Participants
There were 10 participating countries. [1] The United States, which had returned to the international baseball scene just two years prior after a 27-year-absence, declined to take part in the tournament. The U.S. delegation to the 1970 FIBA Congress reportedly pledged that they would boycott the competition due to political differences with the regime of Fidel Castro. This decision was confirmed by United States Baseball Federation in June 1971, though USBF president Dutch Fehring claimed it was due to financial reasons. [3] [1]
Colombia notably protested that the Mexican team illegally used three professional players. [4] Mexico were later stripped of several victories, dropping them to ninth place in the standings. [1]
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