IBAF

The International Baseball Federation (IBAF) was the international governing body for the sport of baseball from the mid-20th century until 2013. It oversaw international competition, established playing rules in coordination with member associations, and promoted the growth of baseball worldwide. Its membership consisted of national baseball federations from around the globe, and it was recognized by the International Olympic Committee as baseball’s governing body before the formation of the World Baseball Softball Confederation.

IBAF organized major international events, most notably the Baseball World Cup, and also sanctioned regional championships, umpire training, and technical standards for equipment and playing fields. It maintained world rankings for national teams and led efforts to develop the sport in new markets.

In 2013, the IBAF merged with the International Softball Federation (ISF) to form the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), which now serves as the international federation for both baseball and softball and coordinates Olympic participation and world championships. The WBSC continues to oversee global governance, events, and rankings for the two sports, reflecting a unified approach to international baseball and softball competition.