Yura “welcome” to the Banggu Baseball Academy!
Our Inspiration
The 17yo Who Inspired the Creation of Banggu Baseball Academy
Although it has been played here for over 135 years, baseball is a relatively minor sport in Australia, and most people are unaware of Australia’s baseball history and many success stories. One such success story was the day a 17 year old Aboriginal boy Todd McDonald who was signed by the Texas Rangers Major League baseball organisation. Todd only started playing baseball at age 12, when his Mum gave him an ultimatum, Baseball or Cricket. She wanted him to play a sport. He was almost lost to cricket, but after considering the hours in the field and the possibility of not even getting an opportunity to bat, he chose baseball. Five years later he was signed by the Texas Rangers for $475,000. Todd worked his way through the Texas Rangers Minor League system looking towards a future in Major League Baseball. A truly phenomenal effort, and we are so pleased that Todd’s mum gave him that ultimatum- as no doubt he is. “Looking back through the many years that my friends and I have been involved in baseball, I could see that there have been limited opportunities for Aboriginal players. In fact, when I reviewed membership stats of my own club, I could only identify five Aboriginal players from nearly 300 members.”
Future aspirations
Banggu Baseball seeks to grow in the future and provide opportunities which include:
* First Nations Outreach – Taking the game to remote Aboriginal Communities
* Player sponsorship – opportunities to sponsor a player
* First Nations Youth team – Australian first concept
* Friendship Tournaments – Timberjacks, Gold Coast Classic
* Banggu Baseball Academy – Provide increased professionalism through latest technology and equipment
* USA Tour – To create an opportunity for our youth to experience the greatest game of all at the home of Baseball. Tour will include playing exhibition games, watching MLB games, sightseeing and many more.
For further information please reach out
Click on the above image to read more in the Bayside Bulletin!
Banggu Baseball First Nations Program
Banggu Baseball aims to give First Nations youth an opportunity to try a new sport and to create opportunities such as Todd’s. The program aims to provide opportunities and pathways for First Nations youth where new skills will be developed within the game of Baseball, to provide mentorship and create Baseball Pathways for First Nations Youth to reach higher honours within the game of Baseball. We strive to see more First Nations Youth playing in higher levels of Baseball including for State, Country and to provide pathways for professional opportunities.