Monash University’s long-running baseball club will play its last game on the university’s Clayton campus this weekend, and plans to go out in style with a special "Legends Game", featuring players from as early as the mid-sixties.
The club, nicknamed the "Farmers" after the University’s early name "The Farm" due to its location on Melbourne’s rural fringe at the time, dates back to 1963, with several Australian national baseball players involved at one time or another, including Andrew Smith, David Clarkson, Greg Jelks and former coach Ron Carothers.
President Benedict Chiu said the event will provide a chance to reflect on the Club’s heritage, as well as look forward to a bright future at a new home, ahead of the forthcoming Victorian Heart Hospital works.
"We will celebrate our wins, our losses, our many premiership flags, our people, and most importantly, the memories that have passed through our Club and the playing diamond over the past 55 years.
"As one of Monash’s oldest and most successful on field clubs, we’re excited to be starting a new chapter in our rich history."
The game will feature players from the Club’s golden era, when it won six consecutive A-grade pennants in the 1980’s, and a member of the original 1963 team. Current and past players will also compete in a "home run derby" before the club officially farewells its playing field.
Alec Kahn, the game’s organiser and the Club’s greatest legend, hasn’t missed playing a season in 45 years since he joined in 1973.
"I can’t wait to see some old faces and celebrate the many achievements of our Club. We have players flying in from overseas and interstate for this magnificent event.
I invite the broader Monash community, and the greater Melbourne baseball community to come down for the function and send off our beloved baseball field with a home run!"
The event starts at 12.30pm at the baseball diamond on Clayton campus with the annual home run derby. The Legends Game will commence at 3pm.
