Annual memorial clash strikes in honour of baseball league legends

Central And Federals Taylor Probert Shield Dsc 0221  TBW Newsgroup

Central And Federals Taylor Probert Shield Dsc 0221 TBW Newsgroup
PROUD PAST: The Central and Federal Division 1 baseball teams will contest the 20th annual Taylor/Probert Shield tomorrow in honour of two late legends of the clubs. Picture: CURTIS BOYD

THE memories of two Mount Gambier baseball legends will be honoured tomorrow night, with the 20th Taylor/Probert Shield match at Blue Lake Sports Park.

Frank Taylor and Al Probert were life members of the Federal and Central Baseball Clubs respectively and the annual contest between the two teams pays respect to their contribution to the game.

The shield was originally played the week before the Christmas break, but in 2019 the decision was made to move it in conjunction with the heritage round – a fitting nod to the two mates who played during that time.

Frank and Al started out as opponents in the 1950’s, but a friendship was soon formed which would last a lifetime.

Frank’s son Peter Taylor recalls the rivalry of the pair on the pitch, which evaporated as soon as they hung up their gloves for the day.

“There was certainly rivalry out on the field, but like all sports back then, as soon as the game finished it was time for a beer,” he said.

Frank was a pitcher and Al was a first baseman and it was in those positions the pair represented the Blue Lake city on several occasions.

“They both played for the Mount Gambier Baseball League touring team numerous times,” Taylor said.

“It used to then be called the VPBL – the Victorian Provincial Baseball League.

“They toured each year to a different place, be it Geelong, Dandenong, Wangaratta or Melbourne – all those sorts of places.”

It was the commitment Frank and Al showed to their beloved baseball which saw the shield introduced 20 years ago.

Even in retirement the pair came together to support their respective clubs at the Blue Lake Sports Park complex, which was a far cry from the showgrounds and Frew Park facilities where they played for most of their careers.

“I think it really appealed to the two of them where baseball had come since their days of playing at the showgrounds,” Taylor said.

It was that passion for the sport which resulted in the idea to immortalise the duo through a shield match.

“They were out there each game,” Taylor said.

“I came up with an idea and I went to our president – who was Michael Summers at the time – and said ‘these two chaps are always here and they love their baseball, why don’t we strike up a shield of some sort that we can name after the two?'”

From there Summers approached the Central Baseball Club, which was happy to back the idea and with support from the league as well, the Taylor/Probert Shield was established.

The inaugural shield was contested in the 2000/01 season, which was won convincingly by Federal.

However, since then the honours have been shared evenly and the teams have won nine each, along with a draw in 2017-18.

Federal won in a close 3-2 result last season and will be eager to go back-to-back in tomorrow night’s 20th edition, with ultimate bragging rights on the line.

While Frank and Al have passed on, their wives Thelma Taylor and Nancy Probert continue to represent the shield in their name.

“Unfortunately not too many of the current players would actually know them (Frank and Al) personally, but hopefully they know some sort of history of what the shield is about,” Peter Taylor said.

However, there is some extra meaning to the game for one Federal player.

Frank’s baseball legacy lives on through his grandson Nathan Taylor – Peter’s nephew – and he can be expected to take to the mound tomorrow night like his grandfather before him.

The Probert name also remains etched in the history of Blue Lake Sports Park.

“When we started out at the new complex, Terry Probert – Al’s son – was the first person to ever hit a home run over the fence at Blue Lake Sports Park,” Peter Taylor said.

Taylor expects a good crowd for the game tomorrow night, with strong support from life members and past players at last year’s match.

The game will start at 7pm on Diamond 1, following the Division 1 clash between Tigers and South Indians at 4pm.