Kyle Schwarber names greatest U.S. sports moment before World Baseball Classic final

Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

17 March 2026 at 20:38

Team USA slugger Kyle Schwarber played for the 2016 Chicago Cubs, who won the World Series to end the franchise’s 108-year title drought.

Heading into Tuesday’s World Baseball Classic final against Venezuela, Schwarber was asked to name the greatest moment in U.S. sports history.

Easy answer, right? Not so fast.

Schwarber, who played his college baseball for the Indiana Hoosiers, went a different direction during an interview with fellow IU alum Tricia Whitaker.

“The Indiana Hoosiers winning a national championship [in football],” Schwarber said. “That was pretty awesome. It was ecstatic. It was electric. … I never thought I’d see it in my life, but I’m happy I did.”

Just two Hoosiers out here doing the Lord’s work at the WBC and letting the people know. https://t.co/u6qxWp3d4B
— Tricia Whitaker (@TriciaWhitaker) March 16, 2026

Head coach Curt Cignetti and his Hoosiers defeated the Miami Hurricanes 27-21 on Jan. 19 to finish a perfect season and win the College Football Playoff National Championship game in Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. It was the first national championship for Indiana, which entered the season as the losingest progam in FBS history.

Whitaker pointed out that Tuesday’s WBC final is also in Miami. Schwarber could become a champion in the same city his Hoosiers did less than two months later.

“That would be amazing. I would love for that to happen,” Schwarber said.

Team USA designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) hits a two-run home run against Great Britain during the World Baseball Classic. | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Schwarber has enjoyed quite an offseason. He re-signed with the Philadelphia Phillies on a five-year, $150 million deal and welcomed a third child with his wife, Paige, to go along with the Hoosiers’ championship.

Now, Schwarber will go for another title. Through six WBC games, Schwarber is hitting .364 with a home run, three RBIs and six runs scored as the USA designated hitter.

Team USA and Venezuela will meet at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday on Fox. Team USA is looking for its second WBC championship and first since 2017.