Made available online by Project COBB (the Project for the Chronicling of British Baseball) http://www.projectcobb.org.uk/brit-ball.html With kind permission from the BBF Board BIF ..(\)111 ~,,.. British Bssebsll Federlltlon The Official Voice Issue No 26 of the British Baseball July 1995 Federation 75p have their very own baseball card made. ~~[M~~~1I [;3~~[;3~[L[L "The recent MLB All-Star Game underscores that ~lIMW~@~[M~ baseball is an international sport", said MLBI chief operating officer Tim Brosnan. "Twelve players in ~@~~~ 1I@ [L@[M[9)@[M~~ that game were from countries outside of the United States. Events like this one in Covent ~@W~[MlI @£i\~[9)~[M Garden only help to reinforce the growth of the game, especially in Europe". FanFest, the widely popular interactive baseball festival, will make its first appearance outside of The FanFest will be held from Friday 4 August North America when it debuts. at London's until Sunday 6 August. renowned Covent Garden next month, Major League Baseball International announced today. This is MLB International's second major event in the London area. In the fall of 1993 top prospects International FanFest will give sports enthusiasts from the New York Mets and the Boston Red Sox from throughout England the opportunity to hit off organisations played a game at The Oval cricket a Hall of Fame pitcher in a video batting cage, test ground in South London. their skills at pitching speed and accuracy and With offices in New York, London and Sydney, MLBI is the international arm of Major League Keep in touch with whafs hapPening Baseball. In British Baseball, call the British Baseball Federation HoOine. The BBF will also be represented at this event, which gives us the ideal opportunity to promote British Baseball and hopefully recruit some new players for teams in the south. SUPPORTED BY SPORTS Calls dlarged at 37p per minute off..peak, 49p per minute peak Ome. COUnCil [p~@[P~~ [Q)M@@O~@ ENQUIRIES i!\~[Q) [FO~O~[}{]O~@ @[F (6[!J!\li' 0~[FO~[l[OO Editorial Enquiries: British Baseball Federation, QUESTION 66 Belvedere Road, Hessle, Our clay is rough and uneven and after a rain stonn we North Humberside, HU13 9JJ, have many large pUddles. Is there any relief for this Tel: 01482 643551 problem? 22nd. & 23rd. JULY 1995 Fax: 01482640224 ANSWER Editor: Kevin Macadam AI SUTTON·. NEW BASEBALL STADIUM, Deputy Editor: Wendy Macadam There are some key to proper infield dragging. In many parts ofthe country, leagues have already begun and game ROUNDSHAW PARK, HANNIBAL WA~ BBF Executive action is happening on an everyday basis. Two events that President: Steve Herbert normally begin to take shape when the season begins is (oR SlaHord Rd.) WALLINGTON, SURREY Coaching: Ian Smyth daily dragging of the clay and the repair of the sliding pits. Marketing: Keith Peskett 12 teurll~ UULLIC IL UUL lUI LIIC ,",UYCLCO ,.KANI\ fjKAur Technical: Gary Mortimer If proper dragging techniques are adopted which would National Premier League: Gerry Walmsley include spiking for softness, rotation finishing for Trophy. ••••.that1s 30 games of non-stop baseball action, from Director: Greg Welch consistency and spot circling for levelling, then your infield Publicity and Publications: Kevin Macadam will remain fair1y smooth and level. sunrise to sunset !! £ I 00 winners purse donated by FBI..••..M VP BBF Council Often because of time constraints operators will go too fast itward"dont:;'ted by PHA LE/SURE.•..••runner-up trophies as well. Conference Commissioner - South: and not alternate directions oftheir pattern so the next time t 1 Sharon Bonfield there is a cloudburst their field will have severe puddles and EXHIBITION GAl1E: GREAT BRITAIN U18 sversus aSELECT IX. See Conference Commissioner- North: Nigel Moss saucering ofstanding water in s~iding areas and back edges. Conference Commissioner - Scotland: the most talented young ball players in the country take on the Brian Edwards Solid groundskeepers will tell you that the slower you drag Umpires Commissioner - North: Frank Scherer and the more you float and circle the better your clay Umpires Commissioner - South: surface will play. Another factor that has entered the safety game's elder statesmen, together with some special guest Mack McKinney and playability segment ofthe skim section ofthe infields is • Great Britain General Manager: Gary Roberts the compaction of the clay. If the product is too hard and appearances I Pitch-off 2:20pm Saturday on Sutton's new diamond. Great Britain Team Manager: Michael Harrold irregular bounces occur then serious accidents are 1r.J51~lsl(JClllr possible. Soil additives and Turface Calcine clay products '41r51lt1cJ 0lGlSlt1ilt1'4 or fVlIS eOllJIt1flrlr5 M05f 1G1r1S5fi'4iOllJ5 l!llSlt1llJlS, Advertisement Enquiries: aid in reducing the compaction, improve drainage, and eOllJlrflS5Uj or flt1lS rOllJlt1cJ51fiolt1 rOIr 5llJOlrf 51\(\cJ flt1lS rO\(\D!olt1 Ir.JOIrOllJ'4Vl or Kevin Macadam (01482 643551) create a consistent bounce throughout the life of the prodUct. Any league or facility that prides itself in being 5llJfr0It1...1A151feVl VlOMIS IrllJIt15 Ir.JlSilt1'4 Vlif Ol!l1S1r IGISIrM51lt1lSlt1r lt1i-flSeVl OllJrrilSrcJ Promotions Enquiries: responsible for the well being of its youth needs to look rlSlt1eilt1'4...ir'5 1Sl!l1S1t1 '4 - l,. C. - r_ - r- .. II . ,. '- ,I. '- 11r5... Keith Peskett (0171 8375117) extremely hard at the dirt portion of its infield. • ••• • An Official attempt at breaking the UK Pitching Speed Record, currently held by GB To try to capture the essence of the daily task of dragging Subscription Rates: 12 issues, your dirt or clay sections ofyour infield, I would capsulize by International Matt Gilbert and clocked at 79 MPH will be staged on the new pitcher's inclusive of postage £9.00. Cheques and saying mound on Saturday at about 1:15pm. We will also be establishing a new ALL-COMERS Postal Orders payable to 'British record by inviting expatriats to take part. The BBF will be on hand to authenticate the Baseball Federation' and sent to Brit-Ball 1. Drag slowly efforts of the country's top speed ball merchants ! Details will be forwarded to the Subscriptions, 66 Belvedere Road, 2. Alternate patterns 3. Hand rake around all bases GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS. The top hurler will be awarded with a Special Prize! Hessle, North Humberside, HU13 9JJ 4. Create a loose and consistent mix by using LONDON WOLVES ROAD SHOW: The Club's own batti~g cage andpitching machine will be set up for players a Turface calcine clay product for safety. andthe general public alike toface curves, sliders andfast balls to a chorus of"SWlNGBATTER BATTER" I BBF Handbook: Printed annually, price £4.00 inclusive of postage. Cheques and By following these steps your i~field can give you consistent liAi~·eF·in~·Ali ce CAli flACK Fel a·. Y~AI eL11 play with little maintenance. Postal Orders payable to 'British 1'VOLVESI flOSPITALITY l\L'IRQU/:'E: lV()rth AJ11erican style jbod, Baseball Federation' and sent to BBF Handbook, 66 Belvedere Road, Hessle, .Floyd Perry including chilli dogs, burgers and a varieo' of hot and cold drinks North Humberside, HU13 9JJ available. e'apital Baseball Festival .5/)ol1sors, such as FBI, PflA Leisure, If you have any questions you would like to put to Floyd about your around. then Dlease send them in to Brit-Ball. JVembley Trophies, GillV Insurance "')'(!rvices al1d Barkers lI'cJrldwide will all be on hand to enhance the proceedings. I)on't Iniss the excitelJ1en!! PLEASE CALL 0181 715 0214 FOR MORE INFORMATION Reproduced with the permission of 18 Rundown from the June 1995 issue of International Baseball Rundown Magazine 18 RUNDOWN British Baseball Federation Member Juno 1995, Vol. 4, No.6 HeadqM.~rters Editorial Visits PONY Baseball's Iby Jennifer Thompson I to see how youth baseball op­ representatives to schools to Editor erates," Smyth said. "I was talk to students about the sport. Jeff Elijah shocked at the amount of ap­ The federation's goal is to es­ Jennifer Thompson is the plications that PONY receives. tablish town leagues instead of Adnrtl51ng MQnQg_r public relations directorfor I also saw many things that I larl McCaffrey just town clubs, Smyth said. PONY Baseball/Softball. would like to incorporate into Smyth understands that be­ Art Dlr_ctlon PONY stands for "Protect our program. The importance cause baseball is a secondary Brian Wilise Our Nation's Youth." The that PONY Baseball places on sport in England, the skill level PONY organizaton began in recognizing players is ... great is not as high as in the U.S. and Columnl5t5 1951 and provides baseball for building playermotivation. other established baseball Bill Clark, International and softball leagues and PONY definitely puts the play­ countries. Graham Cooke, Oceania opportunitiesforabout half ers first, and I like that "Rightnow, the playing abil­ Tina lee Odinsky. Women a million young people ages philosophy." ity ofout young people cannot Marco Stoovelaar. europe Tom Valcke. Canada five to 18 in the U.S. and in The BBF, which has been in compare to the playing ability Eduardo Valero, latin Rmef. th t . existence for 104 years, over- of young people in the United Ishola Williams, Rfrlca ,o~rles. ~:;:balt~;~:a~:~~~:~ States," he said. "England's y baseba}J background isn't Contrlbutou all of England. The nearly as'strong as that of Connie Griessen country does not have America's. Guam Major league professional baseball. "We realize that our players an Smyth, directorofplayer los Angeles Dodgers Baseball teams in England are are weak in some areas, If we Major leage Baseball development and coaching called clubs, and the clubs rep­ decide to affiliate with PONY, PONY Baseball for the British Baseball Fed­ I resent a specific town. All we will keep our teams out of South Africa Baseball Un ian eration, recently traveled to clubs, both youth and aduit, tournaments for the first few USA Baseball Washington, Pennsylvania, to must register with the BBF, years.