2023 was the 94th season of competitive baseball in the United Kingdom.
This season saw the National Baseball League contract from 7 teams to 6, with BC Vetra and both Legends clubs (London and Lancashire) leaving, being replaced by the Herts Falcons (who last competed in 2021) and the East London Latin Boys.
Three previously independent leagues, the British Baseball League (Featuring teams from the North West of England), the East of England Baseball League (Representing teams from the East Midlands and East of England) and the North East Baseball League all affiliated themselves with the BBF, being added to the pyramid.
The BBF season had its opening day on 16 April, with the NBL season ending on 13 August. The Playoffs were held at the Farnham Park National Baseball & Softball Complex in Buckinghamshire, with the Single-Game Semi-Finals happening on 20 August, and the Final (reverting to a Best-of-3 series for the first time since 2018) being held across 26 and 27 August. The London Mets won the NBL Final, besting the Capitals 2-1 across the 3 game series.
National Baseball League
Teams TeamLocationEast London Latin BoysWaltham Forest, LondonEssex ArrowsWaltham Abbey, EssexHerts FalconsHemel Hempstead, HertfordshireLondon CapitalsHaringey, LondonLondon MetsHaringey, LondonSheffield BruinsSheffield, South Yorkshire
Standings PosTeamPldWLWin%GBQualification1London Mets252230.880Qualify for Playoffs2Essex Arrows252050.80023London Capitals221390.5917.54Sheffield Bruins197120.368125Herts Falcons234190.174176East London Latin Boys222200.09118.5 Source: BBF
Correct as of 13/08/23
Playoffs
British Baseball Federation and Affiliated Leagues
Triple A Level
BBF AAA
Teams
TeamsLocationBournemouth BearsFerndown, DorsetBristol BadgersKeynsham, SomersetCroydon PiratesSutton, LondonHerts Cardinals Hemel Hempstead, HertfordshireKent BuccaneersHadlow, KentLondon MetrosHaringey, LondonEssex RedbacksChelmsford, EssexRichmond KnightsRichmond upon Thames, London
Standings PosTeamPldWLWin%GBQualification1Bournemouth Bears251960.760Qualification to Playoffs2Richmond Knights261970.7310.53London Metros251780.68024Herts Cardinals2513120.52065Bristol Badgers2812160.4298.56Croydon Pirates2711160.40797Essex Redbacks2710170.370108Kent Buccaneers253220.12016 Source: BBF
Playoffs
BBL - Higher
Teams TeamsLocationLiverpool Trojans ArmySefton, MerseysideLiverpool Trojans NavySefton, MerseysideManchester AsWythenshawe, Greater ManchesterManchester BeesWythenshawe, Greater ManchesterSheffield KodiaksSheffield, South Yorkshire
Standings PosTeamPldWLWin%GBQualification1Liverpool Trojans Navy221930.864Advance to Final2Liverpool Trojans Army221750.7732Advance to Wild Card3Manchester A's2212100.54574Sheffield Kodiaks205150.250145Manchester Bees221210.04518 Source: BBF
Correct as of 20/08/23
Playoffs
Double A Level
BBF AA
Central & East
Teams TeamsLocationCambridge LancersCambridge, CambridgeshireEssex ArchersWaltham Abbey, EssexHerts HawksHemel Hempstead, HertfordshireMilton Keynes BucksMilton Keynes, BuckinghamshireNorwich IceniNorwich, Norfolk
Standings PosTeamPldWLWin%GBQualification1Cambridge Lancers191540.789Advance to Playoffs2Norwich Iceni191540.78903Milton Keynes Bucks171070.58844Essex Archers207130.3508.55Herts Hawks211200.04815 South
Teams TeamsLocationEast London Latin BoysWaltham Forest, LondonFormosa IslandersOld Oak Common, LondonHerts DucksHemel Hempstead, HertfordshireLondon MusketeersHaringey, LondonLondon MeteorsHaringey, LondonLondon SidewindersHaringey, London
Standings PosTeamPldWLTWin%GBQualification1London Sidewinders2520500.800Advance to Playoffs2East London Latin Boys2519600.76013London Musketeers25141100.56064London Meteors25131110.5406.55Formosa Islanders2351710.239126Herts Ducks2312200.04317.5 South & South West
Teams TeamsLocationBracknell InfernoBracknell, BerkshireBristol BatsKeynsham, SomersetGuildford MavericksGuildford, SurreyOxford KingsOxford, OxfordshireRichmond DragonsRichmond upon Thames, London
Standings PosTeamPldWLTWin%GBQualification1Richmond Dragons2015500.750Advance to Playoffs2Bracknell Inferno1912700.6322.53Guildford Mavericks1881000.44464Bristol Bats177910.44165Oxford Kings1831410.19410.5 South East
Teams TeamsLocationBrighton BrewersBrighton and Hove, East SussexCroydon PiratesSutton, LondonHurricanes BaseballHadlow, KentKent MarinersRochester, KentTonbridge WildcatsTonbridge, Kent
Standings PosTeamPldWLWin%GBQualification1Hurricanes Baseball181530.833Advance to Playoffs2Brighton Brewers191540.7890.53Tonbridge Wildcats197120.3688.54Kent Mariners155100.3338.55Croydon Pirates172150.11812.5
Playoffs
Single A Level
BBF Single A
Playoffs
Summer Cup On the weekend of 22 and 23 July, the BBF hosted the inaugural Summer Cup, a 2-day Tournament run from Farnham Park. 24 teams from 22 clubs took part, with a variety of teams makeups, including representative teams from Baseball Scotland, Baseball Ireland, the South West and Wales Baseball League, and the East of England Baseball league, plus teams from non-BBF Clubs, such as the Long Eaton Storm, Stockton Grizzlies, and BC Vetra.
Initially, the 3 tiers (Gold, for AAA and NBL-level teams, Silver, for AA and high independent-level teams, and Bronze, for A and low independent-level teams) were split into groups of 4, each of which would play a round-robin, with positional playoffs. However, due to inclement weather over the weekend, this format was instead changed to a single-elimination knockout, with losing teams moving into a lower bracket to decide positions.
Teams GoldSilverBronzeBaseball IrelandBracknell InfernoCroydon PiratesBaseball ScotlandBristol BatsFire Breathing KittensBC VetraBournemouth BearsGuilford BCCroydon PiratesFormosa IslandersKent MarinersEssex BC Long Eaton StormLondon MetsLiverpool TrojansNorwich IceniNew Forest Thunder KnightsLondon MetsNewcastle NighthawksSouth West & Wales LeagueSheffield BruinsUniversity of NottinghamStockton Grizzlies
Gold Bracket Main Bracket
Consolation Bracket
Silver Bracket Main Bracket
Consolation Bracket
Bronze Bracket Main Bracket
Consolation Bracket
References