Don Freeman figures he can impact the future of baseball best by going where the game has plenty of room to grow.
So for the second year in a row the former Prairie High teacher and coach is off to Germany to manage the Mainz Athletics, whose season begins this weekend with nonleague games. Last summer, his first with the club, Mainz finished second in its division with an 18-10 record and lost in the playoff semifinals of Germany’s top baseball league.
“Coaching baseball is coaching baseball wherever you are,” the 65-year-old Freeman said. “I feel like I have a bigger impact coaching in Europe than I do coaching here” because there are plenty of coaches in America.
In addition to coaching the Athletics, Freeman helps coach German national teams. Last season he coached the under-18 to a tie for first in the European championships. He will again coach one of Germany’s national teams this summer. He also coaches youth academy players for Mainz.
His focus is on coaching the pitchers for every level at the club.
“There is always something for me to do,” he said.
Games are on the weekends in the top German League. There are practices during the week, but many of the players have jobs. During the week, Freeman spends up to eight hours a day running practices for the club’s youth and adult teams.
Freeman has a history of program building. Prior to taking the job in Germany last year Freeman coached the Clark College baseball program for four seasons beginning with the restart of the Penguins’ program in 2011.
Helping players learn the fundamentals and grow to love baseball is as satisfying as winning for Freeman. In a country where soccer is the national passion, building interest in baseball can be a challenge.
Each team in the top league is allowed only three Americans. Those players get their apartment paid for and a small monthly stipend.
“Baseball is not quite like German soccer,” Freeman noted.
But that is part of the fun. As he has done over the years for USA Baseball, Freeman’s role within German baseball means he gets to travel around Europe.
“One of the most fun parts is going to all these historic sights,” freeman said. “It’s pretty fun all the way around. Never a dull moment.”
