British Baseball Podcast

Former Cartmel Valley Lion and Great Britain Infielder Richard Klijn joins the show to talk about his time playing in the UK, Germany and with the National team, North v South Culture shocks, hitting baseballs at his schools maths class windows in BP, moving to Germany at 17, how cutting his foot open opened a door, MLB HoFers swearing at him, getting caught in the skippers bed and not watching baseball and being really really good at baseball plus more!

if you can support the show, head on over to Patreon.com/britbaseballpod

Joining a cold riddled Matt for the last episode of season 2 is new Great Britain Baseball player Aaron Singh (@AaronSinghhh) to talk about this time in baseball, the route through high school and college, the move into coaching and then a surprise call up to the GB Baseball Mens Senior National Team for the 2021 European Championships in Italy.  We chat about that tournament and how it was settling back into the game after around 2 years out and the games he was involved in.

warning, Matt sings and its not very good

This month in British Baseball History September

roundup from the remaining BBF championships games, the Historic WBUK final between Belles baseball and London Mayhem and the GB Mens Senior European Championships

playoffs and finals round up from BBF

Michael Harrold was the Great Britain national team's longest tenured manager, leading the squad to a European title in 1988 and the juniors to a championship in 1993. His exceptional career also included stints as a distinguished player at both the national and domestic levels, as well as success as a manager in domestic league play. A talented catcher-pitcher, Harrold was named to Great Britain squads for the 1971 and 1984 European Championships as well as European qualifying games in 1974 and 1975. As a member of the Nottingham Lions from 1970 to 1976, he led his club to two league championships, two league cups, and a national Knock-out Cup title. During that stretch, he was named the club's Most Valuable Batter twice and Most Valuable Player once. More success followed with the Southglade Hornets from 1979 to 1992. The dominant Midlands club, which he pitched for and then began managing in 1985, captured nine league titles and eight cup trophies along with a number of other pieces of hardware - most notably, a national Knock-out Cup trophy in 1986 - during his tenure. His teams were also national runners up four times. Personal accomplishments during that stretch included two league Most Valuable Player awards (1980 and 1983) and a league cup Most Valuable Player award (1981). From 1988 to 1995, Harrold skippered the Great Britain national team. It was an era in which non-domestic players did not represent a large contingent of the national team. With a squad made up of primarily born-and-bred British players, Harrold navigated Great Britain to a title at the 1988 European Championship B-Pool. He also led the junior national team to the top of the B-Pool at the 1993 championships. In addition to his work on the field, Harrold was a long-time administrator. Among his many roles, he served as British Baseball Federation president and a member of the British Olympic committee. Finally, through his commitment to the Old Timers Baseball Club he was able to continue as an active baseball player through his 50s and competed in his last game aged 60, against an Italian touring team. - GB HoF

final few games before the playoffs staring next week

some historical moments from the ages of British baseball history from the month of August