by Josh Chetwynd
For the first time since 2012, a team that plays in Italy came out on top in the Mister-Baseball Top 50. By virtue of its national championship and pan-continental European Champions Cup, Unipolsai Bologna placed number one. Although not Italian, T&A San Marino was the last team from the Italian league to reign in these rankings seven years ago. This is Unipolsai Bolgona’s third Top-50 title, having also earned the distinction in 2009 and 2010.
Dutch teams placed second and third. L&D Amsterdam, which were Hoofdklasse champions and runners-up at the Champions Cup, came in second, and Curacao Neptunus, which won the bronze at the Champion Cup finished third. Rounding out the top-5 were German champions and CEB Cup winners VOITH Heidenheim Heidekoepfe (fourth) and Czech victors Ostrava Arrows (fifth).
As in years past, these rankings, which are now in their 13th year, are based on a combination of factors. Point totals for teams were amassed from two categories:
- Strength of baseball in each club’s country: The strength of domestic leagues and the countries’ overall international success are significant factors in these rankings. To varying degrees, the elements considered include: The standing of each country’s national team in the European Championships (and qualifiers); the country’s overall performance in CEB club events; the size of the country’s baseball membership; and the number of international quality facilities in the country. In looking at country performance, both recent events and historical performance are taken into account.
- Club’s performance: This is the actual performance of each club. It includes final standings in domestic leagues (and inter-league play where applicable) and cup competitions; club winning percentages; and performances in CEB-sanctioned competitions. Head-to-head performance against other teams in the rankings is taken into consideration – but it is one of many factors. In this category, a team’s performance for the 2019 season is exclusively considered.
The mix of country strength and individual team performance is intended to give a snapshot of European club play for a single year. These rankings do not attempt to offer a historic comparison of clubs and do not assert that a team ranked higher than another is a “better” team. Rather, a combination of performance and league strength reflects the ordering.
We recognize that these rankings stir debate. In part, that’s their very purpose. We do not claim this list to be definitive. If you have any questions or comments, send e-mails to rankings@mister-baseball.com.
Finally, please note, the Mister-Baseball Top 50 reflects only countries where enough data was available to calculate rankings.
2007 Mister-Baseball European Top 50
2008 Mister-Baseball European Top 50
2009 Mister-Baseball European Top 50
2010 Mister-Baseball European Top 50
2011 Mister-Baseball European Top 50
2012 Mister-Baseball European Top 50
2013 Mister-Baseball European Top 50
2014 Mister-Baseball European Top 50
2015 Mister-Baseball European Top 50
2016 Mister-Baseball European Top 50
2017 Mister-Baseball European Top 50
2018 Mister-Baseball European Top 50
{mrb-rankings:2019}
Countries covered: Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine.