by Australian Baseball Federation
Baseball Australia is pleased to welcome highly acclaimed Major League Baseball player, executive and current Arizona Diamondbacks Assistant General Manager, Craig Shipley to the Board.
Craig Shipley is Australia’s most successful all-round Major League Baseball (MLB) export; a stellar fifteen year playing career followed by thirteen years as a Major League scout, administrator and executive.
Now, bringing with him a rare combination of elite playing and executive experience from the largest sporting powerhouse in the world, Shipley is joining the Baseball Australia Board at a very significant period of evolution for the sport.
“It is fantastic to have an individual of the calibre of Craig Shipley formally involved with the Board of Baseball Australia. Craig has an outstanding domestic and international reputation and will bring a great deal to the sport on a number of levels. On behalf of everyone involved in Baseball, I welcome Craig to the Board and look forward to his continued contribution to our sport in this new role” says Baseball Australia President, David Hynes.
No stranger to the Australian sporting landscape, Shipley recognises the challenges baseball is facing and is looking forward to lending his experience to the sport in a more permanent capacity.
“Accepting an invitation to join the board was an easy decision,” he said. “My goal is to help grow the game of baseball. While baseballs profile has risen since I was a kid, like any other growing baseball nation, the game in Australia has room for improvement. There are many hard working Australians who love the game, are personally invested in it and want to see it succeed. With the right direction, and all pulling in the same direction, I think continued growth is a strong possibility.”
In a timely home coming, Shipley will return to Sydney in his current role as Assistant to the General Manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks for the 2014 Major League Baseball Opening Series being held at the Sydney Cricket Ground in March. This momentous occasion will be serendipitous for Shipley as his Diamondbacks will take on the team with whom he made his Major League debut in 1986, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Speaking of the Opening Series Shipley said the commitment from MLB to play an Opening Series in Australia is a huge step forward for the profile of the game:
“I know Derrick Hall our team President and Kevin Towers our GM are excited about the opportunity to play in Sydney. I personally am looking forward to seeing the SCG turned into a baseball venue, having seen many cricket and rugby league matches there as a boy”.
Baseball Australia welcomes Craig Shipley as a Director on the Board and looks forward to working with him at this pivotal time for the sport.
