2026 Baseball SA Hall of Fame Inductees
The Baseball SA Heritage Committee are pleased to announce this year’s inductees into Baseball SA Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame committee has worked diligently over the last 5 months in selecting this year’s inductees. It is both the Heritage Committee’s and the Baseball SA Board’s belief that their contribution to Baseball in South Australia has been a credit to themselves and this award justifies the work they have contributed to our great game of baseball
This year’s function will be held on Wednesday, 2nd of September at the Highway Hotel Function room at 6:45. Further details to come.
Mr. Jim Capps and Dr. Roger Capps, AM have made significantly advancement in the interests of Baseball in South Australia. This is due to the impact they have made with the introduction of the Capps Medal in 1936.
The Capps Medal has been a cornerstone of South Australian baseball since 1936, when Charles James Capps first proposed the idea of recognising the best A Grade player with a medallion. He went on to design, create, and present the award for 42 years before passing the tradition to his son, Dr Roger Capps, in 1981/1982 season. For the next 44 years Dr Capps took over the mantel from his father of presenting the medal.
1936 to 2015 = 90 years less 1942 to 1945 (WWII) = 86 seasons on Capps Medal Presentation
Mr. Charles (Jim) Capps – 1936 to 1980/81 = 42 seasons – 43 medals presented
Dr. Roger Capps – 1981/82 to 2024/25 = 44 seasons – 47 medals presented
Jim was on the SABL Match & Grounds & Permits Committees.
He was also Secretary/Treasurer of the Adelaide Baseball Club for 3 years.
Roger was SABL Patron for 2 years and Vice-Patron for 29 years.
Mark Peters, OAM has made a significant contribution in the interest of Baseball in South Australia.
Mark played in 9 Claxton Shield series, being selected in the Australian All-Star as an Outfielder in 1984/85. Mark was selected in the 75th SA Claxton Shield Diamond All-Star Team as an Outfielder in 2008.
In the 1977/78 season Mark won the Capps Medal for Woodville and in 1982/83 won the Todd Medal (League MVP) for Southern Districts.
Mark played 272 Division 1 games for Woodville and 173 Division 1 games as a Playing Coach for Southern Districts.
A 2 times Premiership Player for Woodville in 1974/75 & 1980/81.
Mark represented Australia 6 times.
After retiring from baseball Mark was the President of the Australia Baseball Federation & Board Member of the International Baseball Federation.
Tom Brice has made a significant contribution in the interest of Baseball in South Australia.
After a successful 4 years being selected in the SA Junior teams Tom moved to senior baseball playing 4 Claxton Shield series and 4 series for the Adelaide Bite in the Australian Baseball League.
Tom played 15 Division 1 seasons, 1 season as a Premiership Playing Coach and a season as non-playing Coach for Sturt. He moved to Kensington for 3 years as a Player, being a 2 x Premiership Player.
Tom was selected 6 x in the BSA All Star Team and 3 x in the Australian Baseball League & Claxton Shield All Star Teams.
Tom played in ABF youth team in the World Cup and selected in the Australian Olympic team for the Athens Olympics win a Silver Medal. Was also selected twice in the Australian team for World Baseball Classic.
Tom was selected to attend Alabama College where he was drafted by the Chicago White Sox playing in 4 seasons in the minor league. Tom moved to the Asian baseball playing in Taiwan and Japan before moving to Europe playing in Sweden, Netherlands & Czech Republic for another 4 seasons.
Ray Thorne has made a significant contribution in the interest of Baseball in South Australia.
Ray was a Founding Member of the Henley & Grange Baseball Club, 15 years as Club Secretary & 8 years as Vice President. During this period played & coached 496 games. Ray was the 1st Life Member of the Henley & Grange Baseball Club.
Switching to the SA Umpires Association Ray was President for 20 years, Committee Member for 3 years, Chairman of the Umpires Appointment Panel for 6 seasons and Umpires delegate to the Board.
In total Ray umpired 1785 games between 1972 to 2005/2006 in all Divisions & Juniors, umpired in 2 Division 1 Grand Finals and umpired in 2 Claxton Shield series. Ray was made a Life Member of the Umpires Association in 1985.
Ray was also on the Match & Grounds Committee and 4 seasons Chairman of the Minor League Committee and Vice Patron of the League for 17 years.
Ray was made a Life Member of SABL in 1989.
In total Ray was involved in baseball for 61 years in administration, umpiring, playing & coaching
Gerry Roberts has made a significant contribution in the interest of Baseball in South Australia.
Gerry commenced his baseball career at Norwood High in 1948 where he was selected in the SA State High School team as Captain.
Gerry then moved to Kensington Baseball Club where he played 180 Major A games, winning 2 premierships.
In 1962 Gerry Co-founded he Central Districts Baseball Club, where he was President for 2 years, Club Playing/Coach for 6 years and 4 years as a Junior Coach.
Gerry represented SA 6 times as a Claxton Shield player and in a Claxton Shield winning team 3 times. He also 3 times Chrysler Cup representative playing in Australian Night Baseball competition.
Gerry played for the Norwood Redsox in the Night Baseball competition, winning the night baseball Shipway Medal in 1966/67 plus the Fairest & Most Brillant player, Batting Award & the Best All-rounder Award.
Gerry was on the SABL Promotion Committee for 5 years.
He was made a Life Member of the Central Districts Baseball Club in 1976.
