 |
GEELONG
BASEBALL ASSOCIATION Victoria Australia |
A (very) BRIEF HISTORY OF BASEBALL IN GEELONG
The following is a snapshot of some of the significant dates in the history of Geelong baseball. We are hopeful, over time,
that we will be able to follow up the earlier fine work of Mark Southall and others in documenting the history of the GBA and
its affiliate clubs in far greater detail.
CLUBS AND INDIVIDUALS ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT ADDITIONS, TO OFFER SUGGESTIONS AND TO URGE
CORRECTIONS IN THE PLAUSIBLE EVENT THAT THEY KNOW SOMETHING THAT WE DO NOT.
PLEASE EMAIL TO kcollins@iprimus.com.au
All A Grade Standings 1963 - 2007
GBA LEGENDS1889.
The first match of "local interest" played at Geelong between Melbourne
and Geelong Baseball Clubs.
Melbourne won a crowd pleaser 25-15.
1937. The Geelong Baseball Association is formed, with four teams - Fords, North West, South Geelong and
Newtown/Chilwell competing. North West defeats Fords 11-2 in the final at the Rugby Oval, Kardinia Park.
1939. Geelong wins the Senior Provincial Championships in its second year of competition.
1955. Affiliation fees set at 30 shillings per team.Geelong had enjoyed VPBL successes in 1939, 1940, 1941, 1944,
1949, 1953 and 1954.
1956. Night Baseball Series discussed.
1964. Ford Cup teams - St Bernards, Guild, Diamond, Thomson, North. Marx Cup teams - Diamond, Thomson,
Guild,East Geelong Tech, Belmont. A.E.Gear elected life member of the VPBL. Colac organises baseball competition.
1965. Executive issues a directive that "No female be allowed to play in any game" (moved A.Murrells). It was the sixties.
1966. Pitching mats to be compulsory.
1968. Geelong hosts VPBL Championships.
1972. Geelong enters VBA Summer Competition (finishes sixth).
1974. Belmont Common Ground opened on 26 May and called Gordon McKay Field with the Ern Gear Diamond.
Aluminium bats are introduced, a boon for hitters and a nightmare for pitchers until their phasing out (the bats,
that is) in the new milennium.
Melbourne won a crowd pleaser 25-15.
1937. The Geelong Baseball Association is formed, with four teams - Fords, North West, South Geelong and
Newtown/Chilwell competing. North West defeats Fords 11-2 in the final at the Rugby Oval, Kardinia Park.
1939. Geelong wins the Senior Provincial Championships in its second year of competition.
1955. Affiliation fees set at 30 shillings per team.Geelong had enjoyed VPBL successes in 1939, 1940, 1941, 1944,
1949, 1953 and 1954.
1956. Night Baseball Series discussed.
1964. Ford Cup teams - St Bernards, Guild, Diamond, Thomson, North. Marx Cup teams - Diamond, Thomson,
Guild,East Geelong Tech, Belmont. A.E.Gear elected life member of the VPBL. Colac organises baseball competition.
1965. Executive issues a directive that "No female be allowed to play in any game" (moved A.Murrells). It was the sixties.
1966. Pitching mats to be compulsory.
1968. Geelong hosts VPBL Championships.
1972. Geelong enters VBA Summer Competition (finishes sixth).
1974. Belmont Common Ground opened on 26 May and called Gordon McKay Field with the Ern Gear Diamond.
Aluminium bats are introduced, a boon for hitters and a nightmare for pitchers until their phasing out (the bats,
that is) in the new milennium.
1975. Colac Baseball Association begins competition in B Grade.
1976. Batters allowed to wear helmets only to first base if the club has insufficient helmets.
1978. Wallington joins the league (later to become Bellarine).
1979. New diamond at GBA ground named after Arty Murrells.
1980. Deakin Baseball Club (the Blues) enters the competition.
1981. Geelong wins its first VPBL title for 19 years. Rowing course across McKay field is mooted.
1982. Geelong Baseball Club is formed. Geelong hosts VPBL Championships and takes the title for the second
consecutive year.
1985. Bacchus Marsh Bears and Williamstown enter the competition.
1986. Lara and Bacchus Marsh Tigers enter the league.
1987. Geelong Baseball Association becomes incorporated.
1994. Ballarat Golddiggers enter as a "lead up" to the World Masters Games. The older guys merge with the
Brewers in 1997 - after winning two GBA B Grade flags.
1997. Newcomb leaves Geelong Baseball Association.
1998. Barrabool leaves Geelong Baseball Association.
1976. Batters allowed to wear helmets only to first base if the club has insufficient helmets.
1978. Wallington joins the league (later to become Bellarine).
1979. New diamond at GBA ground named after Arty Murrells.
1980. Deakin Baseball Club (the Blues) enters the competition.
1981. Geelong wins its first VPBL title for 19 years. Rowing course across McKay field is mooted.
1982. Geelong Baseball Club is formed. Geelong hosts VPBL Championships and takes the title for the second
consecutive year.
1985. Bacchus Marsh Bears and Williamstown enter the competition.
1986. Lara and Bacchus Marsh Tigers enter the league.
1987. Geelong Baseball Association becomes incorporated.
1994. Ballarat Golddiggers enter as a "lead up" to the World Masters Games. The older guys merge with the
Brewers in 1997 - after winning two GBA B Grade flags.
1997. Newcomb leaves Geelong Baseball Association.
1998. Barrabool leaves Geelong Baseball Association.
2002. Opening of the Geelong Baseball Centre in hosting the World Masters Games. The centre is to secure a
subsequent string of major baseball events.
2003. The annual Victorian Masters Baseball Carnival is transferred from Ballarat to Geelong.
2004. Melton leaves Geelong Baseball Association.
2006. Geelong Giants win Division 1 Firsts, Seconds and Thirds of Baseball Victoria summer competition.
2006 and 2007. Japan league powerhouse the Chiba Lotte Marines holds training camps and plays exhibition matches at Geelong Baseball Centre during February of each year.
2007. For the first time in living memory, Geelong fails to field a side in the VPBL Senior Championships (in Mildura). The Association was not its own, though, with Diamond Valley and Ringwood the other notable absentees.
2007. Lara Wildcats take their third consecutive A Grade title, downing a valiant Bacchus Marsh Tigers in a remarkable Grand Final spanning four hours and twelve tense innings.
subsequent string of major baseball events.
2003. The annual Victorian Masters Baseball Carnival is transferred from Ballarat to Geelong.
2004. Melton leaves Geelong Baseball Association.
2006. Geelong Giants win Division 1 Firsts, Seconds and Thirds of Baseball Victoria summer competition.
2006 and 2007. Japan league powerhouse the Chiba Lotte Marines holds training camps and plays exhibition matches at Geelong Baseball Centre during February of each year.
2007. For the first time in living memory, Geelong fails to field a side in the VPBL Senior Championships (in Mildura). The Association was not its own, though, with Diamond Valley and Ringwood the other notable absentees.
2007. Lara Wildcats take their third consecutive A Grade title, downing a valiant Bacchus Marsh Tigers in a remarkable Grand Final spanning four hours and twelve tense innings.
