Bundesliga (baseball)

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|

Bundesliga (baseball)Current season, competition or edition:
2023 Baseball-Bundesliga

Sport| Baseball
Founded| 1984
No. of teams| 13
Country| Germany
Most recent
champion(s)| Bonn Capitals
(3rd title)
Most titles| Mannheim Tornados
(10 titles)
Official website| baseball-bundesliga.de

The Baseball-Bundesliga is the professional elite competition for the sport of baseball in Germany. In it, the men's German championship is determined annually. Like most European sports leagues, the Bundesliga uses a system of promotion and relegation. The highest division of the Bundesliga currently consists of thirteen teams in two divisions, with each team playing four games against each other team. The league is regulated by the German Baseball and Softball Federation (DBV).

## History

[edit]

A precursor to the Baseball-Bundesliga was founded between 1951, with the Stuttgart Phillies winning the inaugural national championship.[1] However, the league disbanded following the 1970 season, leaving Germany without a national league for 11 years.[2]

The Baseball-Bundesliga, in its current incarnation, was established in 1982.[3] Two teams produced dynasties during the league's first two decades of operation: the Mannheim Tornados won every championship from 1984 to 1989, and the Paderborn Untouchables won every championship from 2001 to 2005. The league claims that in 1990, there were 2000 baseball players in Germany, while that number has grown to exceed 30,000 today.[4]

In 2010, the league promoted the Dohren Wild Farmers and the Neuenburg Atomics.[5] At the end of the season, the Neuenburg Atomics were relegated with the worst record in the Southern Division (1–27). The Saarlouis Hornets voluntarily relegated themselves for financial reasons, despite posting the best record (19–21) in a ten-year history in the first division, causing the Southern Division to contract from eight to seven teams.[6] The two teams were replaced by the Bad Homburg Hornets. In the Northern Division, the Cologne Cardinals were relegated at the end the season and replaced by the champions of the second division, the Berlin Sluggers.[7][8]

A motion to reduce the league from 16 to 12 teams was denied by a Competition Commission established by the DBV prior to a general meeting of all the baseball clubs in Germany in Frankfurt am Main on 13 November 2010. At the meeting itself, it was agreed to add an All Star Game for the 2012 season.[9]

## Season format

[edit]

The regular season for the 1st Bundesliga is split into two different sub-divisions, Nord (North) and Süd (South) each having 8 teams. The season has a total of 28 games with each team playing every other team in two games which are normally hosted on the weekends. The game format is the same as The MLB with a 9-inning format and extra-innings after if the game is still a tie. Unlike The MLB the 1. Bundesliga also has a mercy rule if one of the 2 teams is leading by 10 runs or more before the last 2 innings of the game, they will stop playing and give a automatic win to the team that is winning by 10 or more runs.

The four best-placed teams in each group/sub-divisions of the 1. Bundesliga play in an interleague round with subsequent play-offs for the German championship, while the other teams in each group determine possible relegation in the play-downs.

In the interleague round, the top four of each group play in a match against the top four of the other league, with teams playing back-to-back double-header matches in a ballpark on the same day, giving each team a chance to play at home and away.

After the interleague round, the seeding list for the playoffs is determined, this only includes the games of the regular season and the interleague round, between the eight teams involved in the interleague round. 1st vs 8th, 2nd vs 7th and so on.

The play-off rounds are a little bit different to the inner-league round although they have a similar concept. All rounds are best of 5 games with the quarter and semi-finals being in a double header format over 2 weekends and on Saturdays. If a game 5 is necessary then the final game will be played on the Sunday after game 3 and 4. The final series is played in individual games instead of the double header format and games are divided up between the teams. Game 1 and 2 are played at the team who did better in the regular season and game 3 and 4 are played in the worse teams home field. Game 5 is played at the better regular season team again if needed which crowns the German Champions (Deutscher Meister).

## Champions

[edit]

See: German champions (baseball) § 1982-present
Year  | German Champions  | Southern League Winners  | Northern League Winners

|
|
|

1984 | Mannheim Tornados | Mannheim Tornados | Cologne Dodgers
1985 | Mannheim Tornados | played out as a single-track Bundesliga
1986 | Mannheim Tornados | played out as a single-track Bundesliga
1987 | Mannheim Tornados | played out as a single-track Bundesliga
1988 | Mannheim Tornados | played out as a single-track Bundesliga
1989 | Mannheim Tornados | played out as a single-track Bundesliga
1990 | Cologne Cardinals | Mannheim Tornados | Berlin Challengers
1991 | Mannheim Tornados | Mannheim Tornados | Berlin Challengers
1992 | Mannheim Amigos | Mannheim Tornados | Cologne Cardinals
1993 | Mannheim Tornados | Mannheim Amigos | Lokstedt Stealers
1994 | Mannheim Tornados | Mannheim Amigos | Lokstedt Stealers
1995 | Trier Cardinals | Trier Cardinals | Lokstedt Stealers
1996 | Trier Cardinals | Trier Cardinals | Lokstedt Stealers
1997 | Mannheim Tornados | Mannheim Tornados | Bonn Capitals
1998 | Cologne Dodgers | Mannheim Tornados | Cologne Dodgers
1999 | Paderborn Untouchables | Mainz Athletics | Paderborn Untouchables
2000 | Lokstedt Stealers | Mainz Athletics | Cologne Dodgers
2001 | Paderborn Untouchables | Mannheim Tornados | Cologne Dodgers
2002 | Paderborn Untouchables | Regensburg Legionäre | Paderborn Untouchables
2003 | Paderborn Untouchables | Mannheim Tornados | Paderborn Untouchables
2004 | Paderborn Untouchables | Mainz Athletics | Paderborn Untouchables
2005 | Paderborn Untouchables | Regensburg Legionäre | Paderborn Untouchables
2006 | Solingen Alligators | Regensburg Legionäre | Solingen Alligators
2007 | Mainz Athletics | Regensburg Legionäre | Solingen Alligators
2008 | Buchbinder Legionäre | Heidenheim Heideköpfe | Solingen Alligators
2009 | Heidenheim Heideköpfe | Buchbinder Legionäre | Solingen Alligators
2010 | Buchbinder Legionäre | Buchbinder Legionäre | Solingen Alligators
2011 | Buchbinder Legionäre | Buchbinder Legionäre | Paderborn Untouchables
2012 | Buchbinder Legionäre | Buchbinder Legionäre | Paderborn Untouchables
2013 | Buchbinder Legionäre | Buchbinder Legionäre | Solingen Alligators
2014 | Solingen Alligators | Heidenheim Heideköpfe | Solingen Alligators
2015 | Heidenheim Heideköpfe | Buchbinder Legionäre | Bonn Capitals
2016 | Mainz Athletics | Mainz Athletics | Bonn Capitals
2017 | Heidenheim Heideköpfe | Heidenheim Heideköpfe | Bonn Capitals
2018 | Bonn Capitals | Heidenheim Heideköpfe | Bonn Capitals
2019 | Heidenheim Heideköpfe | Mainz Athletics | Solingen Alligators
2020 | Heidenheim Heideköpfe | Buchbinder Legionäre | Bonn Capitals
2021 | Heidenheim Heideköpfe | Heidenheim Heideköpfe | Bonn Capitals
2022 | Bonn Capitals | Buchbinder Legionäre | Bonn Capitals
2023 | Heidenheim Heideköpfe | Heidenheim Heideköpfe | Bonn Capitals
2024 | Bonn Capitals | Paderborn Untouchables | Bonn Capitals

## Current teams

[edit]

Main article: List of German baseball teams

Division  | Team  | Location  | Field  | Founded

|
|
|
|

North | Berlin Flamingos |  Berlin | Flamingo Park  | 1990
Bonn Capitals |  Bonn | Stadion Rheinaue  | 1989
Cologne Cardinals |  Cologne | Circlewood Stadium, Köln | 1983
Dohren Wild Farmers |  Dohren | Baseballfeld Wild Farmers  | 1990
Hamburg Stealers |  Hamburg | Baseballfeld Langenhorst  | 1985
Paderborn Untouchables |  Paderborn | Ahorn-Ballpark  | 1990
South | Regensburg Legionäre |  Regensburg | Armin-Wolf-Arena | 1987
Heidenheim Heideköpfe |  Heidenheim an der Brenz | HellensteinEnergie Ballpark  | 1992
Hünstetten Storm |  Hünstetten | Dickman Field  |
Mainz Athletics |  Mainz | Baseballstadion Hartmühlenweg  | 1988
Mannheim Tornados |  Mannheim | Roberto-Clemente-Field  | 1975
München-Haar Disciples |  Haar | Ballpark Eglfing  | 1990
Stuttgart Reds |  Stuttgart | TVC-Ballpark  | 1986

Untouchables

Capitals

Stealers

Cardinals

Wild Farmers

Flamingos

Legionäre

Heideköpfe

Tornados

Disciples

Athletics

Reds

Storm

class=notpageimage|

2023 Bundesliga teams (North Division  and South Division )

## See also

[edit]

* Baseball awards § Germany
* Baseball awards § Europe

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "German Baseball-Bundesliga: History". baseballgermany.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
2. ^ "German Baseball-Bundesliga: Past Champions". baseballgermany.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
3. ^ all time club records: http://www.baseball-softball.de/bundesliga/index.php?id=00000117 (link does not work)
4. ^ Baseball-bundesliga Official Website, English. http://www.baseballgermany.com/index.php?id=33
5. ^ Baseball-bundesliga Official Website, English. http://www.baseballgermany.com/index.php?id=7&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=123&tx_ttnews[backPid]=9&cHash=e4963c48b7
6. ^ Mister-Baseball: Baseball and Softball in Europe. "Saarlouis Hornets withdraw from Baseball-Bundesliga." 20 October 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2011. http://www.mister-baseball.com/saarlouis-hornets-withdraw-baseballbundesliga/
7. ^ Mister-Baseball: Baseball and Softball in Europe. "Berlin Challengers win Game 1 of German Relegation Series." 10 October 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2011. http://www.mister-baseball.com/berlin-challengers-win-game-1-german-relegation-series/
8. ^ Mister-Baseball: Baseball and Softball in Europe. "German Federation releases 2011 Baseball and Softball Schedules." 23 December 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2011. http://www.mister-baseball.com/german-federation-releases-2011-baseball-softball-schedules/
9. ^ Mister-Baseball: Baseball and Softball in Europe. "No reformation of German Baseball Bundesliga." 16 November 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2010. http://www.mister-baseball.com/reformation-german-baseball-bundesliga/

## External links

[edit]

* German Baseball and Softball Association official website (German)
* Buchbinder Legionäre Internet Live
* Haar Disciples Internet Live

* v
* t
* e

1st Division, Baseball Bundesliga

Teams|

| Division Nord|

* Berlin Flamingos
* Bonn Capitals
* Cologne Cardinals
* Dohren Wild Farmers
* Hamburg Stealers
* Paderborn Untouchables

|

Division Süd|

* Heidenheim Heideköpfe
* Hünstetten Storm
* Mainz Athletics
* Mannheim Tornados
* München-Haar Disciples
* Regensburg Legionäre
* Stuttgart Reds

Former Teams|

* Bennigsen Beavers
* Berlin Sluggers
* Dortmund Wanderers
* Gauting Indians
* Neuenburg Atomics
* Pulheim Gophers
* Solingen Alligators
* Tübingen Hawks
* Ulm Falcons

Seasons|

* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016

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Top-level baseball leagues

* World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)
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Americas|

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Asia|

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Oceania|

* Australia & New Zealand
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Professional baseball leagues

Americas

Major|

* Major League Baseball
* American League
* National League

Minor|

| Triple-A|

* International League
* Pacific Coast League

|

Double-A|

* Eastern League
* Southern League
* Texas League

High-A|

* Midwest League
* Northwest League
* South Atlantic League

Single-A|

* California League
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Rookie|

* Arizona Complex League
* Dominican Summer League
* Florida Complex League

Independent|

| MLB Partner Leagues|

* American Association
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|

Non-partnered leagues|

* Cuban National Series
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Off-season|

| MLB-affiliated|

* Arizona Fall League
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* Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
* Liga Paralela

|

Independent|

* Argentine Baseball League
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* Veracruz Winter League

Defunct|

| MLB-recognized|

* American Association
* Federal League
* Negro league baseball
* Players' League
* Union Association

|

Other major|

* All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
* Continental League
* Cuban League
* National Association
* United States Baseball League

Minor|

* List of defunct minor leagues

Asia

China|

* China National Baseball League

Israel|

| Defunct major|

* Israel Baseball League

|

Japan|

| Major|

* Nippon Professional Baseball
* Central League
* Pacific League

|

Minor|

* Eastern League
* Western League

Off-season|

* Miyazaki Phoenix League

Independent|

* Baseball Challenge League
* Shikoku Island League Plus

Women's|

* Japan Women's Baseball League

South Korea|

| Major|

* KBO League

|

Minor|

* KBO Futures League

Taiwan|

| Major|

* Chinese Professional Baseball League

|

Minor|

* Chinese Professional Baseball League

Defunct major|

* Taiwan Major League

Europe

Italy and San Marino|

* Italian Baseball League

Netherlands|

| Major|

* Honkbal Hoofdklasse

|

Minor|

* Honkbal Overgangsklasse

Rookie|

* Honkbal Rookie League

Oceania

Australia|

| MLB-affiliated:|

Australian Baseball League

|

Inter-league

* Asia Professional Baseball Championship
* Asia Winter Baseball League
* Caribbean Series
* Latin American Series
* Triple-A National Championship Game

* v
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International baseball

* WBSC
* World Rankings
* Teams

WBSC Events|

* World Baseball Classic
* Summer Olympics
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* U18 World Cup
* U15 World Cup
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* Women's Baseball World Cup

Minor World Events|

* Grand Forks International
* Haarlem Baseball Week
* Little League World Series
* Intermediate
* Junior
* Senior
* Summer Universiade
* World Port Tournament
* World University

Defunct World Events|

* Amateur World Series / Baseball World Cup
* Intercontinental Cup
* Global World Series
* Women's Baseball World Series
* World Baseball Challenge
* International Amateur Tournament
* World Games
* Inter-Allied Games

Africa|

* WBSC Africa – African Championship
* All-Africa Games

Americas|

* WBSC Americas – Pan American Games
* Bolivarian Games
* Caribbean Baseball Cup
* Caribbean Series
* Central American Games
* Central American and Caribbean Games
* South American Championship
* U-23
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Asia|

* WBSC Asia – Asian Championship
* U-18
* U-15
* U-12
* Asia Cup
* Women's Asian Cup
* Asian Games
* Southeast Asian Games
* Arab Classic
* SAARC Baseball Championship
* Asia Series

Europe|

* WBSC Europe – European Championship
* U-23
* U-21
* U-18
* U-15
* U-12
* European Championship Women
* Super 6
* Champions Cup
* Confederation Cup
* Federation Cup

Oceania|

* WBSC Oceania – Oceania Championship
* U-18
* U-15
* U-12
* Pacific Games

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