Baseball Victoria Hall of Fame Players: Graeme Deany

Graeme Deany had a long and successful club and representative career. He began playing cricket at Fitzroy Cricket Club as a 13-year old in 1949 and was convinced by Ray Harvey to join Fitzroy Baseball Club as a 16-year old in 1953 in the senior seconds side. Graeme started as an outfielder for two seasons at Fitzroy Baseball Club before moving to the infield to play shortstop and third base. Graeme played for Fitzroy Baseball Club between 1953 and 1962 and then 1964 to 1965. 

Between 1963 and 1965 he played at Footscray Baseball Club as captain coach before moving to Ivanhoe Baseball Club and coaching them to a C grade premiership. Joining Preston Baseball Club when Ivanhoe Baseball Club folded in the early 1970s, Graeme was a vital component in consolidating Preston’s position in A Grade. He usually played third base and was arguably the best player in this position that Preston ever saw.

Graeme was a member of Preston Baseball Club’s team of the Century. In 2015 Graeme became a life member at Fitzroy Baseball Club and was elevated to Legend status. Graeme representative career was just as illustrious as his club career and he was selected in the Claxton Shield team for 11 consecutive years from 1956 to 1966 where he earned a remarkable seven consecutive years selection as an All-Australian (nine at short-stop). 

He played 72 games for Victoria at third base and short-stop, winning 4 Claxton Shield and hitting .281 and fielding .927.  In 1965 Graeme won the Helms Award.  He was a member of the Diamond Anniversary Victorian Claxton Shield All Star Team.  Between 1957 and 1963 Graeme played for Australia 9 times.  Graeme was inducted into the Baseball Australia Hall of Fame in 2005.