One of the founding players, Paul Tierney, recalls that he was a pretty good cricketer but along with his mates, needed something to do in the offseason to keep their arms warm and eyes locked in over Winter. So Paul and a bunch of kids from Blackburn High School asked their teacher, Ken Rigby, to setup a baseball team for them which became the Blackburn Orioles in 1963.

The club started with 4 teams of high school kids, with Ian Burgell (founding player) noting the first game was against Ringwood at the Old Maroondah Hospital site. Ian will also tell you that he got 7 hits that day and they won by 20 runs, with everyone else none the wiser. 

Players like Paul and Ian are what the club are built on, a bunch of mates having a good time with one connected by baseball. Many of our members remain active in the club past their playing days to continue to share in each others company, with a group called the 'Poo Patrol' meeting weekly during the season to assist with small tasks around the club.

Whilst a lot has changed since 1963 (including that we now play in the Summer), the core principle remains the same of developing good people first and great baseball follows.