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 was assisted by jeweller Bill Reid as Secretary. Other foundation members included Nev Wallwork, Cedric Godsell, Athol McDonald, Alex Hill, Geoff Shipley, Bill McPherson and Brian Penfold.

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

With the formation of the Gosford District Baseball Association on 27 February 1956, the Pirates became a foundation club alongside Saratoga Swifts, Woy Woy Saints, Gosford Red Sox, Gosford Giants and a team known as Leagues Club. The competition’s first pitch was thrown on 7 April and the inaugural premiers were the Giants. New Pirates players in 1956 included Peter and John Davidson, Jim Holmes, Alan Reynolds and Milton Frazer.

After the Association’s first year, Leagues Club did not participate in the senior competition. It was represented by a junior side during the following two years before folding after the 1958 season.

The Pirates appeared in the 1957 second-grade and junior grand finals but lost both by four runs in high-scoring games. In 1958 the club won its first premiership when one of its two junior teams, the Oris Watches, was successful. The Pirates were also the largest club that year, fielding one first-grade team, two second-grade teams—including the Victa Vagabonds—and two junior teams.

The club battled on without further major success until the 1962 Grand Final. After trailing 4–10 early in the game, the first-grade side staged a memorable fightback in wet conditions to win 11–10. The club’s first A-grade premiership side consisted of Ron Middleton, Bill Peters, John Rigg, Barry Peters, Brian Penfold, Ron Strong, Bruce Wallace, Greg Needham and Alan Sparrow. Ron Middleton was also named the district’s best and fairest first-grade player.

In 1963, Central Coast Leagues Club and the Pirates joined forces. The union was made possible largely through the foresight and efforts of the late Ron Dibben and the Leagues Club. The Pirates celebrated by again winning the first-grade premiership, defeating the Giants 4–1. Pitcher Ron Middleton was again named district best and fairest.

The Pirates retained the Charlie Whittaker Shield for a third successive year in 1964, defeating Wyong 19–7 in the grand final. Although the first-grade side again reached the premiership decider in 1965, a 7–14 loss saw Woollies Wolves claim their first major title.

Over the years, the Pirates have had many hard-working members who have laboured tirelessly to promote baseball at club and district level. The club has bestowed life membership on individuals who have contributed significantly over a long period of time.

Throughout its history, the club has produced many district, country, state and national representatives across junior and senior age groups. The Pirates are particularly proud of Shayne Penfold and Andrew Bridekirk, who progressed from the club’s junior ranks to play in the original Australian Baseball League with the Hunter Eagles.

The 1994/95 season saw the Pirates field six senior and twenty-four junior teams, consisting of 70 senior and 269 junior registered players. The club also entered three teams, involving 36 players, in the 1994 Central Coast Women’s Baseball Association winter competition.

The Gosford Pirates Baseball Club is the oldest baseball club on the Central Coast. Its 60th anniversary was celebrated in 2014.