22 Men's Softball European Championship U-18 Men's Softball European Championship U-15 Men's Softball European Championship Coed ESF Co-Ed Slowpitch European Championships Club Men’s Softball European Super Cup Women’s Softball European Cup Coed Slowpitch European Cup Defunct ESF Women's Division B Championship

Baseball5 Baseball5 European Championship U-17 Baseball5 European Championship

Current title holders

See also: Portal:Current events/Sports, 2023 in baseball, and 2023 in sports

Competition		Year	Host country	Champions	Title	Runners-up		Next edition	Dates
Baseball
European Baseball Championship		2021	Italy	Netherlands	24th	Israel		2023	24 September - 1 October
European Under-23 Baseball Championship		2021	Italy	Netherlands	1st	Germany		2023	8-12 August
U-18 European Baseball Championship		2022	Czech Republic	Spain	1st	Netherlands		2024
U-15 European Baseball Championship		2021	Czech Republic	Czech Republic	3rd	France		2023	18-22 July
U-12 European Baseball Championship		2022	Austria	Germany	2nd	Czech Republic		2023	5-9 July
Women's European Baseball Championship		2022	France	France	1st	Czech Republic		2024
Softball
Men's Softball European Championship		2021	Czech Republic	Czech Republic	11th	Denmark		2023	24-29 July
U-23 Men's Softball European Championship		2022	Czech Republic	Czech Republic		Denmark		2025
U-18 Men's Softball European Championship		2021	Czech Republic	Czech Republic	9th	Denmark		2023	3-8 July
U-16 Men's Softball European Championship		2021	Czech Republic	Czech Republic		Israel		2023	3-8 July
Women's Softball European Championship		2022	Spain	Netherlands	11th	Great Britain		2024
U-22 Women's Softball European Championship		2022	Czech Republic	Italy		Czech Republic		2024
U-18 Women's Softball European Championship		2021	Czech Republic	Czech Republic	2nd	Italy		2023	30 July - 5 August
U-15 Women's Softball European Championship		2022	Netherlands	Czech Republic		Italy		2024
Men's Slowpitch European Championship		2022	Italy	Great Britain		Netherlands		2024
ESF Co-Ed Slowpitch European Championships		2022	Slovenia	Great Britain	12th	Germany		2024
Baseball5
Baseball5 European Championship		2020	Lithuania	France	1st	Lithuania		2023	7-11 November
U-17 Baseball5 European Championship		2022	Bulgaria	France		Turkey		2024
Club
European Cup		2022	Germany	Parma	15th	Amsterdam Pirates		2023	6-10 June
Men’s Softball European Super Cup		2022	Czech Republic	Oslo Alligators		Hørsholm Von Holmbäck Hurricanes		2023	28 August - 2 September
Women’s Softball European Cup		2022	Italy	Stabroek Chicaboo's		A.S.D. Avigliana Rebels		2023	23-26 August
Coed Slowpitch European Cup		2021	Bulgaria	Waynes Pardubice		UCE Travellers		2023

Members

Baseball

Code	Association	National teams	Founded	Member since	Membership	IOC member	Note
ARM	Armenia	(M, W)	2005	2005	Full	Yes
AUT	Austria	(M, W)	1983	1983	Full	Yes
BLR	Belarus	(M, W)	1992	1994	Full	Yes
BEL	Belgium	(M, W)	1975	1953	Full	Yes
BUL	Bulgaria	(M, W)	1988	1992	Full	Yes
CRO	Croatia	(M, W)	1986	1992	Full	Yes
CYP	Cyprus	(M, W)		1999	Full	Yes
CZE	Czech Republic	(M, W)	1992	1993	Full	Yes
DEN	Denmark	(M, W)	2008	1979	Full	Yes
EST	Estonia	(M, W)	2016	1992	Full	Yes
FIN	Finland	(M, W)	1981	1981	Full	Yes
FRA	France	(M, W)	1924	1953	Full	Yes
GEO	Georgia	(M, W)		1992	Full	Yes
GER	Germany	(M, W)	1950	1953	Full	Yes
GBR	Great Britain	(M, W)	1987	1960	Full	Yes
GRE	Greece	(M, W)	1997	1999	Full	Yes
HUN	Hungary	(M, W)	1992	1993	Full	Yes
IRL	Ireland	(M, W)	1989	1994	Full	Yes
ISR	Israel	(M, W)	1986	1995	Full	Yes
ITA	Italy	(M, W)		1969^[a]	Full	Yes
KOS	Kosovo	(M, W)	2006		Full	Yes
LAT	Latvia	(M, W)	2007	2009	Full	Yes
LTU	Lithuania	(M, W)	1992	1992	Full	Yes
MLT	Malta	(M, W)	1983	1983	Full	Yes
MDA	Moldova	(M, W)		1993	Full	Yes
NED	Netherlands	(M, W)	1912	1969^[b]	Full	Yes
NOR	Norway	(M, W)	1991	1993	Full	Yes
POL	Poland	(M, W)	1978	1990	Full	Yes
POR	Portugal	(M, W)		1994	Full	Yes
ROU	Romania	(M, W)	1990	1991	Full	Yes
RUS	Russia	(M, W)	1987	1992	Full	Yes
SMR	San Marino	(M, W)	1969	1971	Full	Yes
SRB	Serbia	(M, W)	2006	2006	Full	Yes
SVK	Slovakia	(M, W)		1993	Full	Yes
SLO	Slovenia	(M, W)		1992	Full	Yes
ESP	Spain	(M, W)	1944	1953	Full	Yes
SWE	Sweden	(M, W)	1956	1957	Full	Yes
SUI	Switzerland	(M, W)		1982	Full	Yes
TUR	Turkey	(M, W)	2001	2001	Full	Yes
UKR	Ukraine	(M, W)	1992	1992	Full	Yes

Softball

Code	Association	National teams	Founded	Member since	Membership	IOC member	Note
AUT	Austria	(M, W)	1983	1983	Full	Yes
BEL	Belgium	(M, W)	1975	1953	Full	Yes
BUL	Bulgaria	(M, W)	1988	1992	Full	Yes
CRO	Croatia	(M, W)	1994	1992	Full	Yes
CYP	Cyprus	(M, W)		1999	Full	Yes
CZE	Czech Republic	(M, W)	1963	1993	Full	Yes
DEN	Denmark	(M, W)	1978	1979	Full	Yes
FIN	Finland	(M, W)	1981	1981	Full	Yes
FRA	France	(M, W)	1924	1953	Full	Yes
GEO	Georgia	(M, W)		1992	Full	Yes
GER	Germany	(M, W)	1950	1953	Full	Yes
GBR	Great Britain	(M, W)	1988	1960	Full	Yes
GRE	Greece	(M, W)	1997	1999	Full	Yes
GGY	Guernsey	(M, W)	1950	1953	Provisonal	No	^[Note 1]
HUN	Hungary	(M, W)	1992	1993	Full	Yes
IRL	Ireland	(M, W)	1989	1994	Full	Yes
ISR	Israel	(M, W)	1979	1995	Full	Yes
ITA	Italy	(M, W)		1969^[c]	Full	Yes
KOS	Kosovo	(M, W)	2006		Full	Yes
LTU	Lithuania	(M, W)	2014	1992	Full	Yes
MLT	Malta	(M, W)	1983	1983	Full	Yes
MDA	Moldova	(M, W)		1993	Full	Yes
NED	Netherlands	(M, W)	1912	1969^[d]	Full	Yes
NOR	Norway	(M, W)	1991	1993	Full	Yes
POL	Poland	(M, W)	1978	1990	Full	Yes
ROU	Romania	(M, W)	1990	1991	Full	Yes
RUS	Russia	(M, W)	1987	1992	Full	Yes
SMR	San Marino	(M, W)	1969	1971	Full	Yes
SRB	Serbia	(M, W)	2005	2006	Full	Yes
SVK	Slovakia	(M, W)	1991	1993	Full	Yes
SLO	Slovenia	(M, W)		1992	Full	Yes
ESP	Spain	(M, W)	1944	1953	Full	Yes
SWE	Sweden	(M, W)	1956	1957	Full	Yes
SUI	Switzerland	(M, W)		1982	Full	Yes
TUR	Turkey	(M, W)	2001	2001	Full	Yes
UKR	Ukraine	(M, W)	1992	1992	Full	Yes

Former members

Association	Baseball National teams	Softball National teams	Years
Czechoslovakia	(M, W)	(M, W)	1989–1993
Iceland	(M, W)	(M, W)
Serbia and Montenegro	(M, W)	(M, W)	1996–2006
Soviet Union	(M, W)	(M, W)	1996–2006
Tunisia	(M, W)	(M, W)	1957–1962
Yugoslavia	(M, W)	(M, W)	1983–1992

Notes

1. Crown Dependencies of United Kingdom.

1. Member from 1953 to 1967 as well.
2. Member from 1956 to 1967 as well.
3. Member from 1953 to 1967 as well.
4. Member from 1956 to 1967 as well.

See also

• European Softball Federation
• European Baseball Championship
• European Cup (baseball)

References

1. "WBSC Europe".
2. "WBSC Europe - The official site". www.wbsceurope.org.
3. "CEB History 1953-2005 | CEB".
4. "CEB History 1953-2005 | CEB".
5. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2011.
6. "History | European Softball Federation".
7. "About Softball Europe | European Softball Federation".
8. "WBSC Europe".
9. "Russian and Belarusian teams excluded from all the WBSC Europe 2022 competitions". WBSC Europe.
10. "History | European Softball Federation".
11. "The WBSC World Ranking". WBSC. 31 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
12. "The WBSC Women's Baseball World Ranking". WBSC. 31 December 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
13. "The WBSC Men's Softball World Ranking". WBSC. 31 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
14. "The WBSC Women's World Ranking". WBSC. 31 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
15. "The WBSC Baseball5 World Ranking". WBSC. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.

Further reading

• Chetwynd, Josh (2008). . 344 pp. (77 photos). Print ISBN 978-0-7864-3724-5; EBook ISBN 978-0-7864-5175-3

External links

• WBSC Europe website
• Confederation of European Baseball website
• European Softball Federation website