Baseball In N.Z.?

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28766, 11 December 1958, Page 15

Baseball In N.Z.?

Baseball may be introduced into New Zealand on a national basis within the next 12 months. Plans have already been made for the formation of provincial committees to undertake the local formation of working committees, and when these are formed a national committee will be elected for the arrangement of interprovincial competitions. Whether this sport will be played in the summer or winter has yet to be decided, but in either season it should make progress.

The strongest Australian State numerically is Victoria with 3652 players in 251 teams, with New South Wales with 19 more clubs but only 3240 players. South Australia has 2930 players and 226 teams, Queensland 64 teams and 675 players, and Western Australia 58 teams and 650 players, a total of 11,147 players for a comparatively new sport. These figures do not include players in night baseball and Sunday competitions. Early Survey

Already American baseball has sent a representative to survey the scene and, if required, to aid in promotion. This representative American coach, Lou Brissie, interviewed on his return home, said: “American baseball will have to look out These Aussies run like kangaroos, and with all that training hitting cricket balls they really murder the curves.” His remarks are borne out by the performances of leading cricketers Richie Benaud, Ken Archer, Neil Harvey, and Norman O’Neill, who have represented their states at baseball. O’Neill recently refused to contract with a leading American club. Already many of New Zealand’s famous footballers have made names for themselves in the game of softball, with one in particular, Bob Scott, attributing his quick reflexes to the game.