Rare medal issued for baseball, a demonstration sport at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. Bronze, 60 mm, 120 gm. The front depicts the Los Angeles Games emblem over Olympic rings and laurel branches; the reverse features a raised design of a baseball player between text: “Citius Altius Fortius, XXIII Olympiad.” Complete with its original magenta, vermillion, and yellow ribbon and its original blue velvet presentation case. One of the demo sports of the 1984 Summer Games, baseball had been played at previous Olympics as single exhibition games, but finally made its official debut appearance in the Olympic program at the XXIII Olympiad. Held at Dodger Stadium between July 31st and August 7th, 1984, the baseball tournament was composed of eight teams, with Cuba originally qualifying and then withdrawing as a result of the Soviet-led boycott. After strong showings in their respective divisions, USA (4-0) faced off with Japan (3-1) in the finals, with the latter winning 6-3; the Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) national baseball team took bronze over South Korea in the third-place game.
