1996 Olympic Baseball Tournament Recap

Originally published on Feb. 22, 2021

By Zane Miller

On Friday, August 2nd, 1996, Cuba defeated Japan 13-9 to win the first gold medal in Olympic baseball history. It was the second gold medal for Cuba in Olympic baseball. Japan picked up the silver medal, as the United States took bronze with a 10-3 victory over Nicaragua. The tournament was held in the United States, with Atlanta as the host city.

1996 Final Standings

1. Cuba (7-0, 1.000) (Gold)

2. Japan (4-3, .571) (Silver)

3. United States (6-1, .857) (Bronze)

4. Nicaragua (4-3, .571)

5. Netherlands (2-5, .286)

6. Italy (2-5, .286)

7. Australia (2-5, .286)

8. South Korea (1-6, .143)

Game Results

Medalists final game starting lineups

Cuba starting lineup

1. #24 Jose Estrada- CF

2. #1 Luis Ulacia- RF

3. #10 Omar Linares- 3B

4. #46 Orestes Kindelan- DH

5. #47 Antonio Pacheco- 2B

6. #20 Lazaro Vargas- 1B

7. #18 Miguel Caldes- LF

8. #45 Juan Manrique- C

9. #4 Eduardo Paret- SS

    #23 Omar Luis- P

 

Japan starting lineup

1. #24 Takayuki Takabayashi- RF

2. #8 Yasuyuki Saigo- LF

3. #27 Yoshitomo Tani- CF

4. #3 Nobuhiko Matsunaka- 1B

5. #9 Hideaki Okubo- C

6. #25 Tomoaki Sato- DH

7. #7 Tadahito Iguchi- SS

8. #4 Makoto Imaoka- 2B

9. #1 Kosuke Fukudome- 3B

    #19 Masanori Sugiura- P

 

United States starting lineup

1. #8 Jason Williams- SS

2. #7 Mark Kotsay- LF

3. #19 Jacque Jones- CF

4. #16 Travis Lee- 1B

5. #33 Matt LeCroy- DH

6. #9 Chad Allen- RF

7. #25 Troy Glaus- 3B

8. #17 AJ Hinch- C

9. #4 Warren Morris- 2B

    #29 Seth Greisinger- P

Link to stats database: https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/35754/rec/3