Nightcliff Baseball Club Inc. is an amateur baseball club located in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. Also known as "the Tigers", the club was formed in 1969 and competes in the Darwin Baseball League (DBL), latterly known as Baseball NT. It is also an affiliated member of the Nightcliff Sports Club.

Operation

Historically, baseball in Australia has been an amateur sport. As such, the club operates or functions under a constitution by a committee of volunteers, elected each calendar year. The club derives its income from player registration fees, sponsorship, grants, donations and fundraising activities. Because the club is an incorporated body, it operates as a legal business entity. The club is based and trains at Nightcliff Middle School, Aralia Street, Nightcliff.

History

Established in 1969, Nightcliff's origins stemmed from the Darwin Chinese Recreation Club (DCRC) Red Sox. The Red Sox disbanded earlier the same year, but several former players adopted the new club. Bob Melville was elected as the inaugural President, but resigned shortly afterwards following a disagreement with another committee member. He was replaced by Alan Smith, who remained President for the remainder of the season. Nightcliff dominated the competition throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. This period was known as Nightcliff's 'Golden Era' in which the club played in 12 consecutive Grand Finals, winning 9 of them. Many critics argued that if Nightcliff had not entered and played two teams during the 1972/73 season, they would have easily won that premiership. The two teams finished second and third. The 1974/75 season was cancelled following Cyclone Tracy and most of the clubs records were either lost or destroyed in the cyclone. However, in late March 1975, an unofficial Grand Final was played between Nightcliff and representatives of the other five clubs. Although Nightcliff won this game, it was not officially recognised by DBL. Nightcliff Baseball Club was a foundation member of the Nightcliff Sports Club, but the committee held its regular meetings at the Seabreeze Hotel to discuss the affairs of the club. These meetings became well known as "High Masses" and continued until the Seabreeze Hotel was destroyed during Cyclone Tracy in December 1974. Thereafter, the club held its meetings at the Nightcliff Sports Club. In the mid- to late 1980s, the club suffered both competitively and financially, arguably from the competition swapping, in 1984, from wet-season to dry-season. Nightcliff did not compete in the inaugural 1984 dry-season competition due to lack of players, but rejoined in 1985. In 1988, the club faced financial crisis and considered bankruptcy as the DBL threatened expulsion from the league. However, a lifelong Nightcliff supporter, Kay Thrupp, provided a financial lifeline and two major fund-raising efforts secured the club's financial position. Between 1985 and 1989 the club entered a 'Rebuilding Era' with an emphasis on junior player development. Ultimately, the strategy proved too successful with several home-grown players subsequently pursuing baseball careers in southern states, where their opportunities were greater. Since 1990, the club has remained competitive. The period between 1990 and 2000 was known as the 'Kendray Era' in reference to Nightcliff's star player who dominated the competition, coached and led the club. During the 1990s, Nightcliff played in seven Grand Finals, winning a further three premierships. In 1989, the club built a permanent baseball field at Nightcliff High School. In 1997, the club became an incorporated body, to reflect the changing way amateur sport was being administered in Australia. Between 2000 and 2006, Nightcliff played in six of the possible seven Grand Finals, but failed to win any. This period was known as Nightcliff's 'Bridesmaid Era'. This era officially ended in 2007, when Nightcliff won the Grand Final against their long-time rivals, Tracy Village, 11–4. In 2010, Nightcliff created a first in Northern Territory baseball history when the club appointed a woman, Narelle Gosstray, as their senior club coach. Gosstray, a former Australian women's baseball representative and Aussie Hearts coach, was also the first woman appointed to coach an Australian junior baseball side. She was among the recipients of the 2010-11 Australian Sports Commission's Sport Leadership Grants and Scholarships for Women to further her development as a high performance baseball coach. In her first year as coach, the Tigers made the 2010 grand final after finishing with the wooden spoon the previous year. In the final, however, Nightcliff lost to their long-time rivals, Tracy Village 6–2. In 2015 Nightcliff signed another woman player, 27-year-old left-hand pitcher Amy Collins, who won a bronze medal with the Australian women's team at the 2014 World Cup in Japan, where the opposition included baseball giants the US, Canada, Venezuela, Japan and Chinese Taipei. In her first game with the Tigers, Collins pitched a 26–5 winning game over the Palmerston Reds.

Premiers

13 - 1970/71, 1971/72, 1973/74, 1975/76, 1976/77, 1977/78, 1978/79, 1979/80, 1981/82, 1991, 1993, 1999 and 2007.

Runners up

17 - 1969/70, 1972/73, 1980/81, 1990, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2018.

Life Members

The constitution allows for Life Membership and is awarded on the basis of outstanding volunteer service to the club. At least 10 years of predominantly non-playing service is generally considered necessary to achieve Life Membership. Current Life Members with their year of induction follow: • 1974 - Gus Arthur • 1977 - Steve Cubillo • 1978 - Fred Schmidt † • 1978 - Fred Bush † • 1979 - Gary Giumelli • 1981 - Malcolm Kinter • 1982 - Neil McCormack • 1986 - Graeme Halprin • 1988 - Kieran Cassidy • 1988 - Leigh Halprin • 1993 - Bill Fryar † • 1997 - Andrew Kendray • 2001 - Gary Hodgson • 2002 - Paul Rider • 2006 - Brett Edwards • 2007 - Marc Green • 2008 - Bob & Brenda † Kendray • 2009 - Brett Hagan • 2019 - Kathy Green • 2019 - Ashley Kendray • 2019 - Mark Macdonald † Deceased

[Life Members at the club's 40th reunion in October 2009. Standing from left: Gary Giumelli, Fred Bush, Bill Fryar, Steve Cubillo, Graeme Halprin, Gary Hodgson, Paul Rider.

Sitting from left: Mal Kinter, Brett Edwards, Neil McCormack, Kieran Cassidy, Andrew Kendray, Marc Green, Leigh Halprin, Bob Kendray. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Tigers///Life///Members.jpg]

Honour Board

Memorable moments

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

Representatives

Claxton Shield

Between 1981 and 1988, the Northern Territory competed in the national Claxton Shield competition and the following Nightcliff players represented the NT.

Australia

Several Nightcliff registered players have represented Australia and they appear below.

Retired numbers

The constitution allows for a player's uniform number to be retired, if that player has played 15 or more seasons at 'A' grade level with the club. Players with their corresponding retired numbers and principle position follow: