Team Venezuela WBC artifacts head to Baseball Hall of Fame

After winning an emotional and historic championship at the World Baseball Classic, Team Venezuela donated several artifacts from the tournament to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Venezuela defeated Team USA 3-2 on Tuesday night at loanDepot park to win its first WBC title. The helmet worn by WBC Most Valuable Player Maikel  Garcia during the championship game is just one of the many artifacts being brought to Cooperstown.

The Venezuela-themed elbow guard and shin guard Wilyer Abreu wore throughout the WBC was sent to Cooperstown. The Red Sox’s young outfielder helped Team Venezuela extend its lead in the top of the fifth inning with a 414-foot home run to center field.

Joining Garcia’s and Abreu’s gear at the Hall are the batting gloves worn by Eugenio Suárez. The gloves were ripped when Suárez stepped up to bat and hit the winning RBI double in the top of the ninth inning.

Captain Salvador Perez donates gear

Team Venezuela captain Salvador Perez, a nine-time All-Star and captain of the Royals, also donated his catcher’s gear. The gear includes Perez’s shin guards, chest protector, helmet and mask.

The Venezuela-themed shoes worn by closer Danny Palencia in the championship game will be brought to Cooperstown. Palencia secured the victory for Team Venezuela by throwing the final strikeout.

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The cap worn throughout the WBC by Team Venezuela manager Omar Lopez will sit alongside the gear of his history-making team.

Items from Team Italy and Team Netherlands used throughout the WBC were also donated to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The artifacts will be added to the World Baseball Classic exhibit that opened in February. On display baseball fans can find the original World Baseball Classic championship trophy that was used before retiring in 2023. The exhibit also includes baseballs, helmets and bats from legendary moments over the years at the World Baseball Classic.

Team Italy also represented

Italy manager Francisco Cervelli left his mark on the WBC. He guided the Azzurri to upsets over Team USA and Team Mexico in pool play. Then Italy beat Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals. Cervelli donated a cap he wore while leading Italy to the WBC semifinals for the first.

Italy slugger Vinnie Pasquantino, who set a WBC single-game record with three home runs against Mexico, donated a bat to the Hall.

Andruw Jones, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in July, also made a donation. He donated the dugout lineup card from Team Netherlands’ first game in the WBC, which featured Andruw Jones as manager and his son Druw in the lineup. Druw Jones is a top prospect in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ organization.