Straight Lines | Mirko Heid: Growing Baseball, Building Leaders, and Thinking Globally

On this episode of Straight Lines, host Tim Neiman welcomes Mirko Heid, President of the Bonn Capitals and a key leader within German and European baseball, for a deep conversation on leadership, development, and growing the game on a global stage. Mirko shares how baseball has taken root in Germany, the rise of the Bonn Capitals as one of Europe’s premier organizations, and why coaching, culture, and infrastructure matter more than ever in emerging baseball markets. From youth development and international competition to business leadership and long-term vision, this episode connects the dots between sport and real-world leadership. Key topics include: How baseball is growing in soccer-dominant Europe Building sustainable youth programs and coaching pipelines Why repetition, fundamentals, and patience still win Lessons from international competition and the Olympic pathway Leadership parallels between business and baseball Creating clear roles, trust, and decision-making structures Why passion and people drive progress more than resources Mirko’s perspective is a powerful reminder that leadership principles travel across borders — and that straight lines are built through clarity, purpose, and consistent action. 🎧 Sponsors: Bluebook Sports — the most connected platform in the game. Download today. CorVive — Get 30% off your first order with code BLUEBOOK.