Full article: Classic post-war finals in British baseball
Submitted by Joe Gray on March 28, 2009 – 7:00 am9 Comments
Summary
In this article I look back at some of the classic baseball national finals played in Britain since the end of World War II. I define a classic final as one with a 1-run margin of victory or one that went to extra innings.
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Nice article Joe, well researched.
An excellent read. I always find it fascinating to learn about British baseball history and this is as good an article as you’ll find on the topic.
[...] through the pages on Mark Tobin’s site, but it was not until I was writing my article on classic finals in Britain that I realized just how indispensable a resource this site is. Without the efforts that Mark has [...]
[...] in March, I published an article titled Classic post-war finals in British baseball. In researching the article I received help from Norman Wells, a long-time Liverpool Trojan. [...]
I pitched for Bronsegrove throughout the summer of 1972. I was picked to pitch for an all-star team against the Netherlands and another team I can’t remember who. The games were played on the pitch at Hull. I pitched both games – we won the 1st one game and the second game was tied and called because of darkness. On the history of baseball in England web cite there in no mention of that game. I think that was the last year for men’s league play. I was stationed at RAF Upper Heyford, we played some yanks on that team and my brother just from the states caught he was 14. We had a player on our team that was in he’s 60’s playing 2nd base. He had played baseball in England for years. Could someone please help me with names and details. Thanks
Hi Charlie,
Many thanks for this comment. We’ll try to do what we can to help you…
Also, do you have any other recollections of playing baseball in England, or have you held onto any old photos, programmes, or other materials? If so, we’d be very keen to see them.
Which website are you referring you by the one with the “history of baseball England”?
I know that England played a team of Dutch 16-18 year olds in 1972, but Stan Windross was the English team’s pitcher, so that cannot be one of the games you are referring to (your catcher at Bromsgrove from 1972, Bill Casey, was Windross’s battery-mate in that game).
If you were playing for an All-Star team, rather than an official England side, then that may well be why it is not mentioned.
Do you have any more details on the second baseman in his 60s, as this may help narrow things down?
Joe,
I read your article on British baseball and was fascinated by your research. I was the Sun-Rockets player replaced by Spencer in the 1969 game. Indeed, I was American but I was working and living in the London area as was the case of a couple of my team mates (not illegal US Navy players. That 1969 championship game was even more exciting than you described it, as our opponents played the game very hard and I remember a number of incidents that came close to an altercation. That said, we drank and joked together with them after the game. I remember how sweet it was drinking beer from the cup! Alas, I have lost touch with all of the players, do you have any information on them; what about Peter Ash, our manager? Again, thank you for such a fine article. Yours respectfully, Phil Lago Merritt Island, Florida, USA
Hi Phil,
I love the internet for this very reason. The fact that I come across a newspaper clipping with a name in it, publish an article including that name, and then am in touch with person in question within a few months.
Thanks for the kind words about the article.
I’ve contacted you by email with regard to the questions.
Joe
Yes Joe,
It is truly a small world and the internet makes it smaller every day. I enjoyed my four years in the UK and the many friendships that I developed through the baseball team. Unfortunately, the years have taken some from us and I have lost touch with the others.
Phil