South African Baseball Union

Sport	Baseball
Jurisdiction	South Africa
Abbreviation	SABU
Founded	1935
Affiliation	World Baseball Softball Confederation
Regional affiliation	African Baseball & Softball Association
Location	15 Protea Street, 2097Kensington,Johannesburg
President	Marc Moreau[1]
Secretary	Maria Dempsey

TheSouth Africa Baseball UnionSABU is the national governing body ofbaseball inSouth Africa. Baseball is played in all provinces, but it is not a major sport especially due to the popularity and relative success of the comparable sport ofcricket, in which South Africa is one of the leading countries playing the sport.The Union is a member of theWorld Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC),^[2] and theInternational Baseball Federation (IBAF). SABU is also an affiliate of theSouth African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), which, alongsideSport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) supervises all organised sport in South Africa.

SABU controls theSouth African national baseball team, which has participated in several major events such as theSummer Olympics,World Baseball Classic,Baseball World Cup and theAfrican Games.^{[citation needed]}

The most notable South African born baseball players includeGift Ngoepe,Anthony Phillips andDylan Unsworth

Baseball in South Africa began in theWitwatersrand. Gold miners from theUnited States started playing the game in South Africa leading to the establishment of Giants Baseball Club from the Crown Mines baseball team. Transvaal Baseball Association was established in 1905 with one of the early clubs being the Wanderers Baseball Club.^[2]

Japanese influence led to the beginning of the sport inPort Elizabeth, after a Japanese ship named the Paris Maru, was marooned inAlgoa Bay in 1934, leading to its sailors being stranded for 3 months waiting for the next ship. The sailors consequently organized a game with the locals, who worked for US companies, as well as US missionaries at the Westborne Oval ultimately leading to the establishment of the Eastern Province Baseball Association in 1934.^[2]

During World War II, baseball was not played officially, but continued after the war in 1945. One of the first matches involved a US team selected from two visiting US naval warships,USS California andUSS Tennessee, with the Americans winning 6–4.^[2]

The 1950s marked the golden era for baseball in South Africa, with popular support from both players and locally based American-owned businesses e.g.General Motors. A US side embarked on a South African tour in 1956. Many popular South African international Springbok rugby players displayed strong support for local baseball.^[2]

In 1935, the South African Baseball Federation (now South African Baseball Union) was established with its provincial affiliates being; Border, Western Province, Eastern Province, Northern Transvaal and Transvaal. Arthur Berezowski led the Federation for 25 years - 1949 to 1974. 1950 witnessed the rise of Western Province Baseball and Softball Union, comprising 11 baseball and 23 softball teams.^[2]

• South Africa national baseball team
• Sports in South Africa

• World Baseball Softball Confederation Official website

• Sports governing bodies in South Africa
• Baseball in South Africa
• 1935 establishments in South Africa
• Sports organizations established in 1935
• Baseball governing bodies

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