The Redcliffe Padres Baseball Club on the Redcliffe Peninsula is Australia’s largest single-season baseball club. It is built on a deep community history involving local families across generations.
Australia’s Largest Club
Redcliffe Padres provides many options for players, entering teams in every available competition suitable for different ages and abilities. This commitment has seen the organisation recognised as the Greater Brisbane League’s (GBL) Junior and Senior Club of the Year for both the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons. The club’s size reflects its strong presence within the local sporting community.
Generational Family Ties
Photo Credit: Redcliffe Leagues Padres Baseball Club/ Facebook
The strong community focus is clear in families like the Lands and the Nilssons, who together have over 100 years of involvement in baseball, mostly with the Padres. Keith Land stated that baseball is a significant family activity for them, with multiple family members present supporting games on Saturdays.
His son David coaches the Little League Major team Keith assists with, which includes Keith’s 11-year-old grandson Jaxon. Similarly, the Nilsson family’s connection runs deep, from Hall of Famer Bob Nilsson to his son Jay and grandson Van. Jay Nilsson noted that his daughter Willow had also recently enjoyed playing her first season.
A Long History in Redcliffe
While the club marked 30 years on the peninsula in the 2022-23 season under its current structure, its roots go back much further. Redcliffe baseball began over 60 years ago when American ex-serviceman Chuck Carroll founded a senior club in 1948, later known as the Redcliffe Whitesox.
Junior baseball was initially based at the Redcliffe Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC). When the PCYC could no longer support junior baseball in 1991, the senior club joined forces with the juniors. A committee decided to re-brand baseball on the peninsula, and on 16 December 1991, the Peninsula Padres Baseball Club Incorporated was formed, inspired by the San Diego Padres. Key figures in this transition included Jason Pascoe, Brett Bates, and Darryl Bates. A major step forward came in the 2004-2005 season when the club moved to its dedicated fields at Talobilla Park, allowing space to grow.
Key Milestones and Honours
Throughout its history, the club and its members have achieved significant success. Bob Nilsson is the first Australian player in the modern era to sign a professional contract with a Major League Baseball team, the Cincinnati Reds, and was later inducted into the national Hall of Fame. His son Jay played for the minor league Cleveland Indians from 2006 and won rookie of the year honours for Queensland’s Claxton Shield team in 2007.
Lisa Kirby became the club’s first female representative on the Australian Women’s Baseball team following the 2002-2003 season. Daniel Nilsson represented Australia in the World Youth Baseball Championship in 2009-2010. The club earned national recognition when named Australian Baseball Club of the Year for 2009 (jointly with Doncaster Baseball Club).
Team successes include numerous premierships across different grades, such as the first Major’s title in the foundation year 1992-1993, the first Under 14 Junior premiership in 1998-1999 (coached by Bob Nilsson), and multiple A-Grade Commissioners Cup wins. Facility development continued with the construction of an indoor batting cage during the 2013-14 season.
Focus on Community Growth
The club emphasises that its strength is built on community, friendship, and the hard work of many volunteers over the years. Redcliffe Padres continue to produce players, umpires, and officials who proudly represent the club at regional, state, national, and international levels.
Recent seasons before 2017 saw continued success, with multiple junior and senior teams winning premierships. This highlights the ongoing development and competitive spirit within the Redcliffe Padres organisation.
Published Date 14-April-2025