"We are excited about the IOC's announcement restoring baseball and softball to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo," MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a news release. "Baseball and Softball are global sports that belong in the Olympics. We are grateful to the IOC executive board, the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee and the World Baseball Softball Confederation for their collective efforts, which will allow fans throughout the world to again enjoy Baseball and Softball on the Olympic stage."
Baseball has a sporadic history with the Olympics. Though the sport made its Olympic debut in 1904 and was played in several other Summer Games, it was only considered an exhibition through 1988.
Last time baseball was an Olympic sport (08) these guys won bronze. Strasburg,Fowler, Cahill, Arrieta. #mlb #Wbsc http://pic.twitter.com/ZLzpfQDGkU
— John Blundell (@JBMLBPR) August 3, 2016
Baseball became an official Olympic sport at the 1992 games with an eight-game tournament, and it was part of five consecutive Olympics before being voted out, along with softball, following the Beijing Games in 2008.
"Today's decision is an important milestone in the sport's history and a momentous day for baseball/softball's estimated 65 million athletes in over 140 countries, as well as millions more fans around the world," said WBSC president Riccardo Fraccari. "On behalf of the WBSC and all the athletes, I would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Tokyo 2020 leadership for putting their faith in our sport to begin with; to IOC president Thomas Bach, whose Olympic Agenda 2020 vision has made this opportunity a reality; and to all IOC members for recognizing the valuable contribution the sport can make to the Olympic Movement.
"A key part of baseball/softball's popularity is the universality of the sport. It offers an accessible route for young people all over the world to play and stay in sport."
The U.S. won the 1992 gold medal behind future Major Leaguers such as Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Giambi, Phil Nevin and Jason Varitek. The Americans also earned bronze in 1996 on their home soil in Atlanta, and in 2008. Cuba was the most successful country, winning the 1992, '96 and 2004 gold medals. The '08 gold medal was won by South Korea.
Softball made its Olympic debut in 1996 after several attempts to get included in the games. The U.S. won gold three of the four times, losing the gold-medal final to Japan in 2008.
Cash Kruth is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @cashkruth. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Baseball, softball to return to Olympics in 2020
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