A brief history of the Adelaide Aces & L’Aces

The Aces formed as the Adelaide Aces in 1993 after four local Adelaide players competed at the 1993 Australian Masters Games in Perth WA.

After playing against teams from South Africa, Guam, NSW, Vic & WA we became very enthusiastic about starting a masters team to compete in the next Masters, the 1994 Alice Springs Games.

A small group met in May 1993 to discuss forming a team and recruiting players.

The resultant trip to Alice Springs was a huge success.

So much of a success, was that first team, that we soon had many new players wanting to join the Aces to experience the unique buzz of competing as a mature age player and mixing with the many people in Australia, and in fact the World, who share this enthusiasm.

We returned to Alice Springs for the next Masters Games in 1996 with baseball and our first ladies team playing softball.

1996 Women’s softball team – Bronze medalists

1996 men’s baseball team – Bronze medalists

Our group grew to three baseball teams, adies softball/baseball team, an 8-ball team and a golf team, as well as individual runners and swimmers competing at various masters games over next three years. 

The original sport of baseball grew to the extent that a separate Northern Adelaide Aces club was formed in 1997, that now has over 100 members, including a women’s team.

The Aces have also established the Aussie Aces, group that has competed in events in the USA, Canada, New Zealand and France.

1998 – 1^st Aussie Aces team – Maryvale Stadium, Phoenix USA

2005 World Masters Games – Edmonton Canada – Gold medalists

2009 trip to Beziers France – friends for life

The Aussie Aces made their tenth trip to compete in the MSBL World Series in 2023 to play in Phoenix, Arizona. Five Aussie Aces teams representing Australia competed in the 55+, 60+, 65+ and 70+ age groups as well as a father and son team.. The 70+ team made the finals for the third time. 

While the Adelaide Aces made trips to the PanPac Masters Games, Brokrn Hill, Mt Gambier, Port Lincoln, Port Pirie, Whyalla, Mildura, Geelong, Naracoorte and Loxton as well as local tournaments.

In 1996 our women’s team * the L’Aces * competed at the Alice Springs Games for the first time and over the next 28 years have played at the Pan Pac Games, Australian Masters, SA Masters, Adelaide Seniors and our own L’Aces Invitational Tournament.  2024 saw the inaugural Adelaide L’Aces Invitational played at Peregrine Park, Christies. 

Silver medalists

Shield – created & donated by Anthony Nicholls

The Father & son team @ Temp Stadium – home of the LA Angels   The crowd had one home.

The Adelaide Ace, Adelaide L’Aces and Aussie Aces continue to grow and to promote masters baseball, this promotion, as well as the support of junior baseballers that need assistance, are two of the Aces charter objectives. The others are of course to compete as long and as often as we can and to have fun doing it. This promotion of baseball has seen the Aces visit Alice Springs ‘94+, Broken Hill ‘95+, Mount Gambier ‘96+, Port Lincoln ‘97, Port Pirie ‘99+, Whyalla ‘02, Surfer’s Paradise ‘98+, Mildura ‘04, Geelong ‘02, Loxton ‘05, Naracoorte ‘10, Canada ‘05, Phoenix ‘98+, New Zealand ‘17 and  France ‘09.     

  The Aces proudly sponsor several under-twelve baseball teams and have assisted several young baseballers travel with State or Australian teams. 

The Aces – L’Aces theme song – Staying Alive  https://youtu.be/krUINBTOew4

Have glove will travel.