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 The Golddiggers |
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"Huh......should be called Gravediggers!"
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A chance meeting of former associates early in 1994 was the catalyst for the formation of the Ballarat Golddiggers, a unique entity with a remarkable record of involvement in Masters baseball.
These two ageing baseball dreamers had heard of the impending World Masters Games to be held in Brisbane. Over a number of ales, they spoke of reactivating their own playing involvement and approaching former teammates to invite them to form a 40 and over team for Brisbane 1994.
While the cynics were baying, the response was generally enthusiastic from the former National League stars and Australian representatives, club stalwarts and social players who were approached. Some were still playing, others had just recently retired from the sport, others hadn’t swung a bat for years, others had never swung a bat very well in any case. But the project seemed a goer.
A Club structure was established, a Constitution was written, uniforms were ordered, training commenced and a strategy was put in place. Part of that strategy was to enter the team in a mainstream winter competition as preparation for the World Masters Games.
Not knowing quite what to expect, the Diggers warmed up prior to their first match to a backdrop of derision from a youthful opposition whose baseball experience was surely miniscule by comparison.
“Old Friggers!” they chortled. “Should be called Gravediggers….ho ho ho!”
The Diggers scored ten in the first. Clearly losing the plot, three opposition players were thrown in the second. Three runs in the third…..then two….then three…..another couple. The game was mercifully called after seven with the Diggers in front 23-5. Not a bad start by any measure.
Over coming months the team’s performance tended to be inconsistent, as new players joined and a large squad was rotated in the spirit of inclusiveness required by Constitution. Still, the Diggers won enough games to stay in touch with league leaders – eventually finishing third coming to the play-offs. Although disappointing in an early finals game, the Diggers rebounded strongly to qualify for a Grand Final berth – and then to crush their opposition when it counted most.
This was the first of a sequence of mainstream winter successes that the Diggers have enjoyed. However, it was never the “main game” and their sights were well set on the World Masters.
A bronze medal in the World Masters was a creditable performance against tough opposition – and a fitting note upon which many could easily have been expected to leave the game. Not so, however. After coming this far and each personally achieving a great deal, there was much much more on offer.
Since 1994 the Golddiggers playing involvement at various levels has been extraordinary:
Two World Masters Games (bronze medal in 1994, gold medal in 2002)
Six Australian Masters Games
Four Alice Springs Honda Masters
The Diggers have organised and played in seven Victorian Masters Baseball Carnivals
Played in all Baseball Victoria Summer Masters series since 1995
All Geelong Baseball Association winter competitions since 1994.
Over ten years, there has a been a significant turnover in playing personnel as players have retired or have left the game for others reasons, while others have come into the squad. The Diggers estimate that between 70 and 80 mature-aged baseballers have played with them at some time or other since 1994. The overwhelming majority of these would have been lost to the game were it not for the phenomenon of Masters sport.
There have been various other aspects to the Golddiggers’ involvement in community baseball:
In 1995 and 1996 they coached and fielded junior teams in local competitions. Numerous former juniors have progressed to higher levels in the sport.
Between 1995 and 1997 (when the club merged with the Ballarat City Club), they fielded a second senior side that included many young players.
In 2001 the Golddiggers established the “KIT” (Kids in Teams) Fund to assist less advantaged young people to become involved in team sport. This project continues to be supported by teams playing at the Victorian Masters Baseball Carnival
The personal benefits of continued active involvement in team sport are well-documented. Aside from that – and from the enjoyment and social engagement of Masters baseball – it is fair to say, without Masters, that many more older players would have been lost to the game forever. Instead, what we and other clubs and associations are now seeing is that so many Masters players are returning to administrative and coaching roles, with great benefits for baseball at grass roots level.
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