Baseball in New Zealand
In New Zealand, baseball is considered a minority sport, trailing in popularity far behind sports such as rugby union and cricket.
Early history
Albert Spalding's team of All-Stars and the Chicago Club in 1888 is the first known baseball game played in New Zealand and perhaps in the Southern Hemisphere. During that tour, many New Zealand cricket players had small matches between the two touring sides. Since that time, various local competitions have existed, but it wasn't until 1989 that the New Zealand Baseball Association was formed, consisting of teams in the Auckland area. Ed Mason and Mike Reilly invited perspective players to register their interest. They then formed the New Zealand Baseball Association, with Ed Mason being President and Mike Rielly taking on the Vice President position. City Blues was the first Club under this umbrella and every year in commemoration of this, there is a "Ed Mason Classic" played. It would be 14 more years before baseball would venture out of Auckland with the creation of the Canterbury Baseball Club in 2003. 2006 saw the Northland Baseball Club and the Manawatu Baseball Club form.
New Zealand sends Little League teams to compete in the Asia Pacific region and also fields AA, AAA and senior national teams. The senior national team plays at the Australian Provincial Championships every year.
Players
Only three players from New Zealand have played baseball professionally, including Scott Campbell, who played for the AAA affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, the Las Vegas 51s, after being drafted in the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft.
Travis Wilson played in the minor league system for eight years with the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds, but AAA was the highest level he made.
Daniel Lamb-Hunt is also of New Zealand heritage and signed with the Atlanta Braves in 2005.
Canadian Scott Richmond, is also of Kiwi descent.
References
External links
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