[1] The 1969 edition of the Amateur World Series would be a watershed for international competition, as it saw the return of two powerhouses, the United States and Cuba.

After their victory in the 1967 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada had spurred renewed interest in international competitions, William P. "Dutch" Fehring, president of the rejuvenated United States Baseball Federation (USBF), decided to actively participate in International Baseball Federation (FIBA) competitions.

[3] the Cuba returned after being absent for the 1965 tournament in Colombia, which it was unable to attend due to visa issues brought on by the Cold War.

The tournament, eventually realized in the Dominican Republic, was initially slated to take place in Colombia, which had hosted the 1965 Amateur World Series, in February 1969.

[2] The last two encounters between the two sides, at the 1967 Pan American Games in Winnipeg and the 1968 International Amateur Tournament in Mexico City, had seen the U.S. defeat Cuba.