A coveted prize for major European powers, notably Genoa and France, Corsica has always shown resistance. The figure of Pasquale Paoli is still present there, having given Corsica the first constitution in the world, one that inspired the Americans in 1776.
Corsica, proud and untamed. Even baseball has struggled to gain a foothold on the Island of Beauty, attempting to establish itself there on several occasions. The first attempt took place in 1943 within an airbase that housed American soldiers during World War II. It was the G.I.s who introduced this sport, which quickly disappeared after the war.
The second attempt occurred in the 1980s in Bastia. An unsuccessful trial since the few Corsican clubs had to affiliate themselves with the PACA region to compete in a championship.
However, in recent years, the island has opened up to new sports from across the Atlantic. Alongside American football, baseball is now well established and appeals to both young and old, boys and girls.
In 2017, driven by a few passionate enthusiasts, the sport made a comeback on the Island of Beauty, notably with the creation of the « Imperatori » club in Ajaccio, or Aiacciu as it’s known locally.
Two years ago, thanks to the work of a few rebels who wanted Corsican baseball, things evolved. A league was developed: the Corsican Baseball/Softball League was created in 2021 by the four island clubs recognized by the FFBS: I Imperatori in Ajaccio, I Pastori in Aleria, the Bulldogs in Bastia, and I Filanci in Alata.
But much remains to be done. A tough challenge awaits baseball: keeping the sport on the island.
Meet one of the architects of this revival, Thierry Godbert-Tomasini, a passionate and engaging President of the newly formed Corsican Baseball/Softball League.
BTVF: Can you introduce yourself and share your background?
My name is Thierry Godbert-Tomasini, I’m 60 years old, with 37 years of baseball experience. In fact, I still play! It all started in September 1987 when I went to watch a game in Cincinnati.
I played in Ville d’Avray, in the 92 department, a club where I was also President; we were in Division 1 in 1995-96. At the time, we didn’t even have a baseball field!
Then I moved to the Patriots and also to the PUC. I helped create the Hauts-de-Seine Baseball League and was involved in organizing the 1994 France vs. South Africa match, a pre-qualifier for the World Championship. I obtained my state coaching diploma in 1993.
And then, I co-founded the Ranelagh club in Paris. In 1913, Ranelagh was the first baseball club in France, and it disappeared. We wanted to revive the club and have a team in the west of the capital.
To wrap up my introduction, at the end of 2007, while I was with the Patriots, the New York Times released a special edition « 100 Years, 100 Photos » on the Yankees. By an incredible stroke of luck, I went to New York for a week to cover this edition. I went to the archives and saw incredible documents, including photos of Babe Ruth in Paris. These images are also part of French heritage!
Babe Ruth in Paris
BTVF: And yet, it’s in Corsica that you’re developing baseball?
Well, I’m Corsican on my mother’s side!
It was Didier Seminet who entrusted me with this mission. Financially and organizationally, Corsica in the PACA League was complicated; it’s simpler to have a Corsican league and more rewarding to have a regional champion.
The newly created league has four clubs: Bastia, which has a historic club, Aleria, which has a recent club but is experiencing rapid growth with a real baseball stadium, and two clubs from Ajaccio. There are between 180 and 190 licensed players on the island.
There is no Departmental Committee in Corsica, but the sport is closely followed by the Corsican Collective. The municipalities are quite welcoming to host a baseball team.
Here, the organization is different. We don’t talk in kilometers; we talk in travel time!
BTVF: What are the goals of the Corsican Baseball League that you preside over?
The goal is to have six clubs and 200 licensed players by 2024.
Two clubs are in the process of being structured: one in Propriano, I Delfini, in partnership with Ajaccio, and I myself created I Muvrini (NDLR: the Mouflons, in Corsican) in my village, between Ajaccio and Porto-Vecchio.
Between 1943, with the arrival of the Americans (Corsica was the first department liberated) and the 1980s, there was no will to create clubs. The problem is that playing alone doesn’t help bring people together.
The Corsican Committee is amazed by the speed at which a team is formed; they want us to talk about them.
BTVF: You participated in the Little League, how did you experience this first outing?
We finished with a victory against Burgundy-Franche-Comté. The Federation is supportive; they wanted a Corsican team.
The young players were playing among themselves; we were in a closed environment. Now, we’re facing other young players. We’re playing under different conditions with real fields and players everywhere.
There’s a motivational effect for the coaches, for the players. They were so proud to wear the Corsican shirt featuring the « testa mora » (NDLR: the Moor’s head).
We want to encourage young people to play baseball and have fun.
We want to participate in the Interleague competitions every year. The challenge now is finding the funding since all the costs on the mainland are our responsibility.
For the future, we’re trying to get organized: for now, we don’t have a scorer, we’d also like to set up pre-selections, make a U15 selection, and a senior Corsican team.
BTVF: What about the facilities on the island? Do you plan to develop softball as well?
For the Muvrini club, we have a beautiful multi-sport stadium with a dojo, a climbing wall, and a synthetic football pitch.
The goal would be to have a baseball field that is certifiable and modular with a fence that we could easily install and remove.
As for softball, it’s just starting. There are early signs of a softball team in Aleria, and the Ajaccio Imperatori have just created a team.
BTVF: Any final words?
Yes, I enjoy reading the articles on BaseballTV and watching the matches that are broadcast.
Like us, you’re trying to bring our sport to life, to make it stop being a niche sport, so keep it up!
Sébastien Dondé.
