Baseball Victoria Hall of Fame Players: Ernie George Bolton

Ernie is acknowledged as one of the game’s greatest ever pitchers. He started his baseball career as an 11-year old with East Ballarat playing in an Under 18 Competition. Ernie had a fastball around 90 mph as well as exceptional control and the ability to vary the pace of the ball and curveball that was a nightmare for left hand batters.

Ernie played in 6 Claxton Shield Series including Australian Championship Teams in 1956.  He pitched 2 no hitters for Victoria including one against New South Wales in the opening game of the 1959 Claxton Shield series. Only one batter reached first base and he was thrown out second trying to steal.  In 80 recorded innings of Claxton Shield Ernie recorded an incredible ERA 1.90. He was selected in the Claxton Shield All Australian team 1959.

Ernie also had a glittering club career. He played for Ballarat Baseball Club in the Victorian Summer League and was a premier 1951-52. Ernie joined Coburg Baseball Club from East Ballarat Baseball Club in 1957.  In 1960, in the 6 games Ernie pitched that season, he pitched 3 shutouts and held the opposition to a single run in each of the other 3 games. He also played for Footscray and Malvern. Ernie pitched a perfect game in A Grade against Prahran 1966.  He was a member of Coburg Premiership teams in 1957, 1959, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1972 and 1973. 

In 1974 he pitched for Footscray Baseball Club in a Grand Final against his former club Coburg Baseball Club losing 7-8.  Ernie won his last Grand Final in 1975 pitching for Malvern with his son Jeffrey playing second base.  Ernie was the George Heron Trophy winner in 1958 and 1959 and the Coburg Club Champion on 12 occasions.  Ernie was inducted into the Victorian Claxton Shield Team of the Century 1934-2000 and became a member of the Australian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016.