1888 SPALDINGS COMES TO AUSTRALIA In 1888 the American firm "Spaldings" brought to Australia, two of the most noted "nines" of the season, with the sole purpose of establishing the game of baseball in Australia. The Spaldings teams of baseball players arrived by the steamer Alameda, and received a cordial welcome from large number of American residents as well as a large concourse of people who had assembled when the steamer arrived into the port of Sydney. Altogether, there were twenty players belonging to two separate teams, representing Chicago and All America. The men were of fine physique and of gentlemanly appearance. The American baseballers played their first match in Australia on the association ground on Saturday, in the presence of about 6000 spectators. The game resulted in a victory for the All-America team, which scored 5 runs to Chicago's 4. As an exhibition, the match was highly successful, the spectators watched the play closely, and as the main features and points of the game became better understood, displayed a lively interest in the proceedings and frequently applauded the skill of the batsmen and the fielders. The feature of play which appeared specially to commend itself to the spectators was the brilliant fielding shown by the players on both sides. It soon became apparent to all that the game was one requiring a high degree of skill, quickness of eye and generally all the qualifications of a good athlete.
1935 SPALDINGS BASEBALL CLUB IN SUNSHINE The link between the Sunshine Spaldings Baseball Club and the Sunshine Baseball Club is well documented in the archives of the National Library of Australia. From our research, Spaldings Baseball Club was playing baseball in the local area from the mid to late 1930s against other clubs at the same times as Williamstown, Newport and, in the late 1930s, against Sunshine as well. There were picnics arranged between the clubs to places like Greendale. The clubs would organise buses to leave from the post office, with games played between Spaldings and Sunshine Baseball and Hockey teams. After returning at the end of the day, there would be an after tea concert and singing. The Sunshine Baseball Club at its inception was fortunate to gain, from the Spaldings stable, the services of Harold Wright, A.(Ginty) Ellis, Tom Dalling and, at a later date, R. Martin. Ginty Ellis and Harold Wright would later be remembered for moulding one of the most successful teams in the Club's early years.
SPALDINGS BASEBALL CLUB : PREMIERS SEASON 1935 METROPOLITAN D SECTION
Back Row: T. Heffron, J.K. Preston, H. Graham, R. Quigley, T. Dalling, A. Ellis Front Row: A. McMillian, G. Watkins, E. Newell (Capt.), H. Rayner (Scorer), N. Harvey (Vice Capt), A. Farrell, R. Martin (Manager)
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