ALBY MORRIS AWARDED BASEBALL VICTORIA VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR 2022/2023

Congratulations to Hall of Fame Member, and stalwart of the Port Melbourne Baseball Club Alan ‘Alby’ Morris on being awarded the Baseball Victoria Volunteer of the Year Award on his extraordinary, tireless, and heartfelt volunteering services that have impacted the game of baseball here in Victoria, and the Port Melbourne Baseball Club over a span of 44 years. 

Alby began his playing days at PMBC in 1979, playing 100+ Junior games from the U/13s through to the U/18s, before going on to play 389 Senior games, representing the 1sts to the 4ths, and recently the Masters. This tally of Senior games would have been a lot greater if not for his sacrifice of playing so he could fill other rolls within the Club on game day. 

From his playing days, Alby forayed into coaching, having a major impact on the Junior program to present, and at times holding the whole Junior program together himself. Alby takes great pride in seeing the Juniors he coached progress through the ranks and go on to represent Victoria, Australia and most importantly the Seniors at PMBC.  

Alby’s Coaching also advanced to Senior level, coaching the 3rds and 4ths, and being a part of the last Summer Senior Premiership for the PMBC Senior Men’s Program, by being Assistant Coach to Ben Burke in the 2nds 2008/09 Premiership win over Springvale. Alby also spent 15 years as Scorer of the Women’s team, as well as performing stints scoring both the Juniors and Seniors. It is also the work Alby has put in over the last 18 years selling Christmas trees, that set the Club up each year financial.  

But it was the many roles that Alby undertook as a Committee Member since 1989 that places him on a pedestal, and a well deserved winner of this Award. From Club historian, and statistician, to canteen manager, groundskeeper, and equipment manager, council and Baseball Victoria liaison manager, and Junior Co-ordinator just to name a few, it was the positions of President, Secretary and Treasurer that he held through the lean years that all members past, present, and future have Alby to thank for. 

 The passion and sacrifice Alby displayed for PMBC through these years, and a dedication to preserve the 94 year history is a cornerstone for the Clubs foundation, and helped keep PMBC a live. Awarded Life Membership in 2003, and being one of five inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019 Alby has aided in paving the foundation for us all to see some healthy green sprouts today for us all to move into an exciting future for PMBC.  

We celebrate, and recognize Alby’s impact on our wonderful Club, and congratulate him on this recognition from BV in being awarded the 2023 Baseball Victoria Volunteer of the Year Award, and for that we all say CONGRATULATION and  THANK YOU ALBY! 

Ben Burke - Vice President