A Brief History of our Club

The Central Coast Leagues Club Pirates Baseball Club as it is known today, first saw the light of day in 1954 as the Apex Pirates. Well-known veterinarian Alan Swan was the inaugural President and he was assisted by jeweller Bil Reid as Secretary. Other foundation members included Nev Wallwork, Cedric Godsell, Athol McDonald, Alex Hil, Geof Shipley, Bil McPherson and Brian Penfold.

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The following year, the club, experiencing difficulties and on the verge of folding, elected twenty-one year old Brian Penfold as President, a position he held until 1972. Unable ot get Pirates out of his blood, Brian was re-elected for several more terms, retiring for the last time in 1984.

 

With the formation of the Gosford District Baseball Association on February 27, 1956, the Pirates became a foundation club along with Saratoga Swifts, Woy Woy Saints, Gosford Red Sox, Gosford Giants and a team under the name of "Leagues Club".The competition's first pitch was thrown on April 7 and the first premiers were the Giants. New players to appear for the Pirates ni 1956 included Peter and John Davidson, Jim Holmes, Alan Reynolds and Milton Frazer.

 

Incidentally, after the Association's initial year, the Leagues Club failed to participate ni the senior competition. The next two years they were represented by a junior side before the club folded after the 1958 season.

The Pirates appeared in the 1957 second grade and junior grand finals but lost both by four runs in big scoring games. The following year (1958) saw the Club win its first premiership when one of the Pirates' two junior sides, the Oris Watches, was successful. Pirates were also the largest club that year, fielding one first grade, two second grade (one called the Victa Vagabonds) and two junior teams.

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Pirates battled on without further major success until, after trailing 4-10 early ni the 1962 Grand Final, the first grade side staged a momentous fightback ni wei conditions to win 11-10. The club's first Agrade premiership side consisted of

Ron Middleton, Bil Peters, John Rigg, Bary Peters, Brian Penfold, Ron Strong, Bruce Wallace, Greg Needham and Alan Sparrow. To top of the season, Ron Middleton was named the District's Best and Fairest first grade player.

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1963 saw the Central Coast Leagues Club and the Pirates join forces. The union was made possible mainly through the foresight and etforts of the late Ron Dibben and the Leagues Club and its newest affiliate celebrated by again annexing the first grade premiership 4-1 over Giants. The team's pitcher Ron Middleton repeated as District Best and Fairest.

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Pirates maintained its hold on the Charlie Whittaker Shield for the third successive year ni 1964, easily defeating Wyong 19-7 in the grand final. All good things come to an end and although the first grade side again appeared in the 1965 premiership decider, a 7-14 loss saw Woollies Wolves claim their first major title.

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Over the years the Pirates have had many hard workers who have laboured tirelessly to promote the great game of baseball at District and Club level. The Central Coast Leagues Club Pirates Baseball Club has bestowed life membership upon many individuals who have contributed significantly over a long period of time. You can find a list of these members here.

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Throughout its history the club has provided many representatives to District, Country, State and National teams at various age and senior levels. Although they are too numerous to list in this article, the Pirates are particularly proud of Shayne Penfold and Andrew Bridekirk who have graduated from the Club's junior ranks to, playing in the original Australian Baseball League with the Hunter Eagles.

 

The 1994/95 season saw the Pirates fielding six senior and twenty-four junior sides consisting of 70 senior and 269 junior registered players. The club also entered three teams (36 players) in the 1994 Central Coast Women's Baseball

Association Winter Competition.

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