Competing Together, Nations Apart: Identity and Nationality at the 2023 World Baseball Classic

Abstract

The 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) featured over 600 players representing 20 countries. Due to relaxed eligibility requirements, over one quarter of the players represented countries that differed from their birth nation. Through the lens of Social Identity Theory, the guiding research question of this study asked how identity is enacted and discussed when player nationality either aligns or does not align with the country they represent in the WBC. All WBC games featured on Fox networks were analyzed and any phrase describing a player was transcribed and coded utilizing a performance, personality, and physicality taxonomy resulting in 5937 phrases attributed to 547 players. Results indicate that those with aligned birth countries and WBC teams were depicted more positively with a higher rate of comments about their talent, experience, and composure. Those with misaligned teams and nationalities were described in greater detail regarding their backgrounds and connection to their WBC team. U.S.-born players representing a different country received significantly more comments pertaining to their U.S. roots; the reverse was true for those born abroad as their birth countries were more often referenced when they aligned with their WBC team thus suggesting a degree of in- and out-grouping by the commentators.