Baseball
Australia is proud to induct John Stephens, Bob Ossey and Wally Buchanan to the
Baseball Australia Hall of Fame, Class of 2017.
The
Baseball Australia Heritage Committee, and the Board of Baseball Australia are
proud to endorse these three gentlemen, for their significant contribution to
baseball in their home states as well as the development of baseball across
Australia.
This
year’s inductees span three centuries, and have all, in their own way, left
their mark on helping grow baseball in Australia.
John Stephens
Sarasota, Florida, USA
A
member of the Australian Olympic silver medal winning team of 2004, John
Stephens played in the MLB for the Baltimore Orioles in a
career that saw him also signed by the Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, and
the Philadelphia Phillies.
Stephens’
contribution to the Australian national team was significant. He was selected
to the Australian National Team 2001 to play in a tournament in Taiwan and was
awarded the MVP for that series. He also toured Brazil (1994-95) and USA (1996)
with the Australian National Team and was of course part of the 2004 Olympic
Silver medal winning team at the Athens Olympic Games. Stephens was also
selected as part of the 2006 World Baseball Classic team.
Stephens
represented his state, NSW, at junior and senior level, and even asked for his
payment by MLB Club the Baltimore Orioles to be withheld, so he could represent NSW between 1995-97.
Born
15 November 1979 in Sydney, Australia, Stephens also had an outstanding career
in the minor league system, throwing 217 strikeouts with the Delmarva
Shorebirds in 1999, the highest total in the entire minor leagues that season.
He
also set a Delmarva record by striking out 17 batters on 5 June 1999 game
against Charleston, and at the end of the year the Orioles honoured him with the Jim Palmer
Prize, an award given annually to the best pitcher in Baltimore’s farm system.
Stephens
was even more dominant in 2001. Playing for the Bowie Baysox, he was named the
Eastern League Pitcher of the Year and Eastern League Player of the Month for
June. He also made the league’s All Star team, pitching an inning of scoreless
relief during the game. His 1.84 ERA led the league, he compiled a streak of 33
consecutive scoreless innings, and on 31 July he pitched a seven inning no-hitter
against the Harrisburg Senators. At the end of the season, the Orioles awarded
him the Palmer Prize for the second time.
Stephens
started the 2002 season with the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings. Continued
success brought him a spot on the World roster for the All Star Futures Game,
and on 30 July 2002, he made his Major League debut with the Orioles, starting
a game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The Orioles awarded John the Palmer
Prize for the third time in four years.
Stephens
will long be remembered as Australia’s number one arm in the 2004 Olympic Games
Gold Medal match against Cuba in Greece and has remained in the USA post his
career with his wife and children.
Professional career
· July3, 1996: Signed by
the Baltimore Orioles as an amateur free agent
· April 8, 2004: Selected
off waivers by the Boston Red Sox from the Baltimore Orioles
· April 16, 2005: Released
by the Boston Red Sox
· April 20, 2005: Signed as
a Free Agent with the Chicago White Sox
· June 2, 2005: Released by
the Chicago White Sox
· July 1, 2005: Signed as a
Free Agent with the Baltimore Orioles
· June 28, 2006: Released
by the Baltimore Orioles
· July 3, 2006: Signed as a
Free Agent with the Philadelphia Phillies
· October 15, 2006: Granted
Free Agency
Bob Ossey
Mount
Pleasant, Perth
Bob
Ossey was an outstanding player at all levels of the game with batting and
fielding statistics that lead all the leagues he played in during the 1968-1988
period.
Through
this period some of Ossey’s highlights include:
· Lifetime Claxton Shield
batting, slugging & OPS average - .320/.503/.933
· Remarkable Lifetime Club
batting, slugging &OPS .411/.776/1.309 (67 HRs)
· Golden Bat award for
highest average 1976 Claxton Shield .526 (Adelaide)
· Led the 1977 Claxton
Shield (Perth) in total hits, HRs and RBIs and narrowly missed out on winning
the Helms Award (which went to Ron Owen of Victoria)
· Ossey won the Mickle
medal for the best WA player in the Claxton Shield in this same year (WA won
the 1977 Shield)
· Ossey was the leading
offensive player for WA – when the state won the Claxton Shield 4 times over a
5 year period (1975 to 1979)
· Ossey was a regular and
key offensive player for the Australian National Team playing for Australia
against visiting Asian powerhouse teams, and representing Australia on
international touring teams – Bob represented Australia in 1973, 74, 76, 77,
78, 79 and 1983.
Ossey
was a significant contributor to the growth and success of baseball during this
period.
In
addition to his contribution as one of the era’s greatest players, Ossey was also
an excellent leader and visionary that played a major role in changing and
improving the way that baseball was played in the Australia and particularly
Western Australia.
As
a coach Ossey was one of WA’s most successful club coaches leading Victoria Park
Baseball Club to four (4) premierships and top four finishes on another four
(4) occasions while at the helm. His technical knowledge, effectiveness in
teaching both game skills and strategies significantly impacted game
development in WA.
Ossey
was as passionate about on-field standards as he was about providing great
guidance as an administrator of the game. The standard of ground presentation,
facilities, playing surfaces, etc. were all improved significantly during Ossey’s
involvement off the field in WA. Ossey tirelessly and persistently lobbied
league executives about the need for improved grounds and facilities, including
player amenities.
Perhaps
Ossey’s most significant contribution to baseball in WA, was as a result of his
vision for a purpose built stadium in Perth. In 1977 Ossey started the campaign
to build a facility in Belmont which eventuated in the establishment of Parry
Field ballpark. There were three people who more than any others drove the
development of the Parry Field development from concept to completion. These
were Kevin Parry, Neville Pratt and Bob Ossey.
Ossey
was particularly adept at connecting key people, influencing the stadium design
and layout and lobbying key stakeholder groups including both State and Local
governments for funding and support.
Walter “Wally” Buchanan
Adelaide, South Australia
Born
in 1888, Wally Buchanan was a pioneer in Australian baseball, particularly in
the development of baseball in South Australia.
In
1908 Buchanan was a Foundation Member of the Norwood Club, the first year of
the South Australian Baseball League. In the following two season’s Buchanan
helped set up the East Torrens and South United clubs, giving baseball in South
Australia the foundation it needed to grow and flourish. But it was in 1911
that Buchanan finally found his home, joining the Adelaide Club where he played
A Grade baseball for 14 seasons, the last 10 of them as Club Captain.
Buchanan
also represented his state of South Australia, selected in 10 state teams:
1910, 12, 13, 14, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 27. A great leader for both club and
State, Buchanan was captain on four occasions in 1922, 23, 24 and 27. He was also
a member of the first South Australian team to visit NSW (1914).
In
total, Buchanan played in around 50 interstate matches, which included four
carnivals in Melbourne, four in Adelaide and two in Sydney.
However,
it was off the field of play that Buchanan will be remembered for most, for his
tireless commitment to the growth of baseball in South Australia, as an SABL
Committee Member, SABL Executive Committee Member, SABL State Team Selection
Committee Member, as Adelaide Baseball Club President (Life Member). In 1932
Buchanan was awarded Life Membership of Baseball in South Australia. Buchanan
died on 16 February 1972, and was again recognised for his outstanding
contribution to club baseball in South Australia in 2008, when he was named in
Adelaide Baseball Club’s 1908-2008 Team of the Century.
Buchanan’s
posthumous induction to Baseball Australia’s Hall of Fame is just reward for a
lifetime commitment to the game he loved.
Baseball Administration
· 1910-11 SABL Committee Member
· 1923 SABL Executive
Committee Member
· 1922-25 and 1933 SABL
State Team Selection Committee Member
· 1932, 37, 38 – Adelaide
Baseball Club President
· Adelaide Baseball Club
Life Member
· 1932 – Awarded Life
Membership of Baseball South Australia
· 2008 Wally was selected
in Adelaide Baseball Club’s 1908-2008 Team of the Century