Our history

A set of rule changes drawn up from 1880 onward by Walter Camp, the “Father of American Football”, established the snap, eleven-player teams, and the concept of downs; later rule changes legalized the forward pass, created the neutral zone, and specified the size and shape of the football.

American football as a whole is the most popular sport in the United States; professional football and college football are the most popular forms of the game, with the other major levels being high school and youth football.

Major Milestones

2013

The Melbourne Baseball Club celebrates its 125th year anniversary

The Melbourne Baseball Club celebrated its 125th year and marked the anniversary with a Gala Dinner attended by nearly 200 current and former Melbourne Baseball Club members and the wider baseball community. A Hall of Fame team was inducted as part of this significant milestone.

1999

MCC opens field and clubhouse at Surrey Park

Bruce Church, President of the Melbourne Cricket Club, opens the splendid new baseball field and clubhouse at Surrey Park. It was a joint effort between the City of Whitehorse, the baseball community and the MCC which supplied the majority of the funding.

1988

MCC Baseball section celebrated its centenary

MCC Baseball section celebrated its centenary with a dinner in the Long Room and a 'Living Legends' match at the historic Albert Ground.

1982

Formation of Junior Committee

With the Junior Section continuing to grow the club formed a separate Junior Committee to specifically look after all matters relating to, and to grow the Junior Section.

1978

Club moves to Macleay Park

Club moves from Albert Cricket Ground in St Kilda Rd to Macleay Park (North Balwyn).

1976

VBA switches from Winter to Summer competitions

The Victorian Baseball Association made a decision to switch from a winter to a summer game for the following year, an important initiative that unfortunately left our baseballers without a home because the Albert Ground was required for cricket.

1958

Relegated from the top grade for the first time in history

Under the coaching of Max Wishart, the All Australian second baseman, there was a superb recovery. They went through the B grade like a hot north wind to win the B grade premiership and the club championship.

Recent Times (2010 – 2020)

2011

The firsts won the Second division minor premiership and with it a place in Division 1 for the following season, to cap it off they won the second Division title with a clean sweep of the finals series.

2013

The Baseball Club celebrated its 125th year with an Anniversary dinner and inducted a Hall of Fame team which was a terrific success.

2016

The Mens Section won the 1st Division Club Championship – its first since 1971.

The professional era (2008 – 2013)

On November 12, 1892, when William “Pudge” Heffelfinger was paid $500 to play a game for the Allegheny Athletic Association in a match against the Pittsburgh Athletic Club. This is the first recorded instance of a player being paid to participate in a game of American football, although many athletic clubs in the 1880s offered indirect benefits, such as helping players attain employment, giving out trophies or watches.

Evolution of the game (2002 – 2008)

The introduction of the snap resulted in unexpected consequences. Prior to the snap, the strategy had been to punt if a scrum resulted in bad field position. However, a group of Princeton players realized that, as the snap was uncontested, they now could hold the ball indefinitely to prevent their opponent from scoring. In 1881, both teams in a game between Yale-Princeton used this strategy to maintain their undefeated records.