Baseball at the 2004 Athens Olympics marked the second time professional players were eligible, contested at the Helliniko Olympic Complex in August 2004.
Key Facts
- Dates
- 15–25 August 2004
- Venue
- Helliniko Olympic Complex
- Diamonds used
- 2
- Preliminary round games per team
- 7 games
- Teams advancing to medals round
- 4 teams
- Professional eligibility
- Second Olympics allowing professional players
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following the decision to allow professional baseball players in Olympic competition, the 2004 Athens Games marked the second occurrence of this eligibility rule. However, no active Major League Baseball players were available to participate, limiting the professional talent pool.
Eight national baseball teams competed at the Helliniko Olympic Complex on two diamonds from 15 to 25 August 2004. Each team played the others once in a preliminary round, with the top four advancing to semifinals, and then to either the gold or bronze medal games.
The tournament concluded with medal games determining the top three finishes among the competing nations. The event continued the Olympic tradition of international baseball competition, though the absence of active MLB players constrained the event's profile among top professional talent.