Eirball – Irish, North American and World Baseball, Softball and Rounders Archive

The Eirball – Irish, North American and World Sports Archives – sub-site devoted to Irish, North American and World Baseball, Softball and Rounders where the All-Time Statistical History (Results, Standings, Rosters) of Rounders, Baseball and Softball in Ireland, the Irish Abroad and those who have immigrated to Ireland can be found.

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Header Image Credits: see Image Credits

This is the Eirball Index Page to All-Time Results and Standings of the Irish Baseball League and other Baseball Leagues in Ireland such as the WW2 League among US and Canadian Soldiers stationed in Northern Ireland for the duration of the War.

Irish Baseball League

In mid-1990s a few Leinster Softball players wanted something more competitive and atarted the first Irish Baseball League in 1997. With funding from the Irish-American owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers Major League Baseball team, a puropse-built Baseball Diamond was made in Corkagh Park, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, including a Little League field, and the League has been in existence since, celebrating its 25th anniverary in 2021.

Irish Baseball League Preseason

Irish Baseball Leagues 1942-1988

Cadet Baseball Leagues

Baseball has been played in Ireland since the first visiting American Major League teams in the 1870s, and the first Leagues in Ireland were played by American and Canadian Baseball playersstationed in Northern Ireland during the Second World War. In the 1960s the Youth first teams in Ireland were formed in Dublin and Waterford, and the Irish Baseball Association was formed by these teams. In 1982 the first Dublin Softball League (Softball is a recreational version of Baseball) season was played (the League is still in existence as the Leinster Softball League) 1988 the Donegal Baseball and Softball Association played a Youth Baseball season

Northern Ireland Baseball Championship

From 1942, when US Soldiers, Navy & Airmen stationed in Northern Ireland during World War II played in the Northern Ireland Baseball League and 8th US Air Corps Baseball Championship, to the Youth Baseball Championships played in Waterford & Dublin in the 1960s (The Irish Baseball Association) and Donegal (The Donegal Baseball & Softball Association) there have been Baseball Leagues in Ireland.

Baseball Ireland Teams

Baseball Ireland Awards & Records

Baseball Ireland honours outstanding achievements in the Irish Baseball League.

Baseball Ireland International Tournaments

The Dublin, Ulster and Ashbourne International Baseball Tournaments have been a highlight of the Baseball Ireland Calendar since 2002.

Confederation of European Baseball

Ireland’s first foray into the European Baseball Championships occured in 1996, and with the National Team, and Juniors have been competing on a Regular basis in Europe since. In addition Irish Baseball League Champions have represented Ireland in European Competitions.

Irish Baseball Tours of North America

From 2001 when Ireland’s National Baseball Team made its first Tour to New England, to the Buccaneers competing in the Men’s Senior Baseball League World Series, Irish Baseball teams have been making regular journeys across the Atlantic Ocean.

Amateur Baseball World Series

Irish teams have been competing in the Men’s Senior Baseball League Amateur World Series in Arizona since the 2010s. Ulster Buccaneers were the first, a team gathered together from Senior players in both Ireland and Britain, they have been competing in the MSBL Amateur World Series featuring teams from all over USA and Canada.

American Baseball In Ireland

Beginning in 1874 when Major League Baseball teams toured Ireland and Britain to the games played by US Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen during World Wars I and II and the Cold War, to Baseball re-enactments there has been a long history of American and Canadian Baseball Teams visiting Ireland

Visiting USA and Canadian Baseball Teams

In 1874, Major League Baseball teams visited Ireland for the earliest recorded Baseball match in Ireland, and, naturally enough, given the links between the countries, Ireland, along with France and Britain got the biggest promotion of Baseball when teams toured Europe during the era leading up to the First World War.

Major League Baseball in Ireland

During the First World War, teams of American and Canadian soldiers and sailors, stationed in Ireland for the duration, or visiting the shores of Ireland, played Baseball matches in aid of War Charities.

World War II Baseball in Northern Ireland

From 1942, when US Soldiers, Navy & Airmen stationed in Northern Ireland during World War II played in the Northern Ireland Baseball League and 8th US Air Corps Baseball Championship, to the Youth Baseball Championships played in Waterford & Dublin in the 1960s (The Irish Baseball Association) and Donegal (The Donegal Baseball & Softball Association) there have been Baseball Leagues in Ireland.

Re-enactments

In addition to the Northern Ireland Baseball League during WWII, there have been exhibition matches played by American and Canadian Soldiers and Sailors stationed in Ireland during WWI or visiting Irish shores. There has also been reenactments of famous Baseball matches, including the Amateur World Series of 1903, which was re-enacted on the 100th anniversary in Drum, Co. Roscommon, featuring relatives of players involved.