Team Israel is tearing up the World Baseball Classic, upsetting a trio of top 10 teams and generating a buzz with their plucky play, colorful fans and unusual mascot. (Ahn Young-joon/Associated Press)JERUSALEM — Israel is the big surprise of the World Baseball Classic, upsetting three teams, generating buzz and offering a mascot like no other — “The Mensch on the Bench.”Back home, no one seems to notice. Israel entered this showcase tournament ranked 41st in the world, the lowest ranked and last team to qualify. When pressed, she said she knew a baseball team existed but not much more. In 2007, a group of American supporters launched the Israel Baseball League, a professional league comprised almost entirely of foreign players.

Source: Washington Post March 11, 2017 17:15 UTC