For general privacy, last names are withheld from this blog post.
I finally arrived in Wolfsburg on Monday and it’s already been an amazing, and maybe a little bit of a hectic week. I’ve already seen how different some parts of the city can be, and I’ve learned a bit of the history around the creation of the city. But this post won’t be about any of that. I want to share the story of one of the coolest things I have learned about this city so far, and that’s the story of the Wolfsburg Blackbirds.
There’s one thing that I’ve known about Germans since I started learning the language in school, and that is that they like to be active. Whether it’s going for a run, riding a bike, swimming in a lake, going skiing or playing soccer, I have seen firsthand that if there is good weather, Germans like to take advantage of it and spend their time outdoors. And although I would say that some of the more popular team sports in this country are soccer, basketball and team handball (as opposed to American handball; and yes, there’s a difference) I was surprised to find that after a quick Google search that there is, in fact, a baseball club in this city called the Wolfsburg Blackbirds.
Earlier this summer, I was electronically introduced to Veit, who would be my point person for my first few weeks at my new school, the Theodor-Heuss-Gymnasium (THG). I was excited to find out that Veit was a fan of baseball, following his passion for soccer, and through our initial correspondence I learned that he worked closely with the Blackbirds as a club manager and supporter. I had already been excited to learn more about this club, and baseball in Germany in general, and he was kind enough to put me in contact with one of the players, as well as founder of the club, Steffen.
Some time later, Steffen reached out to me via email to invite me for coffee and to attend the first team’s training session afterwards. We set a time and date, and this past Thursday he met me at my shared apartment and we went into the city center to a café he visits regularly, one of which he’s friends with the owner.
Steffen and I sat outside, we both ordered a coffee, his black and mine with a touch of milk and sugar, and he began telling me more about the story of the club.
After a quick Wikipedia search I can tell you that baseball in Germany had a relatively early start, with the first games being played in 1936, but the sport had its initial start in Wolfsburg more than 25 years ago according to Steffen. There were several baseball teams back then, either five or six, but Steffen wasn’t exactly sure of the number. Back then these teams had sponsors from some city businesses, which accounted for most of their funding, as entry to watch games here are free up until a club reaches the Bundesliga, the highest level of play in the German system. However, once VfL Wolfsburg, the city’s soccer club, was promoted to their Bundesliga in 1997, sponsors began leaving these baseball clubs for the more popular soccer team, leaving all of these teams with no choice but to shut down due to bankruptcy.
Enter, Steffen. Veit told me that one day, Steffen, one of his oldest friends, had the idea to bring baseball back to Wolfsburg, and out of nowhere came up with the idea to start a new club. So three years ago, he got to work to make this dream a reality. He was able to get into contact with several people about his idea, knowing many because he grew up in Wolfsburg. Some people he knows that own local businesses in the city have provided the club with funds through sponsorship deals. He was able to strike a partnership with a sports club in one of the older towns/parts of the city, VfB Fallersleben, and used funds he accrued to turn an old soccer field into a baseball field.
The field has a raised mound, which is, from what I learned from Steffen, uncommon in amateur German baseball fields, and the infield grass is well-groomed. One problem that does exist, however, is that the fence in right field is too close to home plate, meaning that for a certain stretch of that fence, yellow poles have to be erected in order to show that balls hit beyond this part in the air are not considered a home run, but rather a ground-rule double. Steffen is currently working with people to build a new baseball field for the club in the next two to three years. This way, if the team is promoted to the Second Bundesliga, the step before the highest division of German baseball, they will be able to join that league because the rules require a fence at least 85 meters (approx. 279 feet) from home plate in left and right field.
Despite these minor issues, I was extremely impressed to see the quality of the field and the dirt around the bases and for the pitcher’s mound. And what was more impressive to see was that around the same number of kids (around 25-30) were playing baseball as there were kids playing soccer at the adjacent field. There are enough players to make a youth team, and due to the fact that only one baseball field in the city exists, this team plays on the full-sized field that the two adult teams play on as well.
On Sunday I was fortunate enough to watch the second adult team play after the first team’s game on Saturday was cancelled. Upon my arrival to the field, I was welcomed by this sign hung above the main entrance, setting a welcoming tone to my game day experience at the “Birdcage.”
Everything done here is intended to create a fun, relaxing atmosphere to watch a baseball game. At first you’re welcomed by the above sign, then the view opens up to the field, lined and ready to host the game. To the left is a concessions stand with so-called “fair price” concessions, where people are encouraged to pay what they wish for food or drinks. To the right are some stands, as well as several tables and benches for people to sit and relax while watching the Blackbirds play. And, if he himself isn’t playing, Steffen provides some exciting commentary to explain what exactly is going on during the game for people that might not know how the game works.
It was a genuine, fun atmosphere: something far more laid-back than watching a contentious soccer match in a stadium. People chat with one another, both home and away fans, and it really feels as though you’re watching together as a family (probably because most of the fans are related to the players). However, this case is different when the first team plays, as Steffen has told me. The fans are not only family members, but also friends and others who enjoy a bit of baseball, which creates quite a sizable crowd. And for a country that doesn’t have such a large baseball following like the United States, it was really nice to see just how well this club is doing and how hard it works to generate a baseball following in the city.
I’m happy to have gotten to know the club so well over the last few days, and to know that Steffen, with the help of those who share his love of the game, is doing what he can to increase the sport’s popularity among the city’s youth and draw interest from people of all ages in the city. I’m also excited to say that next spring I’ll likely be out on that field playing with the others as a Blackbird, and even have the opportunity to share what I know of the game as a youth coach as well. After this week’s adventure, I’m excited to find out what other things this city has to offer to those who look for them.
If you want to take a look at the Blackbirds’ webpage, you can find it in the links below. Fair warning: the page is entirely in German!
Links
Teacher Tommy's Travels 