Max Boldt has ended his Bundesliga career after 20 years (Photo: Tanja Szidat)
The 1st Baseball Bundesliga without Max Boldt? Difficult to imagine. But baseball fans in Germany have to get used to this idea. On August 20, 2023, Mainz Athletics announced on social media that Boldt was ending his Bundesliga career after 20 years. During this time, the Mainz native won two German championship titles (2007 and 2016) as well as numerous individual awards (including MVP South 2016 and 2019, Finals MVP 2016, Best Batter South 2019). The 35-year-old said his farewell on the field in his home ball park on Hartmühlenweg in the German Cup duel against the Munich-Haar Disciples.
In an interview with the Bundesliga editorial team, Boldt revealed the reasons for his decision, his career highlights and his plans for the future.
baseball-bundesliga.de: When did you first specifically think about ending your career? When was the final decision made and what were the reasons for it?
Max Boldt: I’ve been thinking about this over the last few seasons. It became increasingly difficult to balance work, family and baseball. Ultimately, I didn’t want to miss so much time with my family anymore and so I decided to end my active career.
baseball-bundesliga.de: Your career is characterized by many titles and awards. But are there any other moments in your Bundesliga career that you remember as particularly positive? If so, what are they?
Max Boldt: There are many moments that I remember very fondly. These are of course international tournaments with the national team, and the WBC Qualifiers in particular were real highlights. The two years in which we won the championship with the Athletics were just as unforgettable. Everything was perfect, the team, the atmosphere… I still get goosebumps every now and then when I think about it. I also made a lot of good friends and met my wife through baseball. It always made me very proud when I stood on the field and heard my children cheering me on.
baseball-bundesliga.de: You spent your entire Bundesliga career in your hometown of Mainz. Have you ever thought about moving to another Bundesliga team or another European league? And why did you ultimately decide to spend your entire career with the Athletics?
Max Boldt: A change was never really an option for me. I always felt very comfortable in the city and with the Athletics. I grew up in the club and would certainly have missed it if I had played for another club.
baseball-bundesliga.de: How will your personal baseball story continue? Are there any concrete plans for the future? You have already gained experience as a player-coach in the past. For example, are you planning a career as a coach or a role on the Athletics board?
Max Boldt: I don’t have any concrete plans at the moment. First of all, I want to enjoy my newfound free time, spend time with the family, go on vacation, etc. That’s why I won’t immediately look for a new job in baseball. A summer that isn’t so packed will certainly be nice. I can’t yet predict whether this will change in the future. Time will tell, until then I’ll stay true to baseball by throwing balls for my son to hit.
2024-02-02 11:35:47
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