Japan's First WBC Title (2006)

The inaugural World Baseball Classic needed a great story, and Japan delivered one for the ages. Daisuke Matsuzaka — the most hyped Japanese pitcher since Nomo — was virtually unhittable throughout the tournament. Ichiro Suzuki, already an MLB legend, played with a passion and intensity that his Mariners fans had never seen.

Japan defeated Cuba 10-6 in the final at Petco Park, but the score does not tell the story. Japan had survived a double-elimination format, controversial calls, and a devastating pool-stage loss to South Korea that could have broken their spirit. Instead, they used it as fuel. Matsuzaka earned tournament MVP honors. Ichiro hit .364 and made the kind of defensive plays that belong in a different sport.

The 2006 WBC proved that the tournament was not a gimmick. Baseball was a global game, and Japan was its best team. The template for every WBC that followed was set in that first championship — passion, drama, and the revelation that players care about representing their countries far more than anyone expected.