Episode 8 of the Baseball Europe Podcast is a cultural adventure wrapped in friendly teasing. Paul and Matthias have made it through Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, the Czech Republic, Spain, and the UK — and now it’s time for a trip across the Rhine to France.
Before diving into home runs and history, they open with coffee-fueled chat about language lessons, mispronounced train tickets, and why every German kid spends at least one school trip in France. “I can say bonjour, merci, and where’s the swimming pool,” Paul admits. “That’s enough to survive, right?”
Then comes the real question: does France actually play baseball — or just look at it with stylish disdain?
France’s relationship with baseball started much earlier than most people realize. The first recorded game took place in Paris in 1889, when American players on Albert Spalding’s world tour staged an exhibition to astonished locals. “Nine men chasing a tiny ball without gloves? Très bizarre,” Matthias jokes.
By the 1920s, expatriates and curious Parisians had founded small clubs, and in 1921 they created the country’s first organized league. The Fédération Française de Baseball et Softball (FFBS) followed, formalizing rules and competitions that still shape the game today.
But like many European stories, history interrupted. World War II flattened momentum, stadiums, and spirits. Baseball didn’t fully return until the 1950s — carried once again by American influence, as soldiers stationed in France reintroduced the sport to a new generation.
The post-war decades were slow but steady. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, the FFBS focused on grass-roots development — youth programs, volunteer coaches, and local clubs built on passion rather than profit.
By the 1990s, France had its own national championship, regional leagues, and a growing player base. Still, it remained a niche sport in a country obsessed with football, rugby, and cycling. “You can’t compete with Zidane and the Tour de France,” Paul says. “But at least our uniforms are better.”
And that, in true French fashion, might be the point. Baseball here evolved with a certain je ne sais quoi — equal parts discipline and flair.
At the top sits Division 1, an eight-team league that plays from March to October. But here’s the very French twist: no games in August. “Of course not,” Paul laughs. “It’s vacation season. Everyone’s at the beach with wine.”
The league’s current lineup includes:
Rouen Huskies, Sénart Templiers, Montpellier Barracudas, Savigny Lions, Toulouse Tigers, La Rochelle Buccaneers, Béziers Pirates, and Metz Comets.
Each club plays about 28 games, with semi-finals and a best-of-five championship series. It’s a tidy structure, focused on quality rather than scale — and it’s working.
If you follow European baseball at all, you’ve heard of the Rouen Huskies. Founded in 1986, they’ve become France’s version of the New York Yankees — minus the skyscrapers. In the past 20 years, they’ve won 17 national titles. Only COVID in 2020 kept them from making it 18.
Their secret? A blend of French talent, smart coaching, and community. The Huskies turned their Rouen field into a local hub, hosting youth clinics, international tournaments, and even European Cup games.
“They’re proof that a small country can produce baseball excellence,” Matthias says. “And they do it while serving proper espresso in the stands.”
History lovers will enjoy this one: the Paris University Club, one of France’s oldest teams, is making its way back to the top. After decades in lower divisions, PUC earned promotion to Division 1 for 2026. That means three teams within 50 kilometers of Paris — a local cluster that could finally turn the capital into a baseball hotspot.
As Paul puts it: “If Paris can support a million bakeries, it can handle three baseball clubs.”
Here’s something you won’t hear often: France is a European pioneer in women’s baseball. The national women’s team has been active for years and even won the European Championship in 2019 and 2022.
Their style mirrors Japan’s — fast, tactical, defense-heavy — and they’ve inspired dozens of mixed-youth programs across the country. “It’s baseball with elegance and precision,” Matthias says. “Like everything French.”
When the FFBS isn’t innovating on the diamond, it’s doing it indoors. France was one of the first countries to embrace Baseball 5, a fast-paced, no-bat, no-glove version of the game played inside gyms and community centers.
Five players per team. A rubber ball. Lightning speed.
France ranks third in the world, just behind Cuba and Japan.
“It’s like futsal but for baseball,” Paul explains. “You slap the ball instead of swinging at it. Great for rainy days — and there are plenty of those.”
French baseball is distinct because it doesn’t try to copy MLB. It’s about community over commerce. Stadiums are smaller, fans closer to the action, and the vibe feels more like a village festival than a corporate spectacle.
“Where Germany’s about order and Italy’s about drama,” Paul says, “France brings charm. They play for pride, not profit.”
And while the sport may never rival rugby’s roar or football’s fanaticism, it has carved a sustainable niche — especially among youth and mixed-gender leagues.
Episode 8 is a love letter to the quiet achievers of European baseball. France may not shout about the sport, but its structure, inclusivity, and innovation are enviable. From the dynasty in Rouen to Baseball 5 in Parisian gyms, it’s proof that baseball can thrive anywhere — even in the land of baguettes and backhands.
Matthias sums it up best:
“France plays baseball the way they cook. Carefully, passionately, and with just a little bit of chaos.”
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