Softball history
| Softball has a long and rich history in Australia dating back to 1939. The following timeline traces this history. For information about past event results, teams and award winners, please refer to Results, Teams and the About us sections of the website | |
| 1800s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000 | |
| 1887 | The first version of Softball was developed by George Hancock in Chicago Illinois. The earliest known game of Softball was played on Thanksgiving Day in 1987 as a winter version of baseball between Yale and Harvard alumni. It was intended to be a way for baseball players to keep in shape during the winter. At the time, the sport was called "Indoor Baseball" |
| 1895 | Softball moved outdoors as an exercise for fire fighters and was known variously as "kitten ball", "pumpkin ball” or "diamond ball" |
| 1926 | The sport adopted the name Softball |
| 1933 | Fastpitch and slowpitch were present at the 1933 World's Fair. After the tournament a Joint Rules Committee was formed, which developed unified softball rules. The Amateur Softball Association grew out of these meetings |
| 1939 | Softball was introduced into Australia in NSW when the Director of Physical Education in NSW, Gordon Young, began promoting the game in schools and colleges |
| 1940s | Fastpitch began to dominate the game |
| 1942 | Softball was introduced as an organised sport. US Army Sgt William DuVernet organised Softball as a recreation for the US nurses stationed in Melbourne and consequently the Victorian Women’s Softball Association was formed with Irene Burrows as President |
| 1944 | Adelaide Women’s Softball Association was formed |
| 1946 | An American, Mack Gilley, introduced the game in Queensland and soon thereafter the Queensland Softball and Baseball Association was formed with Mack Gilley as President. The Gilley's Shield (Open Women’s Championships) is named in recognition of the monumental efforts of Mack Gilley |
| 1947 | NSW Women's Softball Association was formed with Pat Young as President. Queensland issued an invitation for the first interstate championship to be played in Brisbane. NSW, Queensland and Victoria, together with a team from Ballarat, participated and Victoria won the series. During the series, a meeting was held where the possibilities of forming a national Softball body was discussed. The meeting closed with Irene Burrows, Mack Gilley and Pat Young taking responsibility for drafting a Constitution |
| 1949 |
The Western Australian Women’s Softball Association was formed. At the Second Inter‑State championships in Melbourne, the national body was formed as the Australian Women's Softball Council (AWSC). Founding members included NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria. The Australian Women's Softball Council met annually during the Australian Women's Championship held in March, with the host State providing the Chairperson for the meeting |
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| 1950 | The International Softball Federation (ISF) was formed under the auspices of the Amateur Softball Association of America |
| 1951 | Western Australia joined the Australian Women's Softball Council |
| 1952 | Tasmania joined the Australian Women's Softball Council |
| 1953 |
Australia became affiliated with the ISF Slowpitch achieved formal recognition when it was added to the program of the US Amateur Softball Association and within a decade had surpassed fastpitch in popularity |
| 1954 | Instigation of an examination for umpires |
| 1959 | The ACT Women's Softball Association formed |
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| 1960s | Men's Softball was played in various States and in the mid 1960s Nox Bailey promoted men's Softball in Western Australia. In recognition of his contribution to the sport, the Under 19 Men's Australian Championships was named the Nox Bailey Shield |
| 1961 | The ACT joined the Australian Women's Softball Council (AWSC) |
| 1962 | Three Australian officials, Esther Deason, Merle Short and Marjorie Dwyer attended the USA World Series, where they held discussions with American and Japanese officials with the aim of furthering international competition |
| 1965 |
From the very beginning Australia took an active part in the ISF with representation at all ISF Congresses. The first international meeting was held in Melbourne during the World Championship. The past President of the ASF, Esther Deason, served as Vice President (South Pacific), from 1965 to 1970, and again from 1977 to 1979. Another ASF President, Rosemary Adey, also served as Vice President (South Pacific and then Oceania) from 1993 to 2005 Upon returning to Australia, invitations were sent for the first World Series to be played in Melbourne. The Series was a great success and Australia became the first World Champions competing against the USA, Japan, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea |
| 1967 | The Australia Women's Softball Council (AWSC) changed its name to the Australian Women's Softball Federation (AWSF) with Esther Deason as its first President |
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| 1970s | John Reid, an ex New Zealander, fostered men's Softball in NSW which led to NSW hosting the State Championships in 1981. The Open Men's Australian Championship was later named in his honour with the John Reid Shield |
| 1972 | The AWSF changed its name to the Australian Softball Federation (ASF) and incorporated |
| 1975 | After several years of meeting during the Australian Women's Championship, the ASF decided to commit to a separate AGM in October |
| 1978 | NT joined the ASF |
| 1979 | The ASF realised its long time dream of having a full-time Executive Officer, Mr Kai Roland. The appointment was made possible by a grant from the Federal Government |
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| 1982 | 303 Open men's teams and 61 junior men's teams compete in NSW, Qld, Vic, SA and WA |
| 1983 | A further grant from the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) enabled the appointment of Jim Gibson as the first of many National Coaching Directors. Prior to Jim's appointment, a volunteer Coaching Committee administered coaching under the National Softball Coaching Accreditation Scheme (NSCAS). This Committee comprised State Women's coaches including Audrey McLaughlin (Qld), Joan Fitton (NSW), Shirley Schneider (WA) and Nancy Whittingham (SA) |
| 1984 | The first Australian Men's Championship played for the John Reid Shield in Sydney |
| 1985 |
The National Umpiring Committee was established with a National Director of Umpiring, Margo Koskelainen and 3 Deputies, Lyn Bishop, Michael Palmer and Dan McKay. This Committee was established the National Umpiring Accreditation Scheme The ASF Board was established, consisting of President, Vice President and 5 Board members who were elected for a 2 year term. A Council, comprising the President, Vice President, 5 Board members and 1 delegate from each State was also established and met annually |
| 1986 | Narelle Stafford was appointed as the Administration Officer |
| 1988 | Australia first participated in the ISF Open Men's World Championship |
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| 1991 |
Announced that Softball would be included in 1996 Atlanta Olympics Formation of the Australian men's and women's National Fastpitch Softball League |
| 1992 |
The Australian U16 Boy's National Championship commenced, with NSW winning the inaugural Arthur Allsopp Shield named in recognition of Arthur's contribution to Softball Australia first participated in the ISF Junior Men's World Championship |
| 1994 | The World Championships grew and 28 nations played in the 1994 World Series in St John's Newfoundland, Canada |
| 1995 | Bob Crudgington appointed Head Coach of the Australian Open Women's team |
| 1996 | Australia wins bronze at the inaugural Olympic Softball tournament |
| 1997 | Australia wins gold at the ISF V U19 Men's World Championship |
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| 2000 |
On 28 April the ASF changed its trading name to Softball Australia Australia hosts the Olympic Softball competition at Blacktown Olympic Park (NSW). Australia wins bronze Simon Roskvit appointed Head Coach of the Australian Open Women's team |
| 2001 | Australia wins gold at the ISF VI U19 Men's World Championship |
| 2004 |
With the assistance of the ASC, many new initiatives have been introduced since 2004 that has set Softball on a new and exciting path with increased participation from men, women, boys and girls nationwide Australia wins silver at the Athens Olympics |
| 2005 |
Australia wins gold at the ISF VII U19 Men's World Championship Fabian Barlow appointed as Head Coach of the Australian Open Women's team |
| 2007 |
In February the Australian Softball Federation (ASF) Incorporated changed its name to Softball Australia Incorporated Australia wins bronze at the ISF VIII U19 Women's World Championship |
| 2008 |
The Softball Australia Constitution was adopted in October 2008 In April the ASC published its report Too Few Too Much, a review of Softall in Australia. In response to that report, the governance and management of Softball Australia was transformed and modernised Australia wins bronze at the Beijing Olympics Australia wins the ISF VIII U19 Men's World Championship |
| 2009 |
Australia wins the ISF XII Men's World Championship Sue Noble commenced as CEO on 12 January On 4 April at a General Meeting held in Melbourne, the new entity's first Board of Directors was elected The 5-year Softball Australia Strategic Plan was ratified by the Board in May Softball Australia's first Annual Report was published in October On 14 November Softball Australia's first AGM was held in Sydney. Darryl Clout resigns from the Board. |
| 2010 |
In February, Ashley Klein and Michelle Nancarrow join the Softball Australia Board. Jenny Cassidy resigns from the Board Bob Harrow reappointed as Head Coach of the Australian Open Men's team |
| 2011 |
Kere Johanson appointed Head Coach of the Australian Open Women's team Softball Australia transitions the U16 Australian Championships to U17, retaining the Shield names in honour of Esther Deason and Arthur Allsopp First Australian U15 Girls' and Boys' Regional Championship held in Rockhampton |
Updated 29 June 2012
