German Baseball and Softball Federation

German Baseball and Softball Federation
SportBaseball
JurisdictionGermany
AbbreviationDBV
Founded1950
AffiliationWBSC
Regional affiliationWBSC Europe
HeadquartersFrankfurt, Germany
PresidentJürgen Elsishans
Official website
www.baseball-softball.de
Germany

The German Baseball and Softball Federation (DBV) (German: Deutscher Baseball Softball Verband) is the national governing body of baseball and softball in Germany. The federation was established in 1955 as the Amateur Baseball Federation Germany and changed its name to the current in 1980.[1]

The German Baseball and Softball Federation is responsible for the Germany national baseball team and the Germany women's national softball team, as well as their youth teams, and overseeing the Baseball-Bundesliga, the top baseball competition in Germany.

History

The German Baseball and Softball Federation was established on 5 December 1950 as the Amateur Baseball Federation Germany (Amateur Baseball Föderation Deutschland) and was mainly in charge of organizing the German baseball championship, that had its first season in 1951.[2]

In April 1953, Germany was one of the founding members of the Confederation of European Baseball (now WBSC Europe), alongside Belgium, France, Italy, and Spain. Delegates from each one of the countries met in Paris and established the Fédération Européenne de Baseball (European Baseball Federation).[3]

After a period of decline in the popularity of baseball in the 1970s, that saw the German championship interrupted for eleven years, the federation was renamed to German Baseball and Softball Federation in 1980, when the sport regained strength in Germany.

Jürgen Elsishans is the current president of the German Baseball and Softball Federation, who has held the position since 2019.[4]

Teams

The German Baseball and Softball Federation oversees the development of the following national baseball and softball teams:[5]

German Baseball Hall of Fame

In 1994, the DBV created the German Baseball Hall of Fame that honors players, coaches and officials who have made significant contributions to baseball and softball in Germany.[6]

References

  1. ^ "German Baseball and Softball Federation". wbsceurope.org. WBSC Europe. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  2. ^ Neufert, Kurt. "Baseball in Deutschland 1945 bis 1950". baseball-softball.de (in German). Archived from the original on 31 October 2007. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  3. ^ "CEB History 1953-2005". baseballeurope.com. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Juergen Elsishans confirmed as German Baseball Softball Federation president". World Baseball Softball Confederation. 12 April 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Übersicht Nationaltrainer- und trainerinnen" (in German). German Baseball and Softball Federation. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Hall Of Fame" (in German). German Baseball and Softball Federation. Retrieved 9 January 2024.