Administrator of French Baseball Fans
BTVF: Who are you, François Gadre?
F.G.: I am 50 years old, married with two children, Alicia (6) and Andrew (3). I am responsible for health prevention at the Ligue contre le cancer des Hauts de Seine (92). I discovered baseball during a scout gathering where I learned to play with American and Canadian scouts. At 17, I founded my first club, ‘Les Corsaires,’ in Brest and stayed there until 2005. From 2006 to 2008, I moved to Martinique, where I introduced the game to local youth before returning to France to work in the Hauts de Seine. I first played with the Teddy Bears in Cergy and then with the Wildcats in Colombes before reviving the Clamart club after the Dominicans left. I was never a great player, but my passion for the game led me to focus on coaching and working with younger players. I mainly played slow-pitch softball with US Navy crews in Brest and at SHAPE (NATO headquarters) in Mons, Belgium. I also played a bit in a corporate softball team in San Francisco. Baseball has introduced me to many people, and I was lucky enough to learn at Bucky Dent’s Baseball School with pro coaches and minor league players. I even hosted a former pitcher from my favorite team, the San Francisco Giants, Elias Sosa.
BTVF: You are the president of a new club in Clamart. How did you handle the COVID period, and how is your club doing today?
F.G.: We managed well. I kept in touch with club members via WhatsApp. I organized photo contests, street baseball bat-making contests (stickball/vitilla), and drawing contests for the youngest members. This helped us retain members from 2021 and significantly increase our youth roster for the 2021/2022 season. The development of street baseball (vitilla/stickball/wiffle ball and Baseball 5) undoubtedly saved the club.
BTVF: In 2010, you created a public Facebook group called ‘French Baseball Fan.’ How did the first five years go?
F.G.: I created the group simply to share my passion for the game. At first, there weren’t many members, but gradually, it grew to 1,000 and then almost 2,000. I must admit, I was the first surprised.
BTVF: Today, the Facebook group has nearly 2,000 followers, with an average of 4-5 posts per day by you or other members. Describe the editorial line and your interactions with members.
F.G.: I try to highlight those often overlooked in other media, such as small clubs, women’s baseball, and baseball around the world. I also enjoy sharing the history of baseball. Currently, there are 884 active members, mostly aged between 25 and 54, with 15% women. I regularly receive information not only from baseball cultures like the USA and Canada but increasingly from countries like Tunisia, Madagascar, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, and Benin, which are very active in developing the sport.
BTVF: We see many posts about vintage baseball. Explain this trend.
F.G.: I am very interested in the history of baseball. I admit that my contact with Gaétan ALIBERT has something to do with it, even if we have mostly exchanged via the group and email. I am really looking forward to reading his book. As I said earlier, I try to highlight the forgotten aspects of baseball, like women’s professional baseball. Posts about vintage baseball also help discover or rediscover the great names of the sport. For me, it’s important to know the origins to go further today.
BTVF: What can we wish you?
F.G.: More members in the group. Above all, to be a platform for small clubs or for those who embark on the adventure around the world. Currently, 10 countries are represented. There are still many more to discover.
Interview conducted by Didier CANNIOUX
