Baseball Ireland

Baseball Ireland Cage Leagues

Baseball Ireland Teams

Baseball Ireland Awards

Baseball Ireland honours outstanding achievements in the Irish Baseball League.

Little League

Little League Baseball and Cadet Baseball have been played in Ireland since the 1960s.

Baseball Ireland Little League

Little League is Children’s Baseball. It is played on a smaller field and games are usually four innings long. This is the Eirball.org Baseball Archive of the All-Time Results, Standings and Statistics of Baseball Ireland Little League. It is part of the Eirball.ie – Irish, North American and World Sports Archives.

Baseball Ireland Cadet Leagues

Cadet Baseball Leagues have been played since the 1960s at least with the Leagues being either sanctioned by the first Irish Baseball Association in the 1960s or by American Judges on visits to Ireland with the co-operation of Irish Authorities.

North American Baseball

The North American Baseball System includes Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball, Independent Baseball and the Men’s Amateur Baseball League (a National Tournament for the top Amateur Baseball teams in USA, which has included in its Senior League tournament MSBL the Ulster Buccaneers (also known as Ireland Buccaneers and UK & Ireland Buccaneers)

Irish Baseball Tours of North America

From 2001 when Ireland’s National Baseball Team made its first Tour to New England, to the Buccaneers competing in the Men’s Senior Baseball League World Series, Irish Baseball teams have been making regular journeys across the Atlantic Ocean.

Amateur Baseball World Series

Irish teams have been competing in the Men’s Senior Baseball League Amateur World Series in Arizona since the 2010s. Ulster Buccaneers were the first, a team gathered together from Senior players in both Ireland and Britain, they have been competing in the MSBL Amateur World Series featuring teams from all over USA and Canada.

American Baseball In Ireland

Beginning in 1874 when Major League Baseball teams toured Ireland and Britain to the games played by US Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen during World Wars I and II and the Cold War, to Baseball re-enactments there has been a long history of American and Canadian Baseball Teams visiting Ireland

Major League Baseball in Ireland

In 1874, Major League Baseball teams visited Ireland for the earliest recorded Baseball match in Ireland, and, naturally enough, given the links between the countries, Ireland, along with France and Britain got the biggest promotion of Baseball when teams toured Europe during the era leading up to the First World War.

Visiting USA and Canadian Baseball Teams

During the First World War, teams of American and Canadian soldiers and sailors, stationed in Ireland for the duration, or visiting the shores of Ireland, played Baseball matches in aid of War Charities.

Baseball in Ireland WW2

From 1942-1943 US Soldiers, Navy & Airmen stationed in Northern Ireland during World War II played in the Northern Ireland Baseball League and 8th US Air Corps Baseball Championship.

Baseball Re-enactments

In addition to the Northern Ireland Baseball League during WWII, there have been exhibition matches played by American and Canadian Soldiers and Sailors stationed in Ireland during WWI or visiting Irish shores. There has also been reenactments of famous Baseball matches, including the Amateur World Series of 1903, which was re-enacted on the 100th anniversary in Drum, Co. Roscommon, featuring relatives of players involved.

World Baseball

The Major Regions of World Baseball are North America (USA and Canada), the Caribbean (Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic) and Asia-Pacific (Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei/Taiwan). European countries such as Italy and Netherlands have made great strides in recent decades.

Clicking on links on this page will bring the reader to the eirball.org Irish Baseball & Softball subsite

North American Baseball

The North American Baseball System includes Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball, Independent Baseball and the Men’s Amateur Baseball League (a National Tournament for the top Amateur Baseball teams in USA, which has included in its Senior League tournament MSBL the Ulster Buccaneers (also known as Ireland Buccaneers and UK & Ireland Buccaneers)

Major League Baseball

The Daddy of all Professional Sports Leagues, the National Professional Baseball Players Association (more commonly known as the National League) can trace its’ roots to the Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first openly all-Professional sports team in the world. The Cincinnati Red Stockings incuded among the “First Boys of Summer” (that first ever Professional Team) an Irishman, Andy Leonard, born in Co. Cavan, who left Ireland as a baby during the famine. In all there have been 48 Irish-born Major League Baseball Players from 1869 to the present day. The American League was formed in 1901 and since 1903 has played for the “World Series” with the National League. The two leagues merged as Major League Baseball in 2001 although kept their National League and American League names and separate identities, with the two Champions still playing for the World Series.

Minor League Baseball

Minor League Baseball has 4 Levels (AAA – “Division 2”, AA – “Division 3”, A – “Division 4” and Rookie – “Division 5”. It is akin to the English Football League (EFL Championship, EFL League One and EFL League Two) and and the National League in English Soccer, in that they are levels below Major League Baseball and the English Premier League. Minor League Baseball is where players hone their skills in the hope of reaching the Majors, recuperate after injury or finish out their careers after the Major Leagues. There have been numerous Irish-born Minor League Baseball players throughout its’ history.

Independent League Baseball

Independent League Baseball is a level below Minor League Baseball, consisting of Leagues which were set up to fill in the geographical gaps in the Minor League Baseball System, such as the Big 4 Indies: American Association (which opeartes in the Prairies and Plains), Atlantic League (Long Island and Chesapeake Bay), Frontier League (Illinois and Ohio Valley), Can-Am League (Quebec. Ottawa and New Jersey); Smaller Indies: Pacific Association (Hawai’i and Bay Area California); Pecos League (New Mexico and the Pecos Valley); North American League (Northern League: Hawai’i, Bay Area California and United League: Texas); United States Professional Baseball League (A travel league set in Upstate New York); Empire Professional Baseball League (New York City and Puerto Rico); Thoroughbred League (Kentucky). Recently the North American League dissolved with teams becoming part of the Pacific Association, while the Pecos League also took in refugees from the Minor League’s AA California League (Bakersfield Train Robbers and High Desert Yardbirds).

World Baseball

The Major Regions of World Baseball are North America (USA and Canada), the Caribbean (Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic) and Asia-Pacific (Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei/Taiwan). European countries such as Italy and Netherlands have made great strides in recent decades.

Confederation of European Baseball

Ireland’s first foray into the European Baseball Championships occured in 1996, and with the National Team, and Juniors have been competing on a Regular basis in Europe since. In addition Irish Baseball League Champions have represented Ireland in European Competitions.

Baseball Ireland International Tournaments

The Dublin, Ulster and Ashbourne International Baseball Tournaments have been a highlight of the Baseball Ireland Calendar since 2002.

British Baseball

WBSC Baseball Americas

Baseball Winter Leagues

Winter Baseball Leagues create a space for players to play out of the Major and Minor League Baseball seasons. Some are in the Caribbean, while other leagues, such as the Arizona Fall League are in the USA.

Softball Ireland

In Ireland there are both Fastpitch Softball Leagues (National) as well as Slowpitch Softball Leagues (Provincial). Softball Cups are organized on a National basis for Provincial League teams, and the Champions of each province can compete for the Softball Ireland National Club Championship (SINCC). The SINCC Champions have the opportunity to represent Ireland in the European Club Championships. In addition there have been a number of Weekend Softball Leagues for Slowpitch teams which give players and teams the chance to compete against other teams from outside their own Provincial League.

Clicking on links on this page will bring the reader to the eirball.org – Irish Baseball & Softball subsite

Softball Ireland Cups

The Softball Ireland National Club Championship (SINCC) is the Premier Slowpitch Softball Competition in Ireland, played between the winners of the Regional Leagues. The Brian Walshe Cup (Previously the ISA Cup) is second on the Order of Merit and the Irish Open Softball Trophy (IOST) third. Below this are the Regional (Provincial) Leagues.¹

Softball Ireland National Club Championship

Irish Softball Cup

The Softball Ireland Brian Walshe Cup is the Premier Cup Competition in Ireland, played since 2008, and preceded by the Softball Ireland / Irish Softball Association Cup (1995-2007), the Irish Baseball & Softball Association / Federation Softball Championship (1990-1994) and the Aughinish All-Ireland Challenge (1986-1988).

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Weekend Softball Leagues

From time-to-time brief Provincial Leagues or Challenge matches involving teams from Connacht, Munster and Leinster outside of Dublin; as well as Dublin (SL Weekend League and ISA Inter-County Tournament) have been organized. These Leagues, Tournaments or Friendly matches have been separate from the Leinster and Ulster Softball Leagues which have been running since 1990 (LSL) and 2008 (USL) and the brief attempt at a Munster Softball League (2010-11). There has also been Weekend Leagues in Dublin (Gemstorm Winter League) and the Female Slowpitch League (Dublin).

Softball Business Leagues

Businesses and Corporations have been involved in Irish Softball since the first Leagues in the 1980s, with teams such as Fat Cats made up of american Businessmen. In the 1990s, Computer Companies got involved in a big way, and since the 2000s, there has been a separate Business House League or Corporate League in the Area. (see the Leinster Softball page on Eirball for more on the Leagues in the 1980s and 1990s: https://eirball.ie/leinster-softball/

The Business House League was run directly by Softball Ireland in the 2000s, and then, the Corporate League as it was now known, was run by Softball Leinster in the 2010s.

USA Softball Teams in Ireland

Softball Leinster

The Leinster Softball League is a Coed Slowpitch Softball League in Leinster Province, Ireland. It is currently at a 5:5 Male:Female Ratio although in its early days it was 9:1 Male:Female. There was a Female Slowpitch League from 1997-2002 which was League for Competitive Females from the top Divisions in the Leinster Softball League.

The most successful clubs over the entire history of the League have been Dodder Dynamoes (the oldest Softball team in Ireland) and Marlay Martyrs (both based in South Dublin suburbs – Marlay in Marlay Park, Rathfarnham (D14) and Dodder Dynamoes originally from Dodder Park, Dartry and now nomadic.

The League is Coed, originally 8:2 Ratio of Men:Women, until it levelled to 5:5 twice – in the late-1990s and in 2017.

Clicking on links on this page will bring the reader to the eirball.org – Irish Baseball & Softball subsite

Softball Leinster Roll of Honour

This is a look at the Champions of each of the Levels of the Leinster Softball League with the winning record (W-L-Pts) for each year of the League Champions.

Female Slowpitch League

The Female Slowpitch League lasted five years from 1997 to 2002 (one year – 2001 – there was no league). After the League ended in 2002 two Fastpitch Teams were created although there is no evidence of any Fastpitch competitions or teams playing until the Fastpitch Ireland programme was started in 2015

Leinster Softball League Level 1

Leinster Softball League History 1982-1989

The League started in 1982 as the Dublin Softball League with 5 teams – teams from the US Embassy Marines,  Japanese Embassy Skinny Rats, the Fat Cats (American Businessmen), the Misfits (American Students, Irish Computer Workers and American Businessmen), and one from the Druid’s Chair, Killiney.

Leinster Softball League Level 2

Leinster Softball League History 1990-1999

In 1990 the first Irish Softball Association was formed, which in 1992 became the Irish Baseball & Softball Association, adding a Second Division. A third Division was added in 1994, and a Fourth in 1996. In 1997 the Female Slowpitch League for Competitive Females was added.In 1998 the IBSA was renamed the Irish Baseball & Softball Federation.

Leinster Softball League Level 3

Leinster Softball League History 2000-2004

In 2000 a split occurred between the Baseball & Softball Federations, and The Irish Softball Association took over the running of Softball in Ireland. A fifth Coed Division was added that year and in 2001 a Seventh Level, the Men’s Non-Competitive League was added. 2002 was the last year of the Women’s Slowpitch League.

Leinster Softball League Levels 4-7

Leinster Softball History 2012-Present

Softball Leinster was reformed in 2011 for the purposes of running the League from 2012 onwards, with the League dropping to three levels.(Softball Leinster 2011-Present)

Dublin Softball League

Dublin Softball League History 1982-1989

The League started in 1982 as the Dublin Softball League with 5 teams – teams from the US Embassy Marines,  Japanese Embassy Skinny Rats, the Fat Cats (American Businessmen), the Misfits (American Students, Irish Computer Workers and American Businessmen), and one from the Druid’s Chair, Killiney.

Leinster Softball Cups

Aside from the Leinster Softball League there has also been Leinster Softball Knockout (elimination) Cups, such as the Leinster Championship in the early 1990s and the 5:5 Pennant in the late 1990s.

Leinster Softball Teams

Dodder Dynamoes are the oldest (and original) Softball team in Ireland, dating right back to the 1980s and the Dublin Softball League prior to the founding of the Irish Softball Association.

Softball Ulster

The Ulster Softball League started in 2008, after two seasons of the Softball Ulster Summer League. It has grown from 3 teams in 2008 to 11 teams in two Divisions by 2022 including the first teams outside of Belfast (Bangor Buccaneers and Lisburn Hawks).

Clicking on links on this page will bring the reader to the eirball.org – Irish Baseball & Softball subsite

Connacht Munster Softball

There are four Provinces in Ireland, each of which has or had its own Softball League, beginning with the Leinster Softball League which started in 1989, following on from the Dublin Softball League which played from 1982 to 1989. The Ulster Softball League started in 2009 and is still playing. The Munster Softball League played from 2011-2014, growing out of the Cork-Galway Friendlies, and the Galway Softball League (Connacht) started in 2020, growing out of the Galway Softball Trophy which played in the 2010s.

Clicking on links on this page will bring the reader to the eirball.org Irish Baseball & Softball subsite

Connacht Munster Softball

Galway Softball is represented by Galway Tribes and Galway Hookers, and there was once a Connacht Softball Association in 2002 which included Longford Triads. In 2021 a new four team Galway Softball League started with teams carrying sponsors names from local businesses. The Galway Softball League replaced the Munster Softball League which ran from 2010 to 2011 including teams from Cork, Limerick, West Clare and Galway. From 2006 to 2009 Cork, Galway and Kerry teams played friendlies amongst themselves and Galway’s two teams the Tribes (named after famous Galway Merchant Families) and the Hookers (named after famous Galway Boats) played friendlies amonst themselves and in Blitzes from approximately 2014 to 2018.

Galway Softball

After the Cork and West Clare Softball teams ceased, Limerick and Galway continued to play in blitzes in Dublin and in the Irish Open Softball Tournament, while the Galway team formed two teams: Tribes and Hookers (named after famous Galway Merchant families and famous Galway boats respectively).

Softball Munster

Lasting two years the Munster Softball League featured teams from Cork, Limerick, West Clare and Galway.

Cork-Galway Softball

From 2006 to 2008 Galway and Cork Softball teams played friendly games against each other. These two teams were joined by teams from Kerry in 2009 leading to the first full-fledged League outside Dublin – the Munster Softball League in 2010.

Inter-County Softball

Starting in 2001 the first League play outside Dublin featured teams from Bray (Co. Wicklow), Longford, Galway, Cork, and two Business teams.

International Softball

Ireland enters teams into the World Baseball-Softball Confederation (WSBC) Women’s World Softball Championships, European Softball Federation (ESF) European Softball Championships (both Fastpitch) as well as the Coed (Mixed) and Men’s Slowpitch European Championships. Club teams also enter the Coed Slowpitch Club Championships.

Clicking on links on this page will bring the reader to the eirball.org – Irish Baseball & Softball subsite

World Softball Championships

European Softball Federation

Professional Fastpitch Softball

Professional Softball Leagues for women include National Pro Fastpitch – the latest attempt at establishing a permanent Professional Softball League (Fastpitch Softball is Women’s Baseball). There are also leagues in Europe and around the world.

British Softball

Softball has two main variations: Fastpitch Softball, which is Women’s version of Baseball, and Slowpitch Softball, a mainly mixed (coed) recreational version of the game. In Europe, however, both Slowpitch and Fastpitch are highly competitive sports with International fixtures for both Club and Country. In USA, the highest levels of the sport of Softball in the World are the Professional Fastpitch Leagues and NCAA College Softball Leagues for Women.