USA – Japan, the reigning World Baseball Classic Champions, tops the first annual BaseballdeWorld rankings of the national baseball teams from across the globe. Compiled by Harding University Sports Information Director Scott Goode, only IBAF sponsored events count towards the tabulation of the system which is similar to the one used by the International Volleyball Federation.

The winning team in the World Cup, Olympics and World Baseball Classic receives 100 points, second gets 90, third 80 and so on. In the World University Games and the Intercontinental Cup, the points drop in half–winner gets 50, second 45, etc. There is also a category for the latest qualifying tournament – for most confederations it is the Olympic qualifying tournament. For teams in the Americas, the rankings will be updated following the Baseball Cup of the Americas.

Japan placed fourth at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, second at the World University Games, third at the 2007 World Cup, first at the World Baseball Classic, and fourth at the 2006 Intercontinental Cup to register a toal of 245.5 points. The United States is second with 239.9 points followed by Cuba (234.7), South Korea (231.4) and Taiwan (157.64).

The Netherlands (150.47) are the highest ranking European squad at number sixth followed by Canada (131.6), Mexico (96.5), Australia (77.31) and China (51.65) tounding out the top 10.

The following is the complete list of the top national baseball teams as of September 23, 2008.

11. Spain-51.5
12. Venezuela-47.2
13. Germany-47
14. Great Britain-45
15. Italy-40.3
16. Dominican Republic-38.1
17. South Africa-35.82
18. Puerto Rico-32.8
19. Czech Republic-32
20. Panama-31.98
21. France-30
22. Sweden-25, Lithuania-25
24. Nicaragua-20, Nigeria-20
26. Philippines-17.5
27. Croatia-15, Ghana-15
29. Brazil-14
30. Columbia-12
31. Ecuador-11
32. Aruba-10, Ukraine-10, Zimbabwe-10
35. Russia-9, Argentina-9
37. Austria-8, Bahamas-8
39. Guatemala-7, Thailand-7
41. Ireland-6
42. Belgium-5, Switzerland-5, Belarus-5, Lesotho-5
46. Slovakia-4, Slovenia-4, Poland-4, Finland-4, Hong Kong-4, Cameroon-4
52. San Marino-3, Georgia-3, Norway-3, Turkey-3, Pakistan-3
Photo/BaseballdeCuba.com

Tags: USA