Baseball: Croydon Pirates do deal with MLB

The Croydon Pirates were in the news last weekend when they attended Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby Extra event at Crystal Palace.

They managed to secure a deal in which MLB have kindly offered to donate some of the baseballs used in the event to the Pirates.

After a three-year absence from British Baseball, 2020 saw the Croydon Pirates return to playing regular season games at Dave Ward Field, Roundshaw.

Formed in 1981, the club played in the British Baseball Federation every year until just before the start of the 2017 season when player availability led to the team folding.

The Pirates were back-to-back national champions in 2004 and 2005 and beat German professionals Regensburg Legionnaires in the 2005 European Cup Winner’s Cup!

American operatic tenor Mark Bonney decided to restart the team in 2019 with help from former Pirates coaches Mark Watson and Timothy Ssali.

The club finished middle of the table in the Covid-shortened eight-game 2020 season and third overall in the 2021 BBF Double A Finals, after coming second in their pool.

The Pirates play their home games at Hannibal Way, Croydon CR0 4RW.

The club is always on the lookout for new players so if you would like to know more about London’s oldest baseball club, please visit their website:

www.croydonpiratesbaseball.com

MAIN PICTURE: DAVID SQUIRES