Paddy Hennessey
Encyclopedia
Richard Christopher “Paddy” Hennessey (born 6 October 1929) is an Irish-born former baseball (British/Welsh)
player, famed for his high-speed bowling.
, Ireland
, his early sports were hurling
and Gaelic football
, but having immigrated to Wales
, he used to watch his factory co-workers in Cardiff
playing the game played in their breaks.
At 21 he played his first competitive game for the works team he removed St Mary’s of Canton
for no runs and 13 extras. After a couple of seasons in the lower levels of the league, he was signed by Splott
US (University Settlement), and he was an instant success at the top level.
In 1957 he made his debut for Wales
in the annual international against England
, in Liverpool
. He opened the bowling and had the English at 33 for 7, but was removed after a protest over his bowling style and a series of no-balls was called.
He was again selected for the 1958 international match at Maindy Stadium
, Cardiff
, and he bowled England
out for just 17 in their second innings, taking Wales to a comfortable win. He was also named Welsh Baseball Union
player of the year.
By 1962, he had joined Grange Albion, and in that year’s international he dismissed England
for just 11 in their first innings and 14 in the second, with only four batsmen hitting the ball.
Two years later, his performance in the international was even more impressive, removing England
for just 6 runs in their first innings, a feat which again helped him to the WBU player of the year award, becoming the first man to achieve the honour twice.
His devastating form came to the attention of Wales
’ first-class cricket
team, Glamorgan County Cricket Club
, who considered that a super-fast underarm bowler could give them an advantage in the new limited-overs version of their game. As the first round of the new Gillette Cup loomed, captain Ossie Wheatley
invited Hennessy for a trial in the nets at Cardiff Arms Park
, with the thought of recruiting him as a ‘secret weapon’.
However, the laws of cricket at that time required the ball to bounce before it reached the batsman, and the trajectory of the baseball delivery made that almost impossible to achieve.
on their album Cardiff After Dark.
British baseball
British baseball, sometimes called Welsh baseball, or in the areas where it is popular simply baseball, is a bat-and-ball game played primarily in Wales and England. It is closely related to the game of rounders, and indeed emerged as a distinct sport when governing bodies in Wales and England...
player, famed for his high-speed bowling.
Life and playing career
Born in County CorkCounty Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, his early sports were hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
and Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
, but having immigrated to Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, he used to watch his factory co-workers in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
playing the game played in their breaks.
At 21 he played his first competitive game for the works team he removed St Mary’s of Canton
Canton, Cardiff
Canton is an inner-city district and community in the west of Cardiff, capital of Wales, lying west of the city's civic centre. One of the most ethnically diverse of Cardiff's suburbs, with a significant Asian population such as Pakistanis and Indians, Canton has a population just in excess of...
for no runs and 13 extras. After a couple of seasons in the lower levels of the league, he was signed by Splott
Splott
Splott is a district in the south of the city of Cardiff, capital of Wales, just east of the city centre. It was built up in the late 19th century on the land of two farms of the same name: Upper Splott and Lower Splott Farms. Splott is characterised by its once vast steelworks and rows of tightly...
US (University Settlement), and he was an instant success at the top level.
In 1957 he made his debut for Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
in the annual international against England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. He opened the bowling and had the English at 33 for 7, but was removed after a protest over his bowling style and a series of no-balls was called.
He was again selected for the 1958 international match at Maindy Stadium
Maindy Stadium
Maindy Centre , which was formerly known as Maindy Stadium, now also known as Maindy Pool and Cycle Track, includes a cycle track and indoor swimming pool facility in the Maindy area of Cardiff, Wales...
, Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, and he bowled England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
out for just 17 in their second innings, taking Wales to a comfortable win. He was also named Welsh Baseball Union
Welsh Baseball Union
The Welsh Baseball Union is the national governing body of British baseball in Wales.It is a member of the International Baseball Board. The WBU organises the men's and youth league and cup competitions, as well as selecting and managing the Wales international teams at adult and youth level.The...
player of the year.
By 1962, he had joined Grange Albion, and in that year’s international he dismissed England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
for just 11 in their first innings and 14 in the second, with only four batsmen hitting the ball.
Two years later, his performance in the international was even more impressive, removing England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
for just 6 runs in their first innings, a feat which again helped him to the WBU player of the year award, becoming the first man to achieve the honour twice.
His devastating form came to the attention of Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
’ first-class cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
team, Glamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
, who considered that a super-fast underarm bowler could give them an advantage in the new limited-overs version of their game. As the first round of the new Gillette Cup loomed, captain Ossie Wheatley
Ossie Wheatley
Oswald Stephen "Ossie" Wheatley, born at Low Fell, Gateshead, County Durham on 28 May 1935, was a cricketer who played for Cambridge University, Warwickshire and Glamorgan...
invited Hennessy for a trial in the nets at Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park , also known as The Arms Park, is primarily known as a rugby union stadium, but it also has a bowling green, and is situated in the centre of Cardiff, Wales. The Arms Park was host to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1958, and hosted four games in the 1991 Rugby World...
, with the thought of recruiting him as a ‘secret weapon’.
However, the laws of cricket at that time required the ball to bounce before it reached the batsman, and the trajectory of the baseball delivery made that almost impossible to achieve.
Trivia
Paddy Hennessey is mentioned in The Baseball Song, a song by The HennessysThe Hennessys
The Hennessys are one of Wales' foremost traditional folk music groups.In 1966 Frank Hennessy and Dave Burns , both from Cardiff's Irish community, won a talent competition organised by Cardiff City Council which persuaded them to take up music professionally shortly afterwards, adding Paul Powell ...
on their album Cardiff After Dark.