The 1997 IBAF Intercontinental Cup was held in Barcelona, Spain from August 1 through to August 10, 1997. Eight countries contested the tournament including

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

, Australia,

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

Nicaragua Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is the largest country in Central America, bordered by Honduras to the north, the Caribbean to the east, Costa Rica to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Managua is the countr ...

, Japan,

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

United States of America The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territo ...

and the host

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

. The tournament was sanctioned by the

International Baseball Federation The International Baseball Federation (IBAF; Spanish: ''Federación Internacional de Béisbol'', French: ''Fédération internationale de baseball'') is the former worldwide governing body recognized by the International Olympic Committee as over ...

. The tournament saw the

Japan national baseball team The is the national team representing Japan in international baseball competitions. It won the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009, as well as WBSC Premier12 in 2019. The team is currently ranked 1st in the world by the World Baseball Softb ...

stun the

Cuba national baseball team The Cuba national baseball team (Spanish: ''Selección de béisbol de Cuba'') represents Cuba at regional and international levels. The team is made up from the most professional players from the Cuban national baseball system. Cuba has been de ...

in the final, 11-2, ending a 14-year tournament dominance which included 7 tournament golds. The tournament

MVP In team sports, a most valuable player award, abbreviated 'MVP award', is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual (or individuals, in the instance of a tie) whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a particu ...

was Australia's Paul Gonzalez.

All-Star team

* C: Gary White, Australia (.351/.368/.622) * 1B:

Orestes Kindelán Orestes Kindelán Olivares (born November 1, 1964) is the most prolific home run hitter in the history of post-revolutionary Cuban baseball, known as "El Cañon de Dos Rios" and one of the offensive stars of the Cuba national baseball team, whi ...

, Cuba .344/.417/.938, 6 HR, 10 R, 15 RBI) * 2B: Yosuke Takasu, Japan (.429/.478/.524) * SS:

Omar Linares Omar Linares Izquierdo (born October 23, 1968)B ...

, Cuba (.367/.444/.633, 9 RBI) * 3B: Paul Gonzalez, Australia (.571/.684/1.25, 5 HR, 9 BB, 8 R, 18 RBI) * OF:

Luis Ulacia Luis Ulacia Álvarez (born September 24, 1963, in Havana, Cuba) is a Cuban baseball player and Olympic gold and silver medalist. Ulacia has competed for the Cuba national baseball team. He is a two time Gold medalist for baseball, winning at t ...

, Cuba (.343/.400/.514, 10 R, 3 SB) * OF:

Yoshinobu Takahashi Yoshinobu Takahashi (高橋由伸, born April 3, 1975) is a Japanese former professional baseball player and manager. He spent his entire playing career with the Yomiuri Giants and served as the team's manager for three seasons. He graduated ...

, Japan (.419/.513/1.032, 3 3B, 4 HR, 7 BB, 13 R, 16 RBI) * OF: Chris Magruder, USA (.343/.412/.400, 8 R) * DH: Greg Jelks, Australia (.471/.538/1.088, 6 HR, 10 R, 12 RBI) * P:

Koji Uehara is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He previously played for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), as well as the Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (M ...

, Japan (2-0, 0.53) * P: Akio Shimizu, Japan (2-0, 1.64)

References

Intercontinental Cup (baseball) Intercontinental Cup

1997 File:1997 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The movie set of ''Titanic'', the highest-grossing movie in history at the time; '' Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'', is published; Comet Hale-Bopp passes by Earth and becomes one of ...

Intercontinental Cup (baseball) The Intercontinental Cup was a baseball tournament between the members of the then- International Baseball Federation (IBAF). It was first held in 1973 in Italy, and was held every other year following until 1999. After 1999, the tournament was ...

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