The 1971 Amateur World Series was the 19th Amateur World Series (AWS), an international men's amateurbaseball tournament. The tournament was sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (which titled it the Baseball World Cup as of the 1988 tournament). The tournament took place, for the seventh time, in Cuba, and was won by the host Cuba national baseball team, their 11th title. They finished with an undefeated record of 9–0, recording six shutouts and scoring 60 runs while allowing only four.[1][2]
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]
Cuba (11th title)
Colombia
Nicaragua
Puerto Rico
Panama
Canada
Dominican Republic
Italy
Mexico
Netherlands Antilles