“I coach ambitious and baseball-loving guys,” said Georg Bull, skipper of world No. 18 Germany, before the start of the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025 presented by RAXUS, which is taking place in Okinawa, Japan, from 5 to 14 September. “They want to find out where we stand in the world of baseball’s big guys. I’ve never been in a U-18 Baseball World Cup, so I’m really curious about how we will do.”
They may like what they found out. Germany shocked Australia in the opening game and defeated China on Day 2.
They suffered their first loss against the powerhouse USA on Day 3.
Germany’s start of the tournament made discovering their development programme more thrilling.
Bull is a German Hall of Famer, inducted in 2015. He had an extraordinary playing career with the Mannheim Amigos, Trier Cardinals, Paderborn Untouchables, Berlin Sluggers, Berlin Bats, Strausberg Sun Warriors, and Mannheim Tornados, winning five German championships between 1983 and 2002.
“I was Claus Helmig’s protege. I grew up in Mannheim, played with the Americans,” Bull recalled. “I was really good,” he said with a smile.
Helmig (1936-2016) is a legendary figure in German baseball. He became the first German player to sign a professional contract in the 1950s. He was also controversial. His attempt to found a 10-team league with the American Military bases in the 1980s resulted in a conflict with the National Federation.
The 1980s were the lowest point for German Baseball. Four decades later, Germany leads Europe in the U-15 age bracket and qualified for the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025.
A lot of credit for the development goes to Bull, who funded the German Baseball Academy.
“I played and coached in Paderborn,” he commented. “I got in touch with their sponsor [Martin Nixdorf], who loves baseball. We wondered how we could make German baseball better and made a plan for the Deutsche Baseball Academy.”
It’s not clear what type of an investment the German Baseball Academy required, but discussions on the topic are common in Europe.
“It’s not that much money,” Bull commented. “I wish it were. We are very dedicated. I’ve loved baseball since I was six years old. We do our best to run the U-12 and U-15 programmes. Private money funds our programmes. Four years ago, the German Federation named me the U-18 National Team manager. We will see where this synergy will take us.”
Would you say that Germany is the leading developing project in Europe? “I wouldn’t say we are leading, but we are getting there with the Italians, the Czechs, and the Netherlands, of course,” Bull commented.
“We have an excellent and intense relationship with Czechia,” he added. “They are our neighbours, you know. I intend to establish better relations with Italy. After this tournament, I intend to make contact with [Federation President Marco] Mazzieri. I already have good friends among the coaches in Italy.”
And how does Bull rate baseball development in Europe today? “I think the Netherlands were the benchmark but they have fallen a little bit. They still have a lot of talent from the players from Curaçao. Italy is good. The Czechs do a lot, especially at the U-12 level. Currently, I believe the Czechs are the most developed.”
On a final note, Bull added: “I think the goal for European programmes must be developing players locally. Dual citizens developed in advanced baseball countries can support the elite teams, but homegrown talent would be a key to having a better future.”
