Baseball Victoria Hall of Fame Managers: Lenton ‘Lyn’ Straw

Lenton Straw known in baseball as Lyn had an illustrious coaching career.

Lyn’s playing career saw him play at Melbourne Baseball Club for 13 years and Essendon Baseball Club for 7 years. He represented Victoria in 10 Claxton Shields between 1946 and 1958 and he played in six winning Claxton Shield teams.

Lyn had an outstanding coaching career at all levels of baseball. Lyn coached Essendon Baseball Club for seven years and won two Division 1 premierships. He would coach Coburg Baseball Club for 20 years and won seven Division 1 premierships.

Lyn coached the Victorian Under 14 team for one year before coaching the Victorian Under 18 team for 12 years, including nine national championships and a record 41 game winning streak over six years.

Lyn coached the Under 18 Australian team for 10 years and coached the first Under 18 overseas tour.  He was coach of seven trips to the United States and won bronze medals at the 1981 and 1982 World Under 18 Baseball Championships.

Lyn was a Level 3 accredited coach for 20 years and a scout for the Cincinnati Reds for 10 years.