All inductees...Alan AsquithAlan BloomfieldAlan SmithAlex MalihoudisBill DawberBrad MarcelinoBrad ThompsonBrian ThurstonCody CainDarrin MullerDon Smallwood MBEFrank Parker, SrFred LewisGavin MarshallIan YoungJason HolowatyJohn DeveyJohn ThomasJosh ChetwyndLefty WilsonMargaret Borley MBEMartin GodsallMichael HarroldNick CarterNorman Wells, SrOscar MarcelinoPeter CrookRay ReynoldsRG KnowlesRoland GladuRon MarshallRoss KendrickRyan BirdSimon PoleSir Francis LeySir John MooresTed Gerard-ThesinghTerry WarnerWally O'NeilWilliam Morgan

- Baseball players...Alan AsquithAlan BloomfieldAlex MalihoudisBill DawberBrad MarcelinoBrad ThompsonBrian ThurstonCody CainFrank Parker, SrGavin MarshallIan YoungJason HolowatyJohn DeveyJohn ThomasJosh ChetwyndLefty WilsonMartin GodsallNick CarterOscar MarcelinoPeter CrookRay ReynoldsRoland GladuRon MarshallRoss KendrickRyan BirdSimon PoleTerry WarnerWally O'Neil

- Coaches, managers, umpires, and other officials...Alan SmithDarrin MullerMargaret Borley MBEMichael HarroldNorman Wells, SrTed Gerard-ThesinghWilliam Morgan

- Game builders...Don Smallwood MBEFred LewisRG KnowlesSir Francis LeySir John Moores

- 2009 class...Norman Wells, SrRoss KendrickSir John Moores

- 2010 class...Alan BloomfieldFred LewisGavin MarshallMargaret Borley MBESir Francis Ley

- 2011 class...Brian ThurstonRoland GladuTed Gerard-Thesingh

- 2012 class...Bill DawberJohn DeveyLefty WilsonMichael HarroldRG KnowlesSimon PoleTerry Warner

- 2013 class...Brad ThompsonPeter CrookRay ReynoldsWilliam Morgan

- 2014 class...Alan SmithCody CainJosh Chetwynd

- 2016 class...Alex MalihoudisJohn ThomasOscar MarcelinoWally O'Neil

- 2017 class...Don Smallwood MBEIan YoungNick Carter

- 2018 class...Brad MarcelinoRon Marshall

- 2019 class...Alan AsquithDarrin MullerJason HolowatyRyan Bird

- 2020 class...Frank Parker, SrMartin Godsall

 

RG Knowles

Category: Game builders   |   Class: 2012 Richard George (RG) Knowles was pivotal in developing the first regular baseball played in London. A comedian by trade, Knowles rounded up fellow performers and began setting up games in 1889 in Battersea Park. Police forced the regular play to move, but the Canadian-born Knowles and his colleagues were undeterred, finding suitable locations first at Clapham Common and then at Hyde Farm in Balham. His efforts led to the establishment of the London Thespians - one of England's first dominant teams. As player-manager of the Thespians, Knowles led the club to national championships in 1893 and 1894. The Thespians were the first team to win multiple British titles. As a player, Knowles was a second baseman (and sometimes pitcher) for those championship sides. He had three hits in the club's victory over Stockton in the 1894 championship final. In a sampling of 1894 games for which box scores were published, he batted .650 (26 for 40), scored 26 runs, and had eight extra-base hits (four doubles and four triples). Beyond his exploits on the field, he was an exceptional promoter for the game. Backed by Knowles's work, Thespian home games were known to sometimes attract crowds in the thousands. Beyond his club, he also helped form the London Baseball Association. To support these broader efforts, in 1896 he co-authored 'Baseball - The Oval Series of Games', which was one of the first books on the sport published in Britain. The 132-page volume not only provided rules, strategy, and illustrations but also offered history and tips for developing the game in the United Kingdom. His efforts were recognized in his time: in 1896, the 'R.G. Knowles Trophy' was given to the best team of native players in the London Baseball Association.