BASEBALL in
THURROCK
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It is quite possible
that the all American game of baseball was invented in
England. The authoress Jane Austen refers to a game of
“base ball” in Northanger Abbey written in 1797/98.
Did you also know that baseball was played in Thurrock
and well supported too?
In 1937 Jimmy McQuade founded the baseball team at Thames
Board Mills known as ‘Thames Raiders’. They
played in a regional league and cup competitions, which
included the following teams:
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TEAMS
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LOCATION
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Aveley
Cubs
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Belhus
Park, Aveley
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Ford
Sports
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Kent
Avenue, Dagenham
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Briggs
Brigands
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Victoria
Road, Dagenham
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Fondu
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North
Road, Purfleet
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Benfleet
Greys
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Benfleet
Recreation Ground
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Snowdown
Magpies
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Aylesham,
Kent
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Dagenham
Royals
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Parsloes
Park, Dagenham
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Dodgers
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Welling
Way, Falconwood
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Edgeware
Wildcats
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Essex
Nationals
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Mayesbrook
Park, Dagenham
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Briggs
Tigers
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Victoria
Road, Dagenham
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Hornsey
Athletics
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Southend
Buffaloes
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Eastern
Avenue, Southend
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Essex
Nomads
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Mayesbrook
Park, Dagenham
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Hedleys
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Dock
Road, Tilbury
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West
Ham Invicta
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Hornsey
Red-Sox
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Enfield
Cardinals
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The league was known as
the South Eastern League. There was no relegation
or promotion from this league.
The Thames Raiders were members of the Southern
Baseball Federation. They joined the National
League in the early 1960’s playing teams
from Hull, Liverpool and Manchester. Not many
teams from the south did this because of the
travel involved.
They also played in the South East Counties Cup
and friendlies against teams from Alconbury,
Wethersfield, Northolt.
Their most successful season was 1960 when they
won both the league and the cup, as well as the
Kosta Memorial Trophy.
Thames Raiders wore a white uniform with a black
stripe and black baseball caps originally they
wore green and white. The uniforms had to come
from America as it was very difficult if not
impossible to buy baseball equipment in the U.K.
at that time.
A baseball team has 9 players a pitcher, a
catcher, four infielders (1st base, 2nd base,
short stop, 3rd base), and 3 outfielders.
Thames Board Mills ceased playing baseball circa
1982. In their hey day they were watched by
crowds of 400 to 500 on a Sunday afternoon. |
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