Russian National Baseball Team

• Established: 1987, as the USSR National Baseball Team by the USSR Olympic Committee.  Adult.  Unlimited age.  Competed as the Russian National Team for the first time in 1993 following the dissolution of the USSR that took place after Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as the President of the USSR on December 25, 1991.
• Home: Moscow, Russia
• Manager: 2009 manager yet to be announced
• Status: Official representing baseball team of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), the Russian Baseball Federation (RBF), and the country of the Russian Federation in International Baseball Federation (IBAF) sanctioned events, tournaments, and championships that include, but are not limited to, the European Championships, the Baseball World Cup, and the Intercontinental Cup.
• Most Recent Competitions: 2007 European Championships in Barcelona, Spain (September 7-16, 2007) & 2008 European Championships in Abrantes, Portugal (July 9 - 12, 2008)
• Next Competition: 2009 Baseball World Cup - Hosting first round games at Moscow State University in  Moscow, Russia - www.2009baseballworldcup.com   -   (In the year 2009 “Europe” will be the host of the IBAF World Cup. For the first time in history the World Cup was not given to a certain country but to a whole continent. Seven European countries will be hosts (and therefore participants) of the tournament which includes 22 teams in total. The World Cup will take place from September 9th-27th 2009. www.baseballeurope.com)
• About: The Russian National Baseball Team is comprised of the best of the best of Russian baseball players.  2007 was the 20th Anniversary of baseball in Russia with championship on-field play starting from absolute scratch in the spring of 1987.  Since 1992 thirteen players from the former Soviet Union have signed minor league baseball contracts to play in the United States. Now the 2009 Russian National Team will have seven former or current minor league baseball players as candidates for the squad. Currently in the United States there are two Russian pitchers in minor league baseball; Left-handed pitcher Andrei Lobanov (6'3" 175lbs.) of the Gulf Coast Twins (Florida), and Right-handed pitcher Viacheslav Vasilyev (6'3" 195lbs.) of the Rockford RiverHawks (Illinois).

The Russian Baseball Federation fields Russian National Baseball Teams in the below age groups that also represent Russia in official IBAF sanctioned competitions.

• 21 and Under
• 18 and Under
• 16 and Under
• 14 and Under

Check back soon for 2009 updates on the Russian National Baseball Teams of all ages.