“KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL WORLDWIDE”
BASEBALL SCOTLAND
Baseball is a universal language. Catch the ball, throw the ball, hit the ball.
That quote from the immortal Hits leader signifies that Baseball is a gift to the world that anyone from every walk of earth can enjoy. Someone from Venezuela can go to a game in Japan and understand whats happening from opening pitch to the final out. Since the sport has been around for so long in the US people assume it’s only played stateside, South America, and Japan. However, some of the most devoted fans, as well as players whom love for the game runs deep, can be found all over the world. This month I'll be featuring Baseball Scotland. UK Baseball has 12 separate divisions with 7 of them being affiliated with the BBF (British Baseball Federation) and 5 other divisions falling under a Regional setting. Baseball Scotland falls under the regional setting.
Established in 2007, Baseball Scotland brought together the Glasgow Baseball Association and Edinburgh Baseball Club teams to form one league to self-govern and develop baseball across Scotland. Beginning as the Edinburgh Diamond Devils, the team split off into two more squads, the Edinburgh Cannons and the Glasgow Baseball Association before interest and player numbers grew which caused more teams to be put together until we’ve seen the league expand to where it is today with 6 teams. Before mentioned Diamond Devils and Cannons were eventually joined by the Edinburgh Giants, Glasgow Comets, Glasgow Galaxy, and the newest team joining in 2017, the Granite City Oilers. Each City forms clubs then the players are split into teams of 15 – 20 players.
League schedules stick to 16 game regular season games leading into a single knockout style playoff system til the championship round which is played best of 3. Two breaks are held each season. One toward the end of May where a tournament is held as the league plays as the Scottish National Team as well as their second break being in July as they play host to the AAU team from the US.
The league is made up of amateur players who aren’t paid and actually pay membership dues to take part in the club level play. Those dues assist the league in paying for the fields, equipment, and insurance for the players. Hopefully with the potential growth of this league, the tournament play, and traveling international squads playing these teams, then sponsors will start to show interest and invest. Another great evolution of the game is that the league welcomes men and women to play. This fully inclusive status could also increase interest in the league. Getting solid advertising and fans support could get these players paying less dues or even many years in the future actually getting paid for playing the game they love. The quality of play can be found on the fields across Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen as there are a few individuals who played college ball and even saw time in MLB farm systems before ill timed injuries took affect.
A great fundraising opportunity will be coming soon to get full baseball field setup in Edinburgh because as of now the league plays on all grass fields with makeshift mounds. But that’s one of the great things about baseball, if you have two teams, a bat, a ball, and love for the game, you’re happy to play anywhere.
The love for the game is the true key to any league. These players all have their moment in time where they found the sport and wanted to put on a glove and run out onto the field and play. I had the opportunity to speak to President of Baseball Scotland Paul Convoy who also happens to be the manager of the Edinburgh Giants for the past 4 seasons. The 34 year old’s “Finding Baseball” moment was finding a game on TV and following the sport. Paul visited the “City of Brotherly Love” years ago and attended a Phillies game and became an instant fan. Searching for a fix once he got back home he found the Edinburgh club and was a 2nd Baseman for the Giants. He immersed himself in the sport and the former rugby and soccer player found himself talking squeeze plays and bullpen strategies rather than corner kicks and scrums. His enthusiasm for learning as much about baseball as possible has assisted him in the leadership role as manager now.
As the stage is set for Baseball to be included in the Olympics again, countries all over the globe are looking to grow the sport in different ways. Leagues like this can create memories for young fans who want to grow up and imitate the players they watched on TV as well as the local stars they saw hit a walk off HR from the stands. With another team being developed in nearby Dundee, expansion is continuing. Other teams from around the league are taking part in tournaments all around Europe and winning a few games or a full tourney could shine bright lights on Scotland. This could help get the sponsors needed to put a higher quality field under these squads cleats to play. A successful little league program will eventually put more players on the diamond too.
