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Written By Lee Richardson (founding President and Life member)
"Casper's" - a foundation member club of the Macarthur Baseball League (formaly the Macarthur District Junior Baseball Association MDJBA) was originally named the Ambarvale Casper's Junior Baseball Club and was formed in late 1983 by Lee Richardson (foundation President and life member of both Casper's the Macarthur Baseball League), the late Ted Richardson (former President 1989) and Jim Rispen (Hon. Secretary 1984-89) to promote the great sport of baseball amongst the youth or the ever expanding Campbelltown suburbs of Ambarvale and Rosemeadow. In 1984 with approximately 45 kids in under 8's, Under 12's, Under 14's and Under 16's joined several other Macarthur area clubs to form the MDJBA.
The Club Name "Casper's" was part of a plan to affiliate with the then district major league club The Campbelltown Ghost's - the Casper's motto was "the friendly little Ghosts". The early years saw the Club operate home games at the Rosemeadow Playing Field using temporary back nets, tent/caravan canteen. Tallowood Community Centre in Ambarvale was our meeting and function house.
The original uniforms were screen printed by hand on yellow T shirts with home made bottle green pants and green caps. It wasn't until summer of 1986-87 did the Club recieve a full set of professionally made baseball uniforms. The Club began successfully on the field winning the Under 16/17 championships for the first three years of competition and also the Under 14's and T Baseball competitions.
The formation of today's local senior competition can also be claimed by The Casper's as very social adult games were held on Saturday afternoons at Rosemeadow, originally as fund-raiser activities for the Club, these became the forerunner for a strong and competitive park baseball graded summer and winter competition.
The club briefly relocated to Heydon Park Rosemeadow before moving to the current and permanent , baseball specific, home ground at St Helens Park. The Club then changed its name to The Campbelltown Casper's Baseball Club to suit the changing demographics and to broaden the local boundary's.
The Casper's Baseball Club is one of two surviving foundation clubs of the MBL and is still striving to improve, innovate and expand baseball for the long term benefit and development of the youth in the Macarthur Region.
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