Results
| Year | Winners | Runners-Up | ||
| 1961 | Tramore Sea Lions | 14 | Waterford Walruses | 12 * |
| 1962 | Waterford Walruses | 8 | Tramore Sea Lions | 7 |
| 1963 | ||||
| 1964 | Dublin Baseball Club | 7 | Waterford Baseball Club | 1 |
| 1965 | ||||
| 1966 | Dublin Baseball Club | 10 | Waterford Baseball Club | 9 |
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
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