Tokyo
Ecstatic fans around the country filled bars and celebrated in the streets, following Japan’s win over Cuba this week to take the title in the first World Baseball Classic. Sixteen teams from across the world competed in the international tournament, the first to include major-league players. The U.S. was knocked out before the semi-finals, in an upset by Mexico, but American fans could root for some of their favorite stars playing for other countries. “This is probably the biggest moment in my baseball career,” said Ichiro Suzuki, an outfielder for the Seattle Mariners, who suited up for the Japanese team. “I was always thinking we would need a good event to decide the world’s best in baseball.”
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