Baseball: Making a case for 2016

 Olympic fans might have to brush up on some new sports or they might rejoice at the return of some familiar ones as the International Olympic Committee's executive board meets this week in Berlin to analyze bids from seven sports vying for a spot on the docket at the 2016 Olympic Games.

IOC president Jacques Rogge said Friday in published reports that a review of seven sports --- baseball, golf, karate, rugby sevens, roller sports, softball and squash --- will take place Thursday at a board meeting before the opening ceremony at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Berlin.

The IOC will vote on Oct. 9 for a maximum of two sports to be added to the Games at the 121^st IOC Session and XIII Olympic Congress in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Softball and baseball had been part of the Olympic Games but were hit with a huge curveball in 2005 when the IOC voted to exclude the sports for the London 2012 Games. Both sports were part of the Olympic program last summer in Beijing. Golf was an Olympic sport once, back in 1904 in St. Louis.

Rugby sevens, squash, karate, golf and roller sports made bids to become Olympic sports back in 2005 but none of them earned required two-thirds majority vote. This time around, only a simple majority is required.

Today, we examine each of these sports as the vote for their inclusion approaches. 

Shane Victorino experienced the euphoric feeling of winning a World Series in 2008. It was an incredible journey capped by a parade filled with more than two million adoring fans cheering in downtown Philadelphia.

Topping a World Series title is tough. But there is one possibility that could rival that experience - playing for an Olympic gold medal.

"I think it would be cool to represent your country," said Victorino, an outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies. "To have Team USA splashed across your chest would be a special feeling. Winning a World Series was incredible last year. To say you can have a World Series and a gold medal would be even more incredible. I think it's a great idea. I hope it works."

Victorino has watched the Olympic Games through the years and always appreciated the dedication of the athletes.

"I always wondered what it would be like," Victorino said. "I was so fortunate to win a championship with the Phillies. Down the road, to be able to add a gold medal, well, I can picture what that must feel like. It's got to be a really cool thing."

International Baseball Federation President Harvey Schiller has been working tirelessly to have baseball reinstated for the 2016 Olympics as a medal sport. This week, he will find out if baseball is one of two finalists for inclusion. The International Olympic Committee will determine the fate of the finalists October 2 when it meets at the 121st IOC Session in Copenhagen, Denmark. The other sports hoping to make the final cut are golf, karate, roller sports, rugby sevens, softball and squash.

In a letter to the IOC, Schiller outlined the reasons he thinks baseball should be reinstated as an Olympic sport after the IOC voted to remove baseball (and softball) from the Olympic program after the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

He cited global growth of the game, specifically in the form of written endorsements from Olympic organizations in Asia, Oceania, Central and South America and Africa.

He also said the IBF is working to secure commitments from the future stars of the game who might be playing in the 2016 Olympic Games, one of the major sticking points from past Olympic baseball competitions.

"This is a very exciting time for baseball on a global level, perhaps the most exciting time in the sport's history in terms of growth, media attention and quality of play and training around the world," Schiller also wrote. "In our recent presentation to the IOC, the leaders of the sport again showed that we have effectively addressed all the issues put forth as to why baseball was removed from the Olympic program for 2012, and how we can work together to grow baseball and the Olympic movement together on a global basis for the next seven years and beyond."

One problem for including baseball into the Olympic program is that the Games are held while MLB is playing its regular-season games. The World Baseball Classic international baseball tournament has taken place with many of the world's top players during MLB's spring training-including the second ever WBC, which took place last spring.

But the regular season is a much different story. The NHL managed to negotiate a way for its stars to play in the Winter Olympic Games, but baseball hasn't had the same support.

Since 2000, Major League Baseball has sanctioned players outside the 25-man rosters of each team to participate in the Olympic Games, meaning the top players in the world did not compete in the Games.

Team USA captured the gold medal during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games as well as a bronze medal in 2008 in Beijing. If Team USA has an opportunity to go for the gold again in 2016-possibly in Chicago, one of the four finalists as the host city, which also will be determined at the 121st IOC Session-several top players said they would be thrilled to play in the Olympics.

"As kids, we all watched the Olympics on TV," said Baltimore Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts. "The story of the 1980 U.S. hockey team is legendary. If you could get the chance to compete in an Olympic Games, you'd have to seriously think about it. Team USA is all about unity."

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Scott Rolen echoed those thoughts.

"Winning a gold medal playing the sport you grew up playing would be some opportunity to be presented with," Rolen said. "After all, it's the Olympics. It's what you dream about as a kid. All of us have been playing since we were so young. If we were asked to play for our country, it would be very cool."

Another problem that has tarnished the sport's image is that so many of its stars have tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs --- Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees, Manny Ramirez of the Los Angeles Dodgers, among others. Testing at the Olympic Games is stringent.

Back in 2005, when baseball was voted out of the Olympic Games, IOC president Jacques Rogge said: "The message ... was that the IOC wanted the best athletes, universality and clean sport.'' Rogge said that he would take improvements made to the sport into consideration, but it appears doping issues have become more widespread than dwindling.

Softball, which also is fighting for reinstatement into the Olympic Games, has taken a swing at its close cousin, baseball. Not a single softball player has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

Baseball does have the "universality'' part, however, with top players in Major League Baseball coming from all parts of the globe, ranging from Japan to the Dominican Republic and Cuba.

And although it is commonly called the "American pastime,'' the United States has won just one gold medal in baseball in the Olympic Games, in 2000 in Sydney. Cuba has won the gold three times.

Baseball was introduced as an Olympic sport back in 1904 in St. Louis and was played on and off until it became an exhibition sport in 1984 when the Games were held in Los Angeles. Four years later, in Seoul, the sport was labeled a demonstration sport. Baseball became a medal sport in 1992, with Cuba winning the gold (the United States did not medal in those Games). In Beijing, the United States earned a bronze medal.

A new generation of baseball players might have a shot to rewrite the history books in 2016.

"It would be quite a dream to play in the Olympics," Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman said. "I've talked to other players who would be thrilled to play. Obviously, there would be details to work out. I would be honored to play for the U.S. and do everything I could to help my country win a gold medal. To have a gold medal placed around my neck and hear the national anthem ... wow, it would be very cool."

Story courtesy Red Line Editorial, Inc. Andy Jasner is a freelance contributor for teamusa.org. This story was not subject to the approval of the United States Olympic Committee or any National Governing Bodies.