Australian Baseball

 

 
 
 
  

Hall of Fame inductees

Thursday, 30 October 2008

The ABF would like to congratulate the following Hall of Fame honourees on their inductions in to the Baseball Australia Hall of Fame.

2005

 Rue Ewers:

  • Surveys vs Padlock 2/2/1889,Surveys vs Norwood 16/3/1889
  • Adelaide 1892,  SA vs VIC Match Intercolonial Championship
  • 1892, 1897 Disaster Tour, SA State Team 1891, 1893, 1894,
  • Captain 1910, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1919.

    • Rue Ewers deserves to be considered among Australia's greatest early home grown baseballers. He did athletics and AFL but concentrated mainly on baseball, without being a cricketer.  He went on the 1897 Disaster Tour of America and left a diary which is one of the best sources on the tour.

    Harry Simpson:

    • Surveys vs Norwood 16/3/1889 ,Melbourne vs Metropolitan Umpire, 5/7/1890 , Melbourne Baseball Club Scratch Team 6/12/1890 , NSWBL first game 30/5/1891 ,  "Sleigh vs Gleason" game 1/6/1891 , NSWBL game "Gleason vs Bird" 6/6/1891 , 4th of July Sydney vs Casino game 4/7/1891 , NSWBL "League" team August 1891, NSWBL picked team 24/8/1891 , NSWBL "Casino" team 1891.

    Harry Simpson deserves to be considered the father of NSW baseball. He arrived in Australia with the Spalding Tour of 1888 and stayed on to help promote the game and Spalding's business. He spent some time in Melbourne but later moved back to Sydney where he helped form the NSWBL and put it on its feet. Tragically, he died of typhus in September 1891 near the end of the first season of the NSWBL he helped create. He is buried in an unmarked grave in

    • Waverley Cemetery and should be recognised for the contribution he made to the game in Australia

    Tom Gleason:

    • NSWBA "Union" vs "Sydney" 22/2/1886, Union vs Sydney 15/3/1886,  Sydney vs Union 29/3/1886, Union vs Sydney 12/4/1886, Sydney vs Union 20/4/1886,  Sydney vs Union 3/5/1886,   Sydney vs Union 28/6/1886,  Sydney vs Union 3/7/1886, Sydney vs Union 30/8/1886, Union vs Sydney 6/9/1886, Sydney vs Union 21/9/1886, NSW "Pick up" team (ex "Unions") 1889 captain, Sydney vs Union 28/8/1889,  "Sleigh vs Gleason" game 1/6/1891, Association Baseball Club vs Referee Nine 11/6/1891, NSWBL game "Gleason vs Bird" 6/6/1891, 4th of July Sydney vs Casino game 4/7/1891,  NSWBL Sydney vs Nassau game 18/7/1891,"Sydney" team  August, September 1891, Sydney vs East Sydney game 12/9/1891 &  10/10/1891,  West Sydney vs Sydney game 17/10/1891, Sydney vs Carlton match 12/12/1891, Sydney vs Surrey game 9/1/1892,  America vs Australia game January 1892,  Sydney vs West Sydney Game March 1892,  Glebe 1892,  4th of July Game 1892, America vs Redfern game 26/5/97, America vs Redfern game 5/6/97, First Interstate match 1900, Manly NSW State Team 1900, coach 1905, Umpire 1905,  NSWBA Vice President 1907.

    One of the key figures in the development of Australian baseball. Tom Gleason must have migrated to Australia in the 1870s or 1880s and brought his leadership and organisational ability with him. He figures in all the major winter competitions in the 1880s and 1890s well into the 20th century. " America " Team vs Redfern 5/6/97 . He played in the first interstate game on 30/5/1900 . Born in Boston .

      Harold Franks:

    • NSW State Team 1911, Melbourne vs Leichhardt Interstate
    • Premiers Match 1912, 1912, 1914, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1925.

     Eric McElhone:

    • NSW State Team 1906, 1907, 1908, 1911, 1914

    Les Agnew:

    • NSW State Team 1913, 1914, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926,
    • 1927, 1928, 1929, 1933. Australian Team vs Stanford 1928.
    • Played for Sydney HS, Waverley , Kellogg's. 

    Charlie Puckett:

    •  

      A State Team 1931, 1933, 1934, 1935. VIC State Team 1937.
    • WA State Team 1938, 1939, 1948, 1949, 1951, captain 1954.
    • Australian Team 1948, 1952. First Capps medal 1937,
    • Lansdowne medal VIC 1937. Leading cricketer of his day.

    Ken Gulliver:

    • NSW State Team 1935, 1936, 1937, captain 1938, NSW Wartime Team 1942, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950. VIC Wartime Team 1945.
    • Australian Team 1949. OAM, Life member of seven sporting groups. 

    Ken Gulliver is a giant among the Australia baseball community. He  began his baseball career one year after the Claxton Shield started and continued it across three decades. He captained NSW in the Sheffield Shield and Claxton Shield on numerous occasions. His  commitment to the sport is unparalleled and his reputation as a gentleman is unchallenged.  He is probably the leading authority on  Australian baseball of the 1930s-1950s.  "I met him at a Claxton Shield series in Melbourne .  We had a workman's hut opposite third base in this particular series and the first morning of this series I went around to where the radio station was broadcasting.  I had difficulty in getting in the door and here was a little man sitting on a stool.  Off the top of my head I said, "Who brung you?"  He stood up, all of 5 foot five and said, "I'm Gulliver" and I said, "I'm Edwards, I'm glad to meet you. That was our introduction to a friendship which has lasted over 50 years.  I find Ken Gulliver a man of very high principles and a man of great integrity.  If I had to name someone who is still alive who left an indelible mark on me it would be Ken Gulliver."   George Edwards, 1995, Melbourne . 

    Ron Sharpe:

    • SA State Team  1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1927, 1928, 1929,1930, 1933, captain 1932, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938.

    Sheffield Shield cricketer. Australian Team vs Stanford 1928 (did not play). Originator of Helms Award. Probably South Australia 's greatest baseballer. First interstate game for SA in 1921 when he was 15.     "Ron Sharpe was a bachelor, a real nice bloke, a gentleman. I sent him the letter with the photo and he answered it and we kept up the correspondence for 11 years. Very nice bloke, and when he came over here with the SA team in 36, I offered to be batboy and they accepted. He was a great pitcher…"  Don Angus, 1995. "Ron Sharpe used to pick up 5-6 boys in his little coupe, we’d practice Sunday morning and Ron would take us all to lunch.  After lunch he’d drive us down to SacredHeartCollege and we’d play the SacredHeartCollege boys. Then Ron would pick us up and drop us at our home gate irrespective of where we lived. Years later I had the pleasure of playing with Ron in the A Grade Goodwood side, and even in practice, it was like he had that ball on a string, he could throw it where ever he wanted to. He used to read batters so well. When I was first playing A Grade for Goodwood.  But Ron, he could have left hand batters, and he’d bring me right in at first base, half way down the line towards home plate. Rest assured, he’d throw a down drop in shoot in a left hander, and it’d come up the inside bottom, the handle of the bat, and take first and get a double out as easy as that. It was a great privilege to play A Grade baseball in that era because there were so many good players." Chalky White, 1999.

     Ernie Yum:

    NSW State Team 1929,  Multnomah Series 1929, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, NSW Wartime Team 1942.

    One of the most promising players ever. Killed in country car accident in 1942. Brother of Sid. Chinese-Australian. 

    "The game was between NSW and WA and the final of the 1939 Carnival, WA having topped the table at the end of the first round.

    Ernie Yum led off for NSW in the first inning, and according to the umpire, beat the ball to first base. He attempted to steal second, the ball beat him, but the baseman dropped the ball safe again. Ernie continued on his merry way, and was again lucky at third. Trying to score, he was again tagged at the plate but the catcher dropped the ball! It was the only run for the game and won the Shield for NSW. " Time and Game"

     Billy Ford:

    • NSW State Team 1919, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1927, 1928, 1929. Australian Team vs Stanford 1928. Australian Team vs Multnomah 1929.Best NSW pitcher in first half of 20th century.

     Alf Emmerick:

    • NSW State Team 1917, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, captain 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1932. captain-coach 1949.
    •  Australian Team vs Stanford 1928.

    The father of the Emmerick dynasty. 12 years a state rep. Bridged era of post-Spalding, pre-Claxton into the Claxton Shield era.

    Father of Colin and Alan. Australian Team vs Multnomah 1929.

     Kevin Cantwell

    • NSW State Team 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964,  1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 coach, 1972 coach.QLDState Manager 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978.  Australian Team 1962, 1963, 1965, 1968. Helms Award 1963.

     Ron “Bandy” McPherson:

    • NSW State Team 1948, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1961, 1962. WA State Team 1959, 1960.

    "Bandy McPherson and his famous "Look out!" pitch which was aimed at the batters' head. Bandy would shout "Look out!" and as the batter jumped back, the ball would break down and away for a strike." 11 years a state rep!

     Ray Lawler:

    •  

      NSW Wartime Team 1944, NSWState Team 1946, 1947 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957. Australian Team  1948. Most Outstanding Individual Performance in 1948 Claxton Shield (12 no hit innings against WA).

     Ross Straw:

    •   VIC Wartime Team 1942, 1943, VICState Team 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1955, captain 1957,1959,1960,1961,1962, Captain-Coach 1963,1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969. 1956 Olympic Team, Australian Team 1948, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1962, Manager 1968, 1969, Australia  vs Japan First Modern International Tournament 1968.  

    'For Love of the Game' - In memory of Ross Straw, Written by Don Knapp

    Researched by John Anderson, Peter Dihm and Baseball Victoria

    Although a great admirer of Ross Straw the Baseball coach, player and administrator, I could not say I personally knew the man well until we had the opportunity to share quality time in Sydney prior to the 2000 Olympics. The ABF organised a weekend reunion for the 1956 Olympic Baseball Team that Ross had captained / coached. All up, I managed to grab about four hours of the great man’s time in Sydney over dinner. Never one to tell you about his achievements (he always remained sort of transfixed and in awe of the wonders of the game itself) it struck me as remarkable that much of what Australian baseball is achieving today, in relation to elite youth development, professional player success and international competitiveness mirrors the visions of Ross Straw back in the 1960s and 70s. In his typically humble way, later in life Ross was simply chuffed to see the sport had come so far; he showed no desire to discuss his personal contributions whatsoever. It was not until his passing that it brought me back into contact with former ABF and Victorian President John Anderson (who knew Ross so well) that I have been able to truly piece together a perspective about the massive contribution to our sport Ross Straw made in his lifetime. In a sense, one can’t help but feel that to a significant degree, in the current era of baseball development we all ride on the coat-tails of much of Ross’ early work – a snapshot of which appears below:

    • A lifetime of contribution to Victorian club baseball coaching, playing and administration
    • (Essendon – home club). Represented Victorian state teams as a player or coach from 1946 to 1969. One of the first players (RHP) scouted and offered a contract by a U.S. Major League Baseball Club (the Red Sox). First Australian born professional scout.
    • Australian coach / captain 1956 Olympic Games. First Australian coach to visit U.S. Major League Baseball clubs for coach education in the 1960s.
    • Was the catalyst for the development of Ross Straw Field in RoyalPark , Melbourne… the first dedicated ball field in Australia.
    • Was the Australian coach when Australia hosted its first Japanese team in Melbourne in 1968 (also played in Adelaide and Sydney ).
    • Lead the way for Australia ’s first invitation to participate in the highly competitive Baseball Federation of Asia tournaments. First appointed national coaching director (appointed by what was then the Australian Baseball Council, now the ABF ) in 1975 and formed Australia ’s first ever national elite coaching committee.Coordinated the famous Bob Shaw coaching / lecture tour of Australia in 1975.
    • Coordinated Australia ’s first ever overseas AAA (18 and under) national team tour in 1976.
    • Ross established Australia ’s first ever youth training and competition support networks in Florida with Major League Baseball clubs, high schools and colleges … many of these networks are still in place, including the Georgia Southern University connection.
    • Secured the first ever Federal sports funding grant for youth baseball from the newly formed Australian Department of Sport in 1976 / 77.

    The collection of personal awards and honours that Ross was bestowed in his lifetime is too exhaustive to itemise herewith … to highlight them would also not be in keeping with Ross’ great humility and respect for the sport. He did it all for the love of the game.

    Please join us in thanking and acknowledging Ross Straw’s lifetime commitment and

    dedication to Australian baseball and the people, young and old, who were fortunate enough to have known this wonderful man.

    Dave Roberts:

    • SA State Team 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1962.   Australian Team 1950, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1955, captain 1962.

     Don Deeble:

    • VictoriaState Team 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1969. Australian Team 1954, 1957, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1969. Best Series Player in Australian Team 1955.

     Graham Deany:

    •  

      VictoriaState Team 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966. Australian Team 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966. Helms Award 1965. 

     Neil Page:

    •  

      SA State Team 1964, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974. WA State Team 1975, 1976, 1977. Australian Team 1964,  1965, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, Australia vs Japan First Modern International Tournament 1968. Helms Award 1969.

    Son of Roy Page, first Australian to be signed by MLB Cincinnati but wrecked his arm. Pitched 19 innings in night grand final.

     Kevin Greatrex:

    •  

      SA State Team 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971,  1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, Manager 1982, 1983. NT State Coach 1986. Australian Team  1963, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, Australia vs Japan First Modern International Tournament 1968. Claxton Shield Helms Award 1966, Claxton  Shield Batting Award 1972,  1972 All Star Team.

     Larry Home

    • QLDState Team 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980. WA State Team 1981, 1982. NSWState Team 1982. Australian Team 1972. 1972 All Star Team, Claxton Shield Helms Award 1975, Claxton Shield Batting Award 1975. 

      David Mundy:

    •  SA State Team 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981. Coach 1985, 1986,1987. Australian Team 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, Australia vs Japan First Modern International Tournament 1968.  Clubs East Torrens , Port Adelaide , Payneham, Claxton Shield Helms Award 1973, Capps Award, Todd Award, 1972 All Star Team.

    Chose baseball over cricket in the switch to summer.

     John Swanson:

    •  

      VictoriaState Team 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975.  Australian Team 1964, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1973, Australia vs Japan First Modern International Tournament 1968. Claxton Shield Helms Award 1968, Claxton Shield Batting Award 1967, 1968.

    Choose baseball over cricket in switch to summer.

      Adrian Meagher:

    • QLDState Team 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1988, Pitching Coach 1985. Los Angeles organisation. Gold Coast Cougars Coach/Manager 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1999,
    Queensland Rams, 1999 Intercontinental Cup Team in Sydney , Australian Olympic Team 2000. Claxton Shield All Star Team 1982,ABL Manager of the Year 1990,ABL All Star Team 1990,ABL All Star Team 1991,ABL Manager of the Year 1991,ABL Pitcher of the Year 1992,ABL MVP 1992,ABL All Star Team 1992,ABL All Star Team 1993,ABL All Star Team 1999. 

    One of Lismore's greatest success stories. Adrian Meagher is one of the finest pitchers that Australia has ever produced. The Lismore born right hander signed professionally with Los Angeles Dodgers in '83 and reached ' AAA' before his professional career came to an end. Back home he was an outstanding pitcher for Queensland in the Claxton Shield days. When the ABL was born, Meagher was the player-manager of Gold Coast Clippers who became Daikyo Dolphins. It was during the second year with the Dolphins that Meagher showed just what a competitor he was. Meagher abandoned the normal three days rest between pitching. Quite often he would start game one of a road trip and then come back to start the last game! He threw a league-high 107 innings, struck out a then record 102 batters, took a 13-2 record and posted a league-leading 1.93 ERA. It earned Meagher the honour as the ABL Pitcher of the Year and the league's MVP. But, Meagher's crowning glory was in the championship series, which the Dolphins won 3-1. He remained one of the foremost pitchers in the league until persistent arm injuries forced him to retire after the '95 season. Three years later, Meagher made a surprise comeback to pitch for Australia in the '98 World Championships in Italy . Nearing the big 40, Meagher decided to resume his great ABL career in the '99 season and he was rewarded with another Championship ring at the end of the season. Far from being a "novelty" at his age, Meagher simply added another chapter to his outstanding career, further enhancing his superb career numbers with his 6-1 record, three saves and one complete game. The heady, highly experienced Meagher was a huge bonus coming out of the bullpen, used in both middle relief and as a closer. He started in just four of his 18 appearances during '99. He also earned his Championship success by recording another two wins in the post season. Still not content with his '99 success, Meagher was a superb performer for the Australian team that won Gold at the Intercontinental Cup in Sydney . Used as both a starter and in relief during the tournament, Meagher was the key middle-relief pitcher in our Gold Medal game against Cuba . Adrian Meagher ended the first decade of Australian major league baseball as one of the few pitchers whose career spanned the full ten years of the ABL and he is clearly one of its finest ever players. He was an obvious selection for 'Flintoff & Dunn's All-Australian Roster of the Decade' and an inaugural inductee to our Hall-of-Fame. Still not content to hang up his cleats, Meagher took the mound again for the Queensland Rams during the first season of the IBLA in 2000. He set about lowering his career ERA once again - and is just about in rare company, a career ERA in the twos.  We should no longer be surprised by anything he does!"  [F/D]  

    Phil Dale:

    • VICState Team 1981. Waverley Reds 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996,  Melbourne Reds 1997, Melbourne Monarchs 1998, 1999, 1999 Intercontinental Cup Team in Sydney, Coach Australian Olympic Team 2000, 2004. Coach IBLA Australia Team 2001. Clubs Ringwood, Waverley , Waverley Reds, Melbourne Reds, Melbourne Monarchs, IBLA Australia . Outstanding Jnr Player 1979,  

      ABL All Star Team 1990, ABL Championship Series MVP 1990, ABL MVP 1990, ABL  Pitcher of the Year 1990, ABL Manager of the Year 1990, 1993, ABL All Star Team 1993, ABL All Star Team 1995, ABL Championship Series MVP 1995, ABL Pitcher of the Year 1995, ABL All Star Team 1997.

    One of the best products of the Australian junior system. "The Waverley / Melbourne Reds may never have a more significant contributor or greater hero than pitching maestro Phil Dale. He was the club's first manager, the finest starting pitcher in the league and led the Reds to the first ever ABL Championship. Dale was named Manager of the Year, Pitcher of the Year and the inaugural MVP of the ABL to cap that first season with a list of individual honours which will be hard to top, including a Cy Young-like 1.44 ERA.  

    Dale became the first Australian to receive a full four year baseball scholarship from an American college when signed by Georgia Southern. He signed with the famous Cincinnati Reds where he reached 'AA'. He later became a coach with Cincinnati and then the Atlanta Braves organisation. Dale is the only ABL pitcher with 50 wins and 400 strikeout victims. Three times he has been named an All-Star, twice as Pitcher of the Year and MVP of the Championship series in '95. , Dale stunned baseball circles when he joined cross town rivals, Melbourne Monarchs, where he posted another first class season in '97. Dale became the first ABL pitcher to post 60 wins (next highest was David White with 41!) in the '98 season, which saw him lead the league in innings pitched, strike outs and complete games. Simply, he stands alone as Australia 's greatest pitcher."   [F/H]

     Bob Nilsson

    • QLDState Team 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1988.  Cincinnati Reds organisation Daikyo Dolphins 1990, 1991, 1992. Gold Coast Cougars 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, Brisbane  Bandits 1996,

    Queensland Rams 2002. Clubs Wilston-Grange, North Stars, Daikyo Dolphins, Gold Coast Cougars, Queensland  Rams, ABL All Star Team 1990, ABL Reliever of the Year 1991, ABL All Star Team 1991, ABL All Star Team 1992, ABL All Star Team 1994, ABL All Star Team 1995.

     Brother of Dave and Gary. “Eldest brother of this great baseball family, Bob has left his own mark in the annals of the ABL . A little known fact is that Bob Nilsson was the first Australian of the modern era to sign professionally with a major league team - Cincinnati Reds in 1978!  While his professional career never reached any dizzy heights, Nilsson has been one of the ABL greats. He began with Gold Coast Clippers, where he led the team with a .315 average, but was almost unhittable as a closer: 3-4 with two saves and a 1.11 ERA! But that served only as an appetiser to his season with Daikyo Dolphins in '91. Nilsson went 7-0 with seven saves and a remarkable 0.27 ERA - he allowed one earned run in 21 outings, stretching over 33.2 innings. Truly remarkable and never likely to be repeated. The next season, Nilsson posted 10 saves along with his 2-3 record for a 2.68 ERA.  

    Nilsson has fluctuated between the Coast and Brisbane over several seasons and was always to the forefront in the league's saves category.  No other pitcher has saved more games than Nilsson, who became the first pitcher in the league to pass 50 with his four saves in '98. Three times Nilsson has been selected to the All Star 'A' team with two more appearances in the 'B' team.  He led the league in appearances (27) in '98 and as usual performed well enough to suggest he could continue in '99. However, Bob chose to make '98 his swansong, content to retire as the most successful relief pitcher in the first decade of Australian major league baseball. An inaugural inductee to our Hall-of-Fame, of course he was an automatic selection for Flintoff & Dunn's All-Australian Roster of the Decade.”  [F/D]

      Ron Johnson:

    • QLDState Team 1988. Gold Coast Clippers 1990, Daikyo Dolphins 1991, 1992, Brisbane Bandits 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, Gold Coast Cougars 1997, 1998, manager/player 1999, 1999 Intercontinental Cup Team in Sydney, Queensland Rams 2000, Australian Olympic Team 2000.Clubs Daikyo  Dolphins, Brisbane Bandits, Gold Coast, Queensland Rams. ABL All Star Team 1991, ABL All Star Team 1992, ABL All Star Team 1994, ABL All Star Team 1995,   ABL All Star Team 1996, ABL All Star Team 1997, ABL All Star Team 1998, ABL All Star Team 1999.

    "From whichever angle you look at the ABL , Ron Johnson is indelibly linked. For openers, Johnson was a founding owner of the Gold Coast Clippers, an experience that had more lows than highs. He was then a pivotal player with Daikyo Dolphins during it and the league's halcyon days. Johnson shifted to Brisbane where he played a key role in the Bandits' sole Championship. After three years with the Bandits, Johnson returned to the Gold Coast for what became his career year. Others will argue the '91 season was Johnson's best when he hit .383/11/34, but that was in a you beaut team. Johnson's performance in '97 - .332/16/63 for a fifth placed team was better and, to this author's way of thinking, deserving of the league's MVP. If you take out Johnson's first season with the Clippers where he obviously had other things on his mind and hit an un-Johnson like .212, the former American's worst season saw him hit .279. Although playing on beyond his mid 30s, Johnson showed few signs of fading away. He was at his awesome best in '98 where he led the league in RBIs, finished second in home runs and hit a healthy .321. And, of course, he played in every game. With the responsibility of managing the Cougars in '99 and the arrival of some players from Brisbane , 36yo Johnson decided to slightly limit his own appearances. However, this did not stop him batting over .300 for the fifth time in his career. Perhaps fittingly Ron Johnson rounded out the first decade of Australian major league baseball by leading Gold Coast to the ABL Championship, where he was again a significant contributor in the post season. He completed a highly successful 1999 by playing a key role in the Australian team that won Gold at the Intercontinental Cup in Sydney . Johnson is one of only 15 players to have appeared in all ten seasons of ABL competition and he completed the decade with a host of individual honours to emphasise his contributions. His 457 appearances was 2nd all-time, while he was the all-time leader for home runs, RBI's and walks. An inaugural inductee to our Hall-of-Fame, 'Big Ron' was also an obvious selection as DH for 'Flintoff & Dunn's All-Australian Roster of the Decade'. Johnson was back in action for Queensland Rams during the first IBLA season in 2000. 38yo Johnson played every game and had the most at bats for the Rams but we found ourselves rubbing our eyes in disbelief at his miserable .186 average. While he struck out too often, six of his 13 hits went for extra bases. 'Flintoff & Dunn' will not write a post mortem for our Hall of Famer based on just one bad season!"  [F/D]

     Andrew Scott:

      Adelaide Giants 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, SA Bite 2000. Australian Olympic Team 1996. ABL All Star Team 1990, ABL All Star Team 1991, ABL All Star Team 1994, ABL Gold Glove 1994,  ABL All Star Team 1995, ABL All Star Team 1996, ABL All Star Team 1997, ABL Batting Title 1997, ABL MVP 1997, ABL All Star Team 1999.

    Andrew Scott was one of the genuine greats of the Australian Baseball League. Few players made such a lasting impact over such a length of time as the Adelaide Giants second baseman. Scott's name is prominent in all offensive lifetime categories. He led the league in at bats, runs scored, hits - the first player to reach 400 - and doubles.  No one played more games and only David Nilsson and Greg Jelks owned a higher lifetime average. Seven times he hit above .300 in a season and it is worth looking at his worst season of his first eight: '93 when he went .294/6/18 - yes, that was his worst season!  Repeatedly represented Australia , including the '96 Atlanta Olympics. Also, he is one of a handful to hit .400 in a season. Scott hit a league-high .414 in '97, the season that saw him crowned MVP.  

    Apart from his average, Scott led the league in on-base percentage (.505) and hits (75). One can only assume the '98 season where he hit an "un-Scott like" .274 was an aberration. Scott played in the Japan Industrial League during each off season.  He represented Australia at the Inter Continental Cup at Barcelona in '97 and the World Cup in Italy in '98. He was back near his best for the table-topping Giants in '99 when he hit .310 and his league leading 41 RBI's deprived Reds' Adam Burton of the Triple Crown. He also did his best to ignite the Giants for a first title, batting .375 in their losing playoff semi-final. Scott was named a 1st team ABL All-Star for the third time in '99 to go along with his four times selected as a 2nd Team All-Star. Andrew Scott ends the first decade of Australian major league baseball as one of only 15 players to have appeared in all ten ABL seasons and his reputation is permanently etched in history as one of its greatest ever players. An inaugural inductee to 'Flintoff & Dunn's Hall-of-Fame', he was an automatic choice for our All-Australian Roster of the Decade. The arrival of the IBLA in season 2000 saw an almost unrecognisable Scott reappear for SA Bite. Perhaps struggling to come to terms with a wooden bat and/or the short IBLA season, Scott was barely a shadow of the player so feared at the plate during ABL competition. We can scarcely believe that Scott was reduced to a "sub.200" average and we wouldn't advise anyone to bet it will happen again! [F/D]

     Tony Adamson:

    • WA State Team 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, Perth Heat 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, Manager 1994, 1995., Australian Olympic Team 1988. Clubs Morley Eagles, Perth Heat. Claxton Shield Helms Award 1989,  ABL All Star Team 1990, ABL All Star Team 1991, ABL All Star Team 1992, ABL All Star Team 1993, ABL All Star Team 1994.  

    "Power hitting first baseman who was the league's home run king in 1991 and '92. Adamson launched double figure home run in five successive seasons - a feat matched only  by Ron Johnson. In fact, Adamson's home run dominance can be measured by the fact that he led the league in career home runs for two seasons after he retired. He also led the league in RBIs for three years.  Adamson is a member of an elite group who owns a lifetime .300 average, has hammered more than 50 home runs and driven home 200 RBIs. He also represented Australia with distinction, but work commitments affected into his availability. Surprisingly, Adamson retired as a player aged 32 when his numbers suggested he could have been a significant contributor for many more years. He spent the last two years of his ABL career as player/manager of Perth Heat with an impressive 81-38 record. Unfortunately, Adamson was unable to convert the brilliant regular season performances into Championships. It should not detract from his outstanding performance. He's destined for the ABL 's Hall Of Fame." [F/H]

    Craig Shipley:

    Coach Parramatta Patriots 1990, San Diego Padres, Houston Astros. First modern Australian to make it to the US Major Leagues.  

    Dave Nilsson:

    • QLDState Team 1986, 1987, 1988, Daikyo Dolphins Assistant Coach 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, Brisbane Bandits 1994, 1997. Manager Waverley Reds 1995, 1996, 1997, Manager Queensland Rams 2003, player/coach 2004. Milwaukee Brewers organisation, captain 1999 Intercontinental Cup Team in Sydney , captain Australian Olympic Team 2000, 2004. Clubs Daikyo Dolphins, Brisbane Bandits, Waverley Reds,
    Queensland Rams. Claxton Shield Helms Award 1988,  ABL All Star Team 1991, ABL MVP 1991,  ABL All Star Team 1994, ABL All Star Team 1995, ABL Batting Award 1995, Many others. 

    The king of them all. Australia 's most successful baseballer of all time. "David Nilsson owns the biggest profile in Australian baseball history and deservedly so. No other player has done more single-handedly to put Australian baseball on the world map.  

    Nilsson, signed professionally as a teenager, is now a bona fide major league star. Those signs were apparent very early when he won the Claxton Shield Helms award as 18-year-old.  He made his major league debut in '92 for Milwaukee Brewers, but his stay has been interrupted by frustrating injuries, not the least RossRiver fever. In '96 a broken foot delayed his major league season, but he recovered to hit .331, sixth in the American League. Back home, Nilsson was synonymous with ABL Championships, having played in pennant winning teams with the Dolphins, Bandits and Reds. After buying a stake in the ownership of the Reds and then playing a pivotal role - he was the batting champion hitting .388 - in the team's Championship success, Nilsson severed ties with the club four months later.  Despite the rigours of his professional career, Nilsson accepted the role as manager of the Bandits in 97 and took them to the Championship series.  Injury prevented him from playing in '98 and as a consequence the league suffered. Nilsson was unavailable to play in the ABL again during '99, but he certainly made his presence felt during the Intercontinental Cup in Sydney. Clearly THE key player in leading Australia to our first ever international baseball Gold Medal, Nilsson was fittingly rewarded when he was voted Player of the Tournament and in the All-World Team. In the USA, Nilsson had a "career season" with Milwaukee , returning to his familiar role as catcher and providing some impressive power hitting . He was among the home run leaders and batting well over .300 when he earned selection for the American League in the prestigious MLB All-Star Game in Boston. Obviously he was the first Australian to achieve this ultimate personal honour. Taking over as majority owner of the league during '99, much of the future of Australian major league baseball rests with the significant presence of David Nilsson as he leads Australia into a "brave new world" with his International Baseball League of Australia. The first decade of Australian major league baseball certainly owes a lot to one D. Nilsson."  [F/D]  

    Graeme Lloyd:

    • Melbourne Monarchs 1990, Perth Heat 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, Brisbane Bandits 1995. MilwaukeeBrewers,
    New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets. Clubs Geelong, Melbourne Monarchs, Perth Heat, Brisbane Bandits, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets. ABL Championship Series MVP 1991.

    Originally from Victoria , one of Australia's best players to  make it in MLB. “Graeme Lloyd is one of nine Australians to make it to baseball's elite - the major league level. Born on the outskirts of Geelong, Lloyd was signed by Toronto Blue Jays on 26 January '88 . After posting a 1.96 ERA for the Blue Jays 'AA' team, Lloyd was taken by Milwaukee Brewers in the Rule 5 draft. He made his major league debut on April 11, '93 for the Brewers with David Nilsson forming the first ever all-Australian battery. Lloyd was named the Brewers' Rookie-of-the-Year after he posted a 3-4, 2.83 record in 55  appearances. Three years later he was traded to New York Yankees where, after a dreadful start when suffering from bone spurs, Lloyd emerged as one of the darlings of the Big Apple thanks to his middle relief heroics in the '96 World Series. Lloyd threw 5.2 scoreless innings during the post-season, and collected the win in the Yankee's epic come-from-behind win in game 5. He excelled in the pressure-cooker situations to be feted by wildly happy New Yorkers. He again performed well in the 1998 World Series triumph by the Yankees. Before the 1999 US season, Lloyd found himself shipped to Toronto along with Yankee team mates David Wells and Homer Bush as part of the blockbuster trade that took Roger Clemens to New York . At times Yankee fans bemoaned the loss of Lloyd's left arm relief pitching. At the end of '99 he signed a three-year $13 million contract with Montreal Expos. Back home, Lloyd was literally head and shoulders above the pack. After pitching Perth to the '91 Championship, he was named MVP. Not surprisingly, no other Australian pitcher owns a better lifetime ERA (2.34) over a long career.  Lloyd was an inaugural inductee to Flintoff & Dunn's Hall-of-Fame and an automatic choice for our All-Australian Roster of the Decade.”  [F/D]

     

    2006

    Mervyn Deigan

    Nominated as a player

    • First Grade in NSW 1945-1957
    • Represented NSW Claxton Shield 1946-51, 53, 54, 57.
    • Selected in Australian All Stars Team 1946-51
    • Brilliant third baseman and relief pitcher

      Jack Rowley

    Nominated as a player

    • Represented NSW 1947-51, 1957-60
    • Represented Australia 1947-49. 1956
    • Held the record for most number of home
    • runs in Claxton Shield for decades

      Alan Albury

    Nominated as a player

    • Represented QLD 1973-74, 1976-79, 1981-83
    • Played ABL 1990
    • Represented Australia 1973-1981
    • First Australian pitcher to pitch a winning game against Cuba
    • Played in every International Baseball event that Australia participated in from1972-1981
    • Voted best Australian player in the 1980 World Cup
    • Helms Award 1976

      Lionel Harris

    Nominated as a player

    • Played 1st Grade in NSW Baseball League Major League
    • Competition with Auburn Orioles For the 15 years – 1975,6,7,8,9,1980,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, & 9
    • In 1976 won the CombinedHigh School ‘Blue Award’ for Baseball.
    • NSW Player of the year three times - 1977-78, 1980-81,  and 1987-88 seasons
    • Represented NSW in interstate and Claxton Shield, spanning 12 years 1977 – 1989 inclusive Parramatta Patriots 1989 Pitcher, Outfielder, Designated Hitter
    • NSW Player of the year three times - 1977-78, 1980-81, 1987-88.
    • Selected in the Claxton Shield All Star Team 1980, 81, 82, 85,
    • Selected in the ABL All Star Team 1989
    • Winning the Claxton Shield 1981 Australian Batting trophy, in Adelaide Australia
    • Nominated for the Confederation of Australian SPORTS Australia Awards -1981
    • Player in the NSW team - Winning the 1989 Claxton Shield
    • Represented Australia – for 10-year period. (1979, 1980, 1981,1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987.) 
    • 13th Asian Series – won Home Run King award held in Perth, Australia with 7 homeruns in 8 games, February 85
    • 1985 - Intercontinental Cup series - Named Molson player of the Match (MVP) for Games 1 & 2 against Canada and Japan
    • 1985 - Intercontinental Cup series - Selected into the World All Star team as centerfield
    • 1986 - Selected captain of the Australian team for the America ’s cup ‘Festival of Sport’ held in Perth & 1987 - National Baseball Team that went to Japan for the Olympic qualifying games.

      Ray Michell

    Nominated as a player

    • Played Claxton Shield 1973-75, 1977-84, 1986, 1990
    • Represented Australia 1973, 77, 78, 79, 80,81, 86
    • IBA Pitcher of the series 1980, World Championships, Japan
    • Helms Award 1978

    Jon Deeble

     Nominated in a Special Category as a Player/Manager

     

    • Represented Victoria 1981-86
    • Played ABL 1990-99
    • Represented Australia 1985-87, 1991, 1993
    • Australian Olympic Team 1988
    • ABL Pitching Stats:  W/L- 13/14; ERA- 3.69; G- 56;
    • CG- 11; SV- 1; H- 280; HR- 21; R- 120; ER- 98;
    •  BB- 55; K- 123; IP- 239
    • ABL Hitting Stats:  G- 273; AB- 812; R- 144; AVG- .300;
    • H- 244; 2B- 46; 3B- 2; HR- 10; SB; 19; RBI- 107; BB- 111; SO- 82
    • Melbourne Monarchs Manager 1993-99
    • Victoria Aces 2000
    • Manager IBLA Australian Team 2001
    • Win Record as Manager 201 Wins 182 Losses, .525
    • Intercontinental Cup, Sydney Coach 1999
    • Australian Olympic Team Manager 2000
    • Silver Medallist Australian Olympic Team Manager 2004
    • Florida Marlins Coach 1993-2003
    • Boston Red Sox Coach 2004-05
    • First Australian to Coach in Major League Baseball
1999 Intercontinental Cup Team in Sydney , Australian Olympic Team 2000. Claxton Shield All Star Team 1982,ABL Manager of the Year 1990,ABL All Star Team 1990,ABL All Star Team 1991,ABL Manager of the Year 1991,ABL Pitcher of the Year 1992,ABL MVP 1992,ABL All Star Team 1992,ABL All Star Team 1993,ABL All Star Team 1999.  Rams. Claxton Shield Helms Award 1988,  ABL All Star Team 1991, ABL MVP 1991,  ABL All Star Team 1994, ABL All Star Team 1995, ABL Batting Award 1995, Many others.  Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Mets. Clubs Geelong, Melbourne Monarchs, Perth Heat, Brisbane Bandits, Milwaukee Brewers, Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Mets. ABL Championship Series MVP 1991.