Irish Baseball Association | Championship 1961-1966

Results

YearWinnersRunners-Up
1961Tramore Sea Lions14Waterford Walruses12 *
1962Waterford Walruses8Tramore Sea Lions7
1963
1964Dublin Baseball Club7Waterford Baseball Club1
1965
1966Dublin Baseball Club10Waterford Baseball Club9

Reference: [1][2][4][6]

Report

The first ever Baseball game played in public between two Irish teams was between the Tramore Sea Lions and Waterford Walruses in Tramore in 1961. The teams were of 12-15 year olds and were the only two in the country at the time. After playing a number of games through the season they played a Championship game at the end, won 14-12 by Tramore in extra innings. [1]

Waterford Walruses gained revenge the following year, winning by the slimmest of margins 8-7. [2]

In 1963 there were plans for Tramore to visit Netherlands, which is one of the 10 Major Baseball Countries in the World. [3]

By 1964 the Tramore Club appears to have disappeared and a new Club formed in Dublin, with the Irish Baseball Association being formed by the Dublin and Waterford Baseball Clubs. Dublin shocked the more experienced Waterford 7-1 in 1964. [4]

In 1965 the Dutch Federation planned to send a team to Ireland to play the first International here. The Waterford Club managed to get hold of colour film of the 1965 World Series which caused great excitement. [5]

The 1966 Championship was won by Dublin, 10-9 over Waterford, with a big fourth innings where they scored seven runs. [6]

The teams were for players 12-15 years old. Baseball appears to have ceased in Ireland after this.

References:

Sources:

[1] Anon. (1961) “Tramore Sea Lions Baseball Champions” Waterford News and Star. Tuesday, September 5, 1961. pg. 5

[2] Anon. (1962) “Waterford are Baseball Champions for 1962”. Munster Express. Friday, September 7, 1962. pg. 10.

[3] Anon. (1963) “Tramore Notes : If Present Plans Materialise” Munster Express. Friday, July 26, 1963. pg. 4.

[4] Anon. (1964) “Baseball | Explosions misfired” Waterford News and Star. Friday, September 25, 1964. pg. 13.

[5] Anon. (1966) “Baseball At Top Level | Colour Film of World Series for Waterford” Munster Express. Friday, August 19, 1966. pg. 18.

[6] Anon. (1966) “Baseball | Waterford Bows to Dublin” Munster Express Friday, October 7, 1966. pg. 19.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Hugh Mulcahy

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 6 July 2019

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.

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