Black Socks
Encyclopedia
The Black Socks are the New Zealand
national men's softball
team. They won the World Championships in 1976 (1st = with USA and Canada
), 1984, 1996, 2000 and 2004. They also won the inaugural Commonwealth Championships (a round robin tournament between New Zealand, Australia
, Samoa
, South Africa
and Botswana
) in 2006.
On 26 July 2009, Australia (Aussie Steelers) defeated New Zealand (Black Sox), five runs to nil in the final of the 2009 ISF Men’s World Championship held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Canada).
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
national men's softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
team. They won the World Championships in 1976 (1st = with USA and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
), 1984, 1996, 2000 and 2004. They also won the inaugural Commonwealth Championships (a round robin tournament between New Zealand, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
) in 2006.
On 26 July 2009, Australia (Aussie Steelers) defeated New Zealand (Black Sox), five runs to nil in the final of the 2009 ISF Men’s World Championship held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Canada).