The Final 9

John Crumpacker, Chronicle Staff Writer

After Beijing, it's bye-bye, baseball and so long, softball.

The International Olympic Committee booted both iconic American sports out of the Games for the 2012 Olympics in London following a final fling in Beijing. Advocates of both sports are campaigning hard for inclusion in the 2016 Games, for which Chicago is one of the international bidders.

"They left together. I'd like to see them come back together," said Bob Watson, general manager of USA Baseball. Baseball and softball go together."

USA Softball's most magnetic star, pitcher Jennie Finch, said, "We're looking to get back in in 2016. We want to prove we belong in the Olympics."

That's the problem. The U.S. is too good and the number of competent softball countries worldwide is too small, otherwise known as Big Fish, Small Pond.

The American women's team has won the gold medal in each of the three Summer Olympics softball has been on the program, in 1996, 2000 and 2004. The '04 version was the most dominant team in any sport, male or female, in Athens.

Last hurrah for 'take me out to the ballgames'....