The Italian Baseball League (IBL, ), officially known as the Serie A (), is the top-level baseball league in Italy. Founded in 1948, it is governed by the Italian Baseball & Softball Federation (FIBS), which has its headquarters in Rome.
Many of the teams are based in the northern Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, which has historically been the hotbed of baseball in the country; a team from the Republic of San Marino also plays in Serie A.
Like most sports leagues in Europe, and unlike professional baseball leagues in North America and Asia, the IBL uses a promotion and relegation system; the bottom five clubs are relegated to the Serie B minor league. Winners of the league are awarded a scudetto, and earn the right to represent Italy in the European Champions Cup.
History
Until 2010, the IBL featured a promotion-and-relegation league format that demoted the last place finisher to the minor leagues (Series A2), while the Serie A2 (baseball) champion would be promoted into the IBL. This was changed in late 2009, when FIBS approved the decision to introduce a fixed-team franchise format (similar to that found in Major League Baseball) starting with the 2010 season.
However, in 2018, the promotion-and-relegation system was reintroduced.
In 2021, the Italian Baseball League was rebranded as Serie A, bringing together the previous eight-team Serie A1 and the second-tier Serie A2. The new league was structured into 33 participating teams in 8 divisions, or gironi ( "groups"). The 8 gironi winners compete for the league championship (the scudetto), while the remaining 25 will fight to avoid being among the five relegated to Serie B. In 2023, the league size was reduced to 30 teams, divided into five gironi; the top two in each group of the first phase (prima fase) advance to the poule scudetto (and then to the playoffs), while those not qualified fight to avoid relegation.
Teams As is the practice in Asian baseball leagues like Japan's NPB and South Korea's KBO, many of the official team names in the Serie A include the team's corporate sponsor — though unlike Asian baseball, a sponsorship name does not necessarily indicate ownership.
2023 poule scudetto teams Of the 33 teams participating in the 2023 Serie A season, ten qualified for the poule scudetto (the championship pool). The top eight teams in the poule scudetto qualify for the postseason. 2023 TeamLocation2023 primaface positionFirst seasonin Serie ANo. of seasonsof current spellin Serie A ScudettotitlesMost recentScudetto Girone FHotsand Macerata Angels Macerata 1st 2020 4 — —Godo Baseball Russi 2nd 2006 5 — —Nettuno BC 1945 Nettuno 1st 1950 3 17 2001Comcor Modena Modena 1st 1966 3 — —New Black Panthers Ronchi dei Legionari 2nd 1969 3 — — Girone GFortitudo Bologna Bologna 1st 1963 26 14 2023Senago BC Milan 2nd 2021 3 — —BSC Grosseto Grosseto 2nd 1999 9 5 2014Parma Clima Parma 1st 1950 59 10 2010San Marino Baseball San Marino 2nd 1985 38 6 2022
Defunct teams Orel Anzio
Champions +Key†Team also won the European Champions Cup that seasonTeam also won the Baseball Champions League Europe that season
Single-table era (1948–85) Season Champion Record Runners up MVP Libertas Bologna 4–0 Ambrosiana Milano - Firenze (LIB) 8–2 Ambrosiana Milano (LIB) - Lazio (Serie A) 5–0 Ferrovieri Roma (Serie A) - Libertas Roma 18–2 USCM Nettuno - Nettuno BC 17–1 Libertas Roma - Nettuno BC 16–2 Libertas Roma - Nettuno BC 16–2 Lazio - Nettuno BC 13–1 AS Roma - Lazio 12–2 Nettuno - Chlorodont Nettuno 10–2 AS Roma - Chlorodont Nettuno 13–1 Lazio - Algida Nettuno B.C. 12–0 AS Roma -C.U.S. Milano 12–2 Libertas Inter Milano - Coca-Cola Roma 10–0 Algida Nettuno - Seven Up Milano 13–5 Roma S.C. - Europhon Milano 18–0 Pirelli Milano - Europhon Milano 18–0 Simmenthal Nettuno/ACLI Bologna - Simmenthal Nettuno 15–3 Libertas Milano/Europhon Milano - Simmenthal Nettuno 15–3 UGF Fortitudo Bologna - Simmenthal Nettuno 28–4 Europhon Milano - Europhon Milano 33–3 Tanara Parma- Europhon Milano 29–3 Nettuno- Europhon Milano 20–6 Nettuno- Montenegro Bologna 21–6 Noalex Milano - Europhon Milano 39–5 Montenegro Bologna- Glen Grant Nettuno 38–6 Bernazzoli Parma - Montenegro Bologna 36–8 Bernazzoli Parma - Glen Grant Nettuno 36–8 Montenegro Bologna- Montenegro Bologna 36–8 Colombo Nettuno - Cercosti Rimini 46–13 Bernazzoli Parma - Germal Parma 51–3 Colombo Nettuno - Germal Parma 20–4 22–8 Derbigum Rimini Mike Romano Biemme Bologna 31–5 Cercosti Rimini Carlos Guzman Derbigum Rimini 30–6 Germal Parma /Colombo Nettuno John Long Derbigum Rimini 30–6 Glen Grant Nettuno Ed Oliveros Parmalat Parma 24–4 34–6 Papà Barzetti Rimini John Guggiana Parmalat Parma 23–5 34–6 Sicma Nettuno Giuseppe Carelli Papà Barzetti Rimini 15–3 32–10 Nordmende Bologna - BE. CA. Bologna 14–7 29–11 World Vision Parma - World Vision Parma 51–15 BE. CA. Bologna-
Playoff era (1986–present) Year Winning team Runner up Result MVP Grohe Grosseto Trevi Rimini 4–3 - Trevi Rimini Mamoli Grosseto 4–1 - Ronson Lenoir Rimini SCAC Nettuno 4–0 - Mamoli Grosseto Ronson Lenoir Rimini 4–2 - SCAC Nettuno Ronson Lenoir Rimini 4–3 - Parma Angels Flower Gloves Verona 3-0 — Telemarket Rimini Eurobuilding Bologna 3-0 David Sheldon C.F.C. Nettuno Telemarket Rimini 3–2 Jessie Reid Cariparma Angels Danesi Nettuno 4–1 Brad Komminsk Cariparma Angels Danesi Nettuno 4–1 Roberto Bianchi Caffè Danesi Nettuno Cariparma Angels 4–2 Francesco Casolari Cariparma Parma Danesi Nettuno 4–3 Francesco Casolari Danesi Nettuno Semenzato Rimini 4–1 Federico Bassi Semenzato Rimini Danesi Nettuno 4–3 Ed Campaniello (Rimini) Semenzato Rimini Danesi Nettuno 4–0 Claudio Liverziani (Rimini) Caffè Danesi Nettuno Semenzato Rimini 4–2 Juan Carlos Vigna Semenzato Rimini Danesi Nettuno 4–1 Orlando Muñoz (Modena) Italeri Bologna GB Ricambi Modena 4–1 Claudio Liverziani (Bologna) Prink Grosseto Italeri Bologna 4–2 Jaime Navarro (Grosseto) Italeri Bologna T & A San Marino 4–3 Jesús Matos (Bologna) Telemarket Rimini Colonie Maremma Grosseto 4–1 Mario Chiarini (Rimini) Montepaschi Grosseto Danesi Nettuno 4–3 Giuseppe Mazzanti (Nettuno) T & A San Marino Danesi Nettuno 4–3 Giuseppe Mazzanti (Nettuno) UGF Banca Bologna T & A San Marino 4–1 Eddie Garabito (Bologna) Cariparma Parma Fortitudo Bologna 4–2 Orlando Muñoz (Parma) T & A San Marino Danesi Nettuno 4–3 Willie Vasquez (San Marino) T & A San Marino Rimini Baseball 4–2 Danilo Sanchez (Godo) T & A San Marino Rimini Baseball 3–2 Alessandro Vaglio UGF Banca Bologna Rimini Baseball 4–3 Claudio Liverziani Rimini Baseball Fortitudo Baseball Bologna 4–0 Giuseppe Mazzanti UGF Banca Bologna Rimini Baseball 4–2 Sebastiano Poma ASD Rimini T & A San Marino 3–0 UnipolSai Bologna Parmaclima 3–1 UnipolSai Bologna T & A San Marino 3–0 UnipolSai Bologna T & A San Marino 4–3 T & A San Marino UnipolSai Bologna 3–2 T & A San Marino Parmaclima 4–3 UnipolSai Bologna T & A San Marino 4–0 Ricardo Paolini 2024 ParmaClima San Marino Baseball Club 4–1 Alex Liddi 2025 San Marino Baseball Club ParmaClima 4–0 Ortwin Pieternella 2026 1949 Parma Baseball Club San Marino Baseball Club 4–1
Championships per team
TeamTotalYears Nettuno BC 1945 17 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1971, 1973, 1990, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2001 Fortitudo Bologna 14 1969, 1972, 1974, 1978, 1984, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023 Rimini BC 13 1975, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2015, 2017 Parma BC 11 1976, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2010, 2024 Milano BC 1946 8 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970 San Marino BC 7 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2021, 2022, 2025 BBC Grosseto 4 1986, 1989, 2004, 2007 Roma 2 1950, 1959 Lazio 1949 (LIB), 1955 Fiorentina 1 1949 (Serie A)
Notable former players Samuel Aldegheri: Italian pitcher who played for Parma Clima before making his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Los Angeles Angels Jason Simontacchi: Pitcher for Novara Baseball and retired MLB pitcher Chuck Carr: Centerfielder for Rimini and retired MLB outfielder Junior Guerra: Pitcher for T & A San Marino before joining the Milwaukee Brewers Robel García: Infielder for Fortitudo Bologna before joining the Chicago Cubs Alex Liddi: Italian infielder who played for the Seattle Mariners before joining ParmaClima. Abraham Núñez: Outfielder for The Nettuno Baseball Club and retired MLB outfielder Jason Conti: Outfielder for Fortitudo Bologna after playing five MLB seasons.
Standings
Rank Team Record (W-T-L) Team Link Still Active? When Started Stadium Name1 Libertas Bologna Ambrosiana Milano -2 Mamoli Grosseto (LIB) Lazio (FIBS) Ambrosiana Milano (LIB) Ferrovieri Roma (FIBS) - Libertas Roma USCM Nettuno - Nettuno B.C. Libertas Roma - Nettuno B.C. Libertas Roma - Nettuno B.C. Lazio - Nettuno B.C. A.S. Roma - Lazio Nettuno - Chlorodont Nettuno A.S. Roma - Chlorodont Nettuno Lazio - Algida Nettuno B.C. A.S. Roma - C.U.S. Milano Libertas Inter Milano - Coca-Cola Roma Algida Nettuno - Seven Up Milano Roma S.C. - Europhon Milano Pirelli Milano - Europhon Milano Simmenthal Nettuno/ACLI Bologna - Simmenthal Nettuno Libertas Milano/Europhon Milano - Simmenthal Nettuno UGF Fortitudo Bologna - Simmenthal Nettuno Europhon Milano - Europhon Milano Tanara Parma- Europhon Milano Nettuno- Europhon Milano Nettuno- Montenegro Bologna Noalex Milano - Europhon Milano Montenegro Bologna- Glen Grant Nettuno Bernazzoli Parma - Montenegro Bologna Bernazzoli Parma - Glen Grant Nettuno Montenegro Bologna- Montenegro Bologna Colombo Nettuno - Cercosti Rimini Bernazzoli Parma - Germal Parma Colombo Nettuno - Germal Parma Derbigum Rimini Mike Romano Biemme Bologna Cercosti Rimini Carlos Guzman Derbigum Rimini Germal Parma /Colombo Nettuno John Long Derbigum Rimini Glen Grant Nettuno Ed Oliveros Parmalat Parma Papà Barzetti Rimini John Guggiana Parmalat Parma Sicma Nettuno Giuseppe Carelli Papà Barzetti Rimini Nordmende Bologna - BE. CA. Bologna World Vision Parma - World Vision Parma BE. CA. Bologna- Notes
References
External links FIBS Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball website Italian Baseball League Encyclopedia and History Baseball Reference website
See also Baseball in Italy Italian Baseball League 2D Italy national baseball team Baseball awards in Italy Baseball awards in Europe