Baseball Victoria Hall of Fame Umpires: Dick Chapman

Dick Chapman was a leading umpire in the decades following World War 2. He was highly respected by players and administrators. Dick had an outstanding knowledge of the rules of the game and administered them fairly and strongly and was acknowledged by players and spectators alike for his control of games.

Dick was President of the Victorian Umpires Association from 1960 to 1970 and led the development of a high standard for umpiring throughout Victoria. Dick served for many years as the Arbitrator for the Victorian Provincial Carnivals and he made an outstanding contribution to the game over his many years of service.

Dick was also the Registrar for player registrations for the VBA for 25 years, well into the 1980’s albeit with his wife Joyce doing most of the record keeping. 

Dick initially played for the Ormond BC before moving to the Prahran BC in 1935 and becoming a key member of a team that dominated the Metropolitan Division. Playing at first base in 1939, against Melbourne High School Old Boys, Dick hit a walk off 2 run homer with 2 out in the bottom of the ninth to clinch the Metropolitan Division pennant for Prahran, winning the inaugural R.R. Hindson Cup. Prahran then went on to defeat Carlton for the Major Championship of Victoria.

Dick was the plate umpire for the Exhibition Baseball Game in the 1956 Olympics between Australia and the United States of America services team played on the MCG in front of 86,425 spectators. The United States won the game 11-5 runs. Dick was elected as a Life Member of the Prahran Baseball Club 1949 and a Life Membership of the Victorian Baseball Association in 1970.Dick Chapman was awarded the Australian Olympic Sports Medal for his services to Baseball in 2000.