Final Tables 1987
Welsh Baseball Union Premier Division 1987
| Pos | Team | W | L |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexandra Old Boys | 9 | 5 |
| 1 | Caerau | 8 | 6 |
| 1 | Gower Sports | 3 | 11 |
| 1 | Grange Albion | 4 | 10 |
| 1 | Llanrumney | 14 | 0 |
| 1 | Old Illtydians | 5 | 9 |
| 1 | Rumney RFC | 5 | 9 |
| 1 | St. Michael's | 8 | 6 |
Welsh Baseball Union County Division 1987
| Pos | Team | W | L |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grange Catholic | 9 | 5 |
| 1 | Llandaff North | 8 | 6 |
| 1 | Newport Civil Service | 4 | 10 |
| 1 | Ninian Spurs | 10 | 4 |
| 1 | Penylian | 2 | 12 |
| 1 | St. Alban's | 5 | 9 |
| 1 | St. Peter's | 11 | 3 |
| 1 | Tavistock | 7 | 7 |
Welsh Baseball Union 1st Division 1987
| Pos | Team | W | L |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexandra Old Boys B | 4 | 8 |
| 1 | Bridgend Street | 10 | 2 |
| 1 | Caerau B | 4 | 8 |
| 1 | Clifton | 9 | 3 |
| 1 | Llanfrechfa | 3 | 9 |
| 1 | St. Joseph's | 8 | 4 |
| 1 | St. Michael's B | 4 | 8 |
Welsh Baseball Union 2nd Division 1987
| Pos | Team | W | L |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fitzalan | 10 | 4 |
| 1 | Gower Sports B | 1 | 13 |
| 1 | Grange Albion B | 12 | 1 |
| 1 | Grange Catholics B | 3 | 9 |
| 1 | Llanrumney B | 8 | 6 |
| 1 | Machen RFC | 9 | 5 |
| 1 | Newlands | 7 | 7 |
| 1 | Whitechurch RFC | 4 | 10 |
Welsh Baseball Union 3rd Division 1987
| Pos | Team | W | L |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Falrook | 6 | 6 |
| 1 | Newport Civil Service B | 2 | 10 |
| 1 | Old Illtydians B | 8 | 4 |
| 1 | Rumney RFC B | 11 | 0 |
| 1 | St. Michael's C | 3 | 9 |
| 1 | Tongwyndale | 9 | 3 |
| 1 | Whitechurch | 2 | 9 |
Welsh Baseball Union 4th Division 1987
| Pos | Team | W | L |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caerau C | 8 | 6 |
| 1 | Clagon Coronation | 5 | 9 |
| 1 | Hendre | 14 | 0 |
| 1 | Newbridge | 6 | 8 |
| 1 | Newport Dockers | 10 | 4 |
| 1 | Ninian Spurs B | 4 | 10 |
| 1 | Tarelblack Saracens | 2 | 12 |
| 1 | Wiggins Teape | 7 | 7 |
Welsh Baseball Union 5th Division 1987
| Pos | Team | W | L |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asko Salvage | 8 | 6 |
| 1 | Llandaff North B | 12 | 2 |
| 1 | Llanrumney C | 1 | 13 |
| 1 | New Park Liberals | 10 | 4 |
| 1 | Penylian B | 2 | 12 |
| 1 | St. Alban's B | 8 | 5 |
| 1 | St. Peter's B | 4 | 10 |
| 1 | St. Phillip Expos (WBU) | 8 | 5 |
Welsh Baseball Union 6th Division 1987
| Pos | Team | W | L |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bridgend Street B | 7 | 7 |
| 1 | Caerndron RFC | 11 | 3 |
| 1 | Cowden FC | 6 | 8 |
| 1 | Essefador | 10 | 4 |
| 1 | Grange Catholics C | 12 | 2 |
| 1 | Llandalen | 4 | 10 |
| 1 | Morganstown RFC | 0 | 13 |
| 1 | St. Fallon's | 4 | 9 |
Recap
The 1987 Welsh Baseball Union (Men’s) season featured 62 teams across 8 Divisions, from the Premier Division to the County Division, and then from the 2st Division down to the 6th Division. There were a couple of teams who forfeited the season but otherwise it was a successful season, with Lllanrumney finishing by far the best team, picking up the Premier Division title with a maximum 28 points from 14 games. St. Peter’s won the County Division on 22 points (11-3), Bridgend Street were the 1st Division winners on 20 points, Grange Albion took the 2nd Division honours on 24 points (12-1). The lower tables were won by Rumney RFC B on 22 points (11-0) in the 3rd Division, Hendre 28 Points (14-0) in the 4th Division, Llandaff North B were 5th Division winners with 24 points (12-2) and Grange Catholics C won the 6th Division title with 24 points (12-2).
The names hark back to a bygone era in South Wales, not just teams such as Grange Catholics and St. Peter’s, which would have had a large Irish Catholic contingent on their rosters, but also teams with names referencing Major League Baseball (a different, but similar sport) such as St. Phillip’s Expos, no doubt a nod to Montreal Expos. Other references to other sports include Ninian Spurs, based in the same neighbourhood as the old Cardiff City Football Club ground Ninian Park, and also Rugby Football Club and Association Football Club (Soccer) teams such as Rumney RFC and Cowden FC. New Park Liberals, Newport Civil Service also make reference to a political and administrative climate which has no doubt shifted radically since. Then there are the Old Boys teams such as Old Illtydians and Alexandra Old Boys, past pupils of Schools in South Wales and the teams with Llan in their name, a popular Welsh-language prefix. Very few, if any, of these teams are still in existence now as the League has become a Schools League.
References
[1] Welsh Ladies Baseball Union Facebook (2017) Around the Bases : Welsh Baseball union April / May 1988 [Internet] Available from: http://www.facebook.com/21387949710/photos/pcb.10155902328909711/10155902302069711/?type=3&theater [Accessed 30 November 2017][Actual Page Reference: https://www.facebook.com/Welsh-Ladies-baseball-Union-21387949710/photos/pcb.10155902328909711/10155902303314711 [Accessed 30 November 2017][Last Accessed 15 October 2021]
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to Eddie Brasil
ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT
Researched, Compiled and Written by Enda Mulcahy for the
Eirball | GAA World Archive
Last Updated: 15 October 2021
(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2021
You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Resereved.
I am an American and I play both cricket and baseball and just happened to stumble across Welsh baseball on the internet and I found it really fascinating. Are there still any active men’s teams Wales or England? Also, is there an active website for the Welsh Baseball Union? Thanks.
Hi Alex. To the best of my knowledge, it is only currently played in schools with no active website for the Welsh Baseball Union. You could maybe try You Tube for a video Channel. I have not tried that resource yet.
Enda (Eirball)