World Baseball Classic: Baseball's Breath of Fresh Air

March is upon us, and the World Baseball Classic is set to take place. Spread out over four venues around the world, fans in San Juan, Houston, Tokyo, and Miami will have the opportunity to see professional baseball players represent their countries and play for pride as they wear their country's colors. The tournament is baseball's closest equivalent to soccer's World Cup, or basketball's Olympic tournament. This year's tournament, the 5th edition of the World Baseball Classic, may very well be the most exciting iteration yet.

For me this tournament holds very special and vivid memories. I remember the very first edition of the tournament, and the anticipation that pervaded throughout the island of Puerto Rico. San Juan was slated to host several of the games at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium, which is not far from where me and my family lived. There were many promotions to be found. One such promotion, organized by Burger King, consisted of giving out poker-like trading chips featuring players taking part in the tournament. I ended up collecting many of the Puerto Rican and Dominican player chips, which are pictured above.

This tournament has become recognized for the intense passion and exuberance displayed by the fans in the stands. From the Japanese fans in Tokyo to Puerto Rican and other Caribbean fans, these crowds add an element that you simply cannot find in your average Major League Baseball game. For these fans, it just means more.

The World Baseball Classic arrives amid turbulent times for the sport. The current atmosphere is far from rosy. There is an air of rancor throughout Major League Baseball. The specter of an impending lockout looms over the sport. Fans have never felt more angst, watching the Los Angeles Dodgers and their billion-dollar squads dominate as most other teams wave the white flag. Owners of so-called "small market" teams refuse to invest the necessary funds for their teams to be competitive. They point to the Dodgers and claim that it is impossible to keep up with their spending. There is truth in what they say, but nevertheless what these owners are doing is a disservice to their fans and their cities that in many cases subsidize their stadiums with public funding.

There is no professional sports league in North America that is more marred by inequality than MLB. Whereas NFL, NBA, NHL and MLS teams can reasonably foresee a path to a championship regardless of finances, this simply does not translate to Major League Baseball. This also trickles down to attendance and general fan engagement--when the on-field product suffers, apathy can rise among the fans.

MLB's dysfunction has even managed to hurt the tournament. As a result of MLB teams refusing to allow uninsured players to participate in the tournament, several notable stars including Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve are unable to play for their nations. Something that would be unfathomable for the World Cup and the Olympics proves to be a very difficult reality for the World Baseball Classic and its teams.

In spite of these growing pains, the tournament has only kept improving. The four groups of five teams are in my opinion the most competitively balanced groups yet. The top teams are stacked, and countries with unheralded baseball cultures such as Brazil and Czech Republic have an opportunity to write a new chapter in their respective histories.

This will be a uniquely special opportunity for the Puerto Rican team and its fans. Though not as fancied as some of the other favorites, I believe that Puerto Rico's home field advantage will be a major asset. There are few atmospheres that can match what the Puerto Rican fans create at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium. Puerto Rico's four home games will be must-watch.

I still remember watching from my balcony the fireworks exploding over town, signaling the start of the games. Now, many years later, the passion and exuberance of the Boricuas once again takes center stage.