The International BAseball Federation History
IV
Carlos Garcia
In 1974, FEMBA organized the 23rd Baseball World Cup in St. Petersburg, USA - the first time it had been held in the United States. Nicaragua and the USA, with just one defeat each, tied for first place in the nine team competition. In the best-of-three playoffs, the USA, despite losing the first game, eventually defeated their Central American rivals.

The 1975 Intercontinental Cup took place in Montreal and Moncton, Canada, and Carlos J. García was elected President at the FEMBA Congress.

In 1976, thanks to the intercession of Mario Vázquez Raña, President of the Mexican Olympic Committee, the leaders of the two organizations, FIBA and FEMBA, met in Mexico with the aim of smoothing out difficulties and finding solutions to their differences. The meeting was a success and led to the establishment of a single body under the name of the International Baseball Association (AINBA). Manuel González Guerra of Cuba was elected President and Carlos J. García Vice-President. The historic reconciliation took place on January 4, 1976.

It was announced in early 1978 that the 1984 Olympic Games were to take place in Los Angeles and with the help of Peter O’Malley, President and owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, an AINBA meeting was organized in that city and attended by practically all the delegates from the 37 countries affiliated with the International Federation. The possibilities offered by the idea of Olympic Baseball ensured that a united front could be formed and that same year during a session held in Tunis, the International Olympic Committee officially recognized the AINBA as the sole international Baseball body.

Breaking new ground again, the Baseball World Cup was held in Europe for the first time. Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the European Baseball Federation, later renamed as the European Baseball Confederation, and of the Asian Baseball Federation (ABF), the 25th Baseball World Cup was held in Italy with another important debut: Oceania was represented for the first time with the appearance of Australia. Cuba again dominated, taking the title, followed by the United States in second place.

The next Baseball World Cup, the 26th, took place in 1980 and for the first time in Asia, with Japan as the host. The AINBA Congress elected Robert E. Smith of the USA as President.

Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles was the venue for the 1984 Olympic demonstration tournament, organized with the inestimable help of the club - the first to realize the importance of international activity and cooperation for the international development of Baseball. The tournament, won by Japan, was watched by an average stadium crowd of 48,000, making Baseball the third-most popular sport in terms of attendance.
Manuel Gonzalez Guerra

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