In 2013, the Melbourne Baseball Club celebrated its 125th year and marked the anniversary with a Gala Dinner attended by nearly 200 current and former Melbourne Baseball Club members and the wider baseball community. A Hall of Fame team was inducted as part of this significant milestone. A well-researched committee, consisting of a range of players and administrators from the past 50 years, selected the squad in two groups:
A “Heritage” team consisting of 6 noteworthy players who represented the club before 1950. While statistical information from this period has been difficult to source, the information compiled points to an extraordinary group of players.
A “Modern Era” squad of 20 players who have played for the club since 1950. Members of this elite group will have played for the club for a minimum of 5 seasons and have been selected as a touring team consisting of the best talent available. The squad has a wonderful cross section of players across all decades and has some of Victorian Baseballs most famous names.
The team was announced and presented at the Gala Dinner, current and former Melbourne Baseball Club members and the wider baseball community attended this great event, which was hosted by media personality and baseball aficionado Ed Wyatt. Ed recounted some amazing records from the past 125 years and he announced each player individually, they were presented with a framed copy of an illustration of the playing contingent drawn by renowned illustrator Paul Harvey. The mounted sketch will hang in the MCC Committee rooms at the MCG.
“It was a wonderful occasion and the culmination of months of hard work by very many committed persons,” Melbourne Baseball Section Vice President David Keyhoe said.
“This was an audacious attempt to provide a memorable event to properly commemorate 125 years,” he said.
“The project was carried out perfectly and the reaction since has been overwhelmingly positive.”
“It was a very special evening.”
Player |
Career Highlights |
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Walter G. Ingleton
Position: 2nd Base Playing Years: 1892 – 1914 |
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Vernon S. Ransford O.B.E.
Position: Outfield Playing Years: 1906 - 1925 |
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Charles W. Simmonds
Position: Catcher Playing Years: 1914 – 1918 |
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Stan O. Quin
Position: Catcher Playing Years: 1929 – 1945 |
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Perry A. Ballmer
Position: 1st Base / Pitcher Playing Years: 1932 - 1936 |
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Colin C. Miller
Position: Infield Playing Years: 1936 - 1953 |
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Player |
Career Highlights |
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Pitchers |
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Alan Connolly 1959 - 1963 |
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Eddie Illingworth 1960 - 1972 |
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Doug Provis 1967 - 1971 |
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Noel Smith 1962 - 1975 |
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Grant Weir 1974 - 1987 |
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Darren Cassidy 2003 - 2009 |
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Catchers |
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Max Lord 1944 - 1963 |
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Ross Arthur 1974 - 1994 |
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Playing Manager |
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David Went 1951 - 1971 |
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Heritage (1888 - 1950)
Vernon Ransford O.B.E. 1906 - 1925
Charles W. Simmonds 1914 - 1918
Modern Era (1950-2013)
Alan Connolly 1959 - 1963
Doug Provis 1967 - 1971
Noel Smith 1962 - 1975
Grant Weir 1974 - 1987
Darren Cassidy 2003 - 2009
Ross Arthur 1974 - 1994
Wayne Bishop 1959 - 1975
Alan Sieler 1981 - 1992
Rod Chapman 1974 - 1987
Peter McFarlane 1959 - 1973
Roger Miller 1957 - 1974
Geoff Mathers 1958 - 1979
Tim Mead 1983 - 1988
Ken Stephens 1951 - 1972
Glen Gambrell 1986 - 1999
Pam Donald (nee Clark) 1997 - 2003