Players - Cheltenham Baseball Club

CHELTENHAM BASEBALL CLUB
A 100 YEARS OF COMPETITION FINEST 50 BALLPLAYERS
1914 ‐ 2014
FINEST 50 CRITERIA 1.
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Played in Firsts ‐ 5 seasons On field Success/Impact
Identity with Club Club Awards
Senior State, ABL, National Teams
BV & DBA Competition Awards
Performances as a Professional
CHELTENHAM’S FINEST 50 BALLPLAYERS THE PITCHERS
Steve Babidge
Adam Blackley
Travis Blackley
Greg Brown
Daryn Cassidy
Ross Chapman
Blake Cunningham
Steve Gourlay
Bruce Lines
Jack Middleton
Norm Nancarrow
Alan Tanner
Jim Scott
Andrew Russell
Jack Wadsworth
STEVE BABIDGE
 DBA A Grade League MVP 1991
 DBA Club A Grade MVP 1986, 1989
and 1992
 DBA B Grade League MVP 1981, 1999
Played 1985 to 1996
TRAVIS BLACKLEY
 2000 WP Aust
Played 1997 to Present
U18 v. Cuba
2000 Signed Seattle Mariners 2002‐4, 2008 Claxton Shield/ACES
2002 Australian Champions
2004 MLB debut: WP v Rangers
2009 Australia team World Classic
2012 Australian Player of the Year
2012 WS Ring Giants Org
MLB Record 192 inns 9 W, 9 L, ERA 5.23 Minors Record 1105 inns 69 W, 58 L, 3.97 ERA ADAM BLACKLEY
2001 Pitched in Firsts at 16  2002‐03 Div 2 Club MVP
 2003 Signed by Boston Red Sox
 Claxton Shield 2004, 05 ,07  2006 Intercontinental Cup
– All Star with lowest ERA
 2007 World Baseball Classic  ACES 2008 to 2012
 DBA A Grade Premierships  3 Div 1 Flags with Waverley – 2 wins each series 2009, 10, 11 
Played 2001 to Present
GREG BROWN
 DBA A Grade MVP 1996
 Div 2 MVP 1996‐97  BV Div 2 League Pitching 1992 “Our International Player who stayed on to become the backbone of our pitching staff ”
Played 1987 to 2000
DARYN CASSIDY
 2006 Winter MVP A Grade
with an ERA 1.26
2008, DBA MVP A Grade  Batted .436 in 2008
Played in 7 DBA A Grade GF
Winning pitcher in 6
Played 2001 to 2008
BLAKE CUNNINGHAM
 DBA A Grade MVP 2007, 2010,
and 2011
2012‐13 Div 1 MVP/Club
Champion
Melbourne ACES 2010/11,
2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14. ( 16 Games, 33 inns ERA 3.78)
Played 2006 to Present
ROSS CHAPMAN
 Hard throwing Right Hander
Specialist Closer
Australian team to Philippines 1968, Japan and Korea in 1971
Australian Teams against touring
Japanese teams in 1970’s
 Claxton Shield rep
Played 1960 – 1966 & 1973‐4
STEVE GOURLAY
 2003‐04 Div 2 Rookie of Year
 2006‐07 Golden Glove 1B  2011‐12 Div 1 MVP when he won 10 games  Right handed sidearm pitcher who was very hard on RH hitters
Played 2003 to 2013 Great control and competitor under pressure
BRUCE LINES A Grade at 16 years of age and pitched first 3 Cheltenham premierships, 1958, 1959 & 1960.
VPBL junior and senior rep. Claxton Shield rep
VBA interstate representative in night series.
Played for Prahran in early 60’s Played 1958 to 1964 JACK MIDDLETON
 9 consecutive Grand Finals pre WW2
Premierships Metro 1934, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1939, 1941
Victorian State Champions 1939, 1941
 129 Ks in 154.2 inns in 1934
 Claxton Shield rep
Played 1934 to 1941
 Several No Hitters/Shutouts
NORM NANCARROW
Claxton Shield 1966, 1967, and 1970
Chrysler Cup 1966/67
1968 A Grade GF Loss to Essendon ( 6‐8)
 RH Pitcher with an outstanding curve ball and a high strikeout rate. Played 1964 to 1972
ALAN TANNER
 Claxton Shield 4 Series
 1966 Chrysler Cup Series Australian Championship 1962 Pitched deciding game to defeat NSW 4‐2 ( and collected 2 hits)  1969 Summer Premiership WP going 16 inns 2‐1 v Alphington
 LH Hitter Club’s first DH.
Played 1960 to 1984
 1967 Lost a no hitter in 10th inns 0‐1 to Fitzroy ANDREW RUSSELL
2009 DBA A Grade MVP
DBA A Grade Grand Finals
2011 ACES BA .357 with 7 HR
2011 Signed with Atlanta Braves as a pitcher ( Pro Games 147 Inns 198 SO 153)
2013 Team Australia World Baseball Classic
Played 2005 to 2009
 Arguably the best all round baseball player for the Club. Could play any position and be best in league.
JIM SCOTT
“Prahran’s Pitcher Scott Swings Title Game
Played: 1947 to 1960
Claxton Shield
 Captained Victoria
 Club Batting Title  1948 BV A Grade MVP (109 K’s)
“Jimmy Scott won for Prahran, its first “A” Section baseball premiership. He pitched winning ball throughout and ended as fast as he started. He curbed strong batters, and out pitched champion Tom Proctor, his opponent”.
By Ern Crowley Sporting Globe Saturday 24 September 1949
JACK WADSWORTH
 1949 Shortstop in Prahran’s
A Grade Premiership.  1952 VBA A Grade MVP
 Claxton Shield Rep  Australian All Star (First in
Club)
 1957 Night Series AllStar
Played 1947 to 1957
CHELTENHAM’S FINEST 50 BALLPLAYERS THE CATCHERS Leo Anderson
Jim Bietzel
Jack Ferguson
Charlie Siddel
Mick Trevorah
Ted Wale
LEO ANDERSON
 Foundation member of the original Cheltenham Team and played in First A Grade Premiership 1958.
 1946 Married at 12pm in Registry Office and played in winning A Grade GF for St Kilda at 2pm.
 Great gloveman, highly respected for the way he ran the game and handled his pitchers.
 Not remembered for his hitting!
Played 1953 to 1962
Called everyone “ mate” because he couldn’t remember their names.
JIM BIETZEL
 Aggressive LH hitter with power
 Claxton Shield rep during 1950’s
“You have to have a catcher because if you don't you're likely to have a lot of passed balls”. Casey Stengel
Played 1955 to 1966
JACK FERGUSON
 9 consecutive Grand Finals pre WW2
Premierships Metro 1934, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1939, 1941
Claxton Shield Rep Victorian State Champions 1939, 1941
 Playing manager in 1949 in first BV “ Major League” A Grade Premiership at Olympic Park, defeating Collingwood (4‐
1).
Played: 1928 ‐1950
CHARLIE SIDDEL
DBA MVP 1970
Div2 Premiership 1982‐83
Played for Old Chelt , Prahran
and the amalgamated Club.
“If the game went long enough Charlie would find a way to win it”
Played late 1960’s to 1984
Div 1 HR in First Game as 18 yo
and in his last as 40 yo against Waverley at Kingstonheath
MICK TREVORAH
 Played Old Chelt and the Amalgamated Club
 1982/83 Div 2 Premiership
.411 hitter in Div 1 1975
 6 hits game Div 1 game Played 1973 to 1985 TED WALE
Claxton Shield Rep 4 series
Australian Championship
Best lead off hitter in history of the Club
No strikeouts in 1972 Played 1963 to 1978
BV Summer A grade Premiership v, Alphington in 1969 (2‐1) in 16th innings
Cheltenham’s “Finest 50” THE INFIELDERS
Russell Ferguson
Ross Upfill
Dav Whatmore
Bill Anderson
John Ferguson
George Ingram
Daniel Mack
Paul Ferguson
Gordon Tamblyn
Col Wale
Hayden Dingle
Tony Dinnie
Lance Purton
Darren Smith
CHELTENHAM’S FINEST 50 BALLPLAYERS THE FIRST BASEMAN Hayden Dingle
Tony Dinnie
Lance Purton
Darren Smith
HAYDEN DINGLE
 Outstanding high average power hitter and RBI batter
BV Div Home Run Title 2012‐
13
4 Seasons as Club Coach and Playing Manager to 2012‐13 –
twice into Div 1 finals Played 2009 to 2014
Played 2008 to 2013
Always amongst the league’s batting leaders during time in the game
TONY DINNIE
 Durable and reliable both in the field and with the bat.
 Played in all the infield positions. Filled in as needed by team. DBA A grade Grand Finals
DBA Rep Played 1990 to 2004
VPBL and Australian Provincial All Star and rep
LANCE PURTON
 Regular DBA representative and
VPBL All Star.
Runner up to pitchers in DBA Best
Player Award five times.
 High average LH hitter.
Key member of the powerful
Cheltenham teams prior to
amalgamation
Played 1960 to 1974
 Played First Base in Div 1 after
the amalgamation with a lot of
success.
DARREN SMITH
1995 DBA A Grade League MVP Club Champion DBA 1995, 1996,
2000, 2001 and 2002
2002 DBA League A Grade Batting
.500 BA
 BV Div 1 HR title.
 High average hitter with exceptional HR power
Played 1990s to 2003 CHELTENHAM’S FINEST 50 BALLPLAYERS THE SECONDBASEMEN
Gordon Tamblyn
Paul Ferguson
Col Wale
PAUL FERGUSON
A superb defensive player with exceptional range
 Australian team to the Philippines in 1968, Japan and Korea in 1971
Australian Teams against touring Japanese teams in 1970’s
 8 Claxton Shields, 3 Australian Championships
 BV Div 1 Golden Glove
Played: 1966 to 1984
 Club Champion GORDON TAMBLYN
 Batted clean up when Club dominated the BV Metropolitan Division.
 Batted .440 in 1938 hitting safely in every game he played.
 6 consecutive Grand Finals pre WW2
 Premierships 1934, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1939 and 1941. Victorian State Champions 1939, 1941
 Claxton Shield rep
Played: 1936 to 1949
 First “ Major League” BV A Grade Premiership 1949 at Olympic Park, defeating Collingwood (4‐1)
COL WALE
 Specialist at getting on base to set the table for the RBI men
3 Claxton Shield Series
 All Star Team Night Series South Melbourne in the 1957
Club Coach 1969 ‐1971
Played 1952 to 1963
CHELTENHAM’S FINEST 50 BALLPLAYERS THE THIRD BASEMEN
Bill Anderson
George Ingram
John Ferguson
Daniel Mack
BILL ANDERSON
Hard‐hitting, consistent right hand batter and brilliant fielder.
 Claxton Shield rep in the early 1950’s.
 First BV “ Major League” A Grade Premiership 1949 at Olympic Park, defeating Collingwood (4‐1).
 Playing manager and first baseman Runners up to Essendon (6‐ 8) in the A Grade Grand Final 1966.
 Night Series All Star Team 1957
Played: 1948 to 1968
Manager 9 seasons to 1966
JOHN FERGUSON
 7 Vic rep teams including 5 Claxton Shield Teams in the 1970’s ‐ 2 Australian Championships
 Australia against touring Japanese sides in 1970’s  BV Division 1 HR Award 1976/77
 BV Div 1 Gold Glove Shortstop 1977/78
 BV Runners Up 1968 A Grade Grand Final Essendon (6‐8)  BV Summer A grade Premiership against Alphington in 1969 (2‐1) in 16th
innings
Played 1965 ‐1981
GEORGE INGRAM
 Very consistent high average LH hitter.
 Joined Cheltenham from Carrum. Third baseman and relief pitcher.
 DBA representative and VPBL All Star for many years.
Played 1958 to 1973
DANIEL MACK

BV Div 1 Club Champion
 High Average batter who
consistently puts up good
At Bats
 Reliable and durable gloveman
Played 2008 to Present
CHELTENHAM’S FINEST 50 BALLPLAYERS THE SHORTSTOPS
Russell Ferguson
Ross Upfill
Dav Whatmore
RUSSELL FERGUSON
 2008/09 BV Div 2 Premiership as SS
 8 DBA A Grade Premierships
 2008‐09 Div 1 Club Batting  Summer Club Gold Glove 2B
 2 DBA Club A Grade MVP’s 2013, 14
 DBA League A Grade Batting .500 BA
Played: 2005 to Present  DBA Rep/ VPBL Championship ROSS UPFILL
 Consistent and reliable who played his best baseball in the big games and finals.
 Batted .300 or better most seasons
Brilliant base runner who specialised in stealing third base Played 1969 to 1979
DAV WHATMORE
 Highly consistent and powerful RH hitter who almost always made good contact. Batting averaged .350
Excellent bat control and could move runners around against the strongest pitching.
“ Every pitch looked like a slow full toss to Dav.” Jim Upfill
Selected for Claxton Shield but choose to become a Test Cricketer.
Played 1970 to 1975
Cheltenham’s “Finest 50” Matt Gourlay
Kevin Knorr
Paul Rutgers
Laurie Hall
Ken Hewitt
Gordon Lochhart
Simon Myles
Peter Finney
Col Hyland Terry Reid
THE OUTFIELDERS
CHELTENHAM’S FINEST 50 BALLPLAYERS THE LEFTFIELDERS
Matt Gourlay
Kevin Knorr
Paul Rutgers
MATT GOURLAY
 1996 Signed Blue Jays
Played 1994 to 2013  2003‐04 Div 2 Club MVP
 2003‐04 Div 2 Club Batting
 2009‐10 Div 1 Club MVP
 BV Home Run Award
 DBA Club A Grade Triple
Crown
 ABL Pitcher for Reds
 Claxton Shield as Outfielder
 Vic U14 1993
 Vic U16 1994, 1995 (Captain)
 Vic U18 1996
 Div 2 Batting Title 0.412 2003/4
 DBA Batting Title 0.475 2008
 DBA Home Run Title (9) 2008
 DBA Triple Crown (BA,HR,RBI) 2008
 VPBL All Star 2008
 BV Div 1 Home Run Title 2010/11
KEVIN KNORR
 Son of club founders Eric and
Mollie.
Great leftfielder with a strong
arm.
Powerful hitter in the clean up
position.
Quick runner for his size
Played 1960’s to 1973
PAUL RUTGERS
2001 Signed with Twins
2005 World Cup Starting LF BA .385
 2006 World Baseball Classic 2006 Intercontinental Cup
 Claxton Shield 2003,04,06, 07,08
 2009 World Baseball Classic for South Africa
 DBA A Grade Premierships  2009/10 Club Div 1 Batting .325
 2014 DBA Club A Grade MVP
Played 2009 to Present
CHELTENHAM’S FINEST 50 BALLPLAYERS THE CENTER FIELDERS
Laurie Hall
Ken Hewitt
Gordon Lochhart
Simon Myles
LAURIE HALL
 Outstanding centre fielder with exceptional range and arm
 BV Summer Rep
 DBA MVP 1980 and 1981
 Club MVP
 Club Golden Glove
1981‐82 BV Div 2 Pitching
Played 1973 to 1993
KEN HEWITT
Started as a third
baseman and became a
brilliant centre fielder
 Strong arm and a
powerful LH hitter.
 Key member of the
DBA Premiership
Teams of the 1960’s
Played 1960s to 1974
GORDON LOCKHART
 Fleet footed centerfielder and fine left handed batter.  Centerfielder for Victoria when they won the Claxton Shield in 1954.
Played 1950 to 1963
SIMON MYLES
 1998‐99 Div 2 MVP and Club
Champion
 Consistent .300 +, RH hitter who batted in the top of the order
 Excellent coverage and strong arm.
Played mid 1990’s to 2003
CHELTENHAM’S FINEST 50 BALLPLAYERS THE RIGHTFIELDERS
PETER FINNEY
COL HYLAND
TERRY REID
PETER FINNEY
 1966 Chrysler Cup series
 RH power hitter who usually batted in the middle of the order.
Consistently amongst the leaders in RBI’s
 Excellent outfielder with a strong arm.
 Useful relief pitcher
Played 1959 to 1969
Played in Losing GF in 1968 ( 6‐8 to Essendon) COL HYLAND
Great outfielder and powerful right‐handed hitter with outstanding bat control. Had a lot of success against Victoria best pitcher of the time in Ernie Bolton Member of Prahran’s first BV “ Major League” A Grade Premiership team in 1949
Played 1948 to 1969
 Claxton Shield representative 1950’s.
TERRY REID
DBA A Grade League MVP 1986
1990 and 1994
DBA A Grade MVP 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1993
High average RH hitter with power who was always amongst the League leaders
Played early 1980’s to late 1990’s
 Excellent outfielder and part time LH pitcher
CHELTENHAM’S FINEST 50 BALLPLAYERS THE DESIGNATED HITTERS
Fred Capper
Andrew Gribbin
Trevor Hogben
Max Johansson (Jnr)
Kevin Williams
FRED CAPPER
 Great RH contact hitter who usually batted in the no2 or No3 hole.
 Excelled against fast ball pitching including Brian Wannacott (Helms Award Pitcher) when Brian wasat
the peak of his career.
DBA Representative Played 1965 to 1976
ANDREW GRIBBIN
2006 Aust U19 Taiwan/Cuba
 2005‐06 Div 2 MVP
 2006 Signed with Padres
 2009 DBA A Grade GF WP v. Berwick ( 5‐3)  DBA A Grade Premierships ( 3)
 2010‐11 Div 1 Batting .410
Played 2005 to Present
 2011 Australian Provincial Batting Title (.450) and All Star
TREVOR HOGBEN
 LH Hitter with power who consistently batted over .300.
 Played 1B, useful LH pitcher
 Batted .321 in his first year in Div 1 as 18 yo.
 Played in 10 DBA A Grade GF Winning 2 in 1987 & 1989 Played 1972 to 1990
 DBA Rep and VPBL All Star
MAX JOHANSSON
 Left handed hitter ‐ high average and consistent.
Clean up batter in the very successful Chelt DBA teams of the 1960’s
Left Handed throw and very good outfielder
Played 1960 to 1972
KEVIN WILLIAMS
 Superb contact hitter under pressure who moved runners around
 Lead Club in batting several times including .429 in 1982/83
 Div 2 Premiership Player in 1982‐83 batting .500 and Slugging .830 in 26 PA
Played 1975 to 1986
Cheltenham’s “Finest 50” Coaches
Jack Ferguson
Allan Burdett
Dave Clarkson
Jim Upfill
Pitchers
Steve Babidge
Travis Blackley
Adam Blackley
Ross Chapman
Greg Brown
Daryn Cassidy
Blake Cunningham
Steve Gourlay
Bruce Lines
Jack Middleton
Norm Nancarrow
Andrew Russell
Jim Scott
Alan Tanner
Jack Wadsworth
LF
Matt Gourlay
Kevin Knorr
Paul Rutgers
CF
Laurie Hall
Ken Hewitt
Gordon Lochhart
Simon Myles
SS
Russell Ferguson
Ross Upfill
Dav Whatmore
3B
Bill Anderson
John Ferguson
George Ingram
Dan Mack
RF
Peter Finney
Col Hyland Terry Reid
2B
Paul Ferguson
Gordon Tamblyn
Col Wale
C
Leo Anderson
Jim Beitzel
Jack Ferguson
Charlie Siddel
Mick Trevorah
Ted Wale
1B
Hayden Dingle
Tony Dinnie
Lance Purton
Darren Smith
Designated Hitters
Fred Capper
Andrew Gribbin
Trevor Hogben
Max Johansson (Jnr)
Kevin Williams
Scorers
Meg Clarkson
Jean Corney
Harry Fowler
Michael Gourlay
Robyn Hogben
Molly Knorr
Liz Landry
THE CHALLENGE
WOULD YOU LIKE TO PICK THE STARTING NINE?