Gordon Head at Lambrick Park Baseball Association, known as Gordon Head Little League from 1957 through 2002, at which time it became affiliated with Baseball B.C. GHLPBA is a member of the British Columbia Minor Baseball Association (BCMBA) and is under the jurisdiction of the Greater Victoria Baseball Association (GVBA). We play locally at Lambrick Park, which includes Lambrick field, the first dedicated full-time youth baseball field in Greater Victoria to have field lights, Wilf Sadler field and surrounding diamonds.
Wilf Sadler Field is our 11U diamond at Lambrick Park, named in memory of Wilf Sadler, who was one of the most influential people in the formation of Babe Ruth Baseball in Victoria. He became involved in baseball in 1952 and was instrumental in hosting many tournaments in Victoria. For 20 years he was an enthusiastic advocate of youth sport and he always gave recognition to all those who volunteered. During his tenure with Babe Ruth, Wilf served as Provincial Director (1965-68) and Pacific Northwest Regional Director (1967-70). He was inducted into the Babe Ruth Hall of Fame in 1976, the BC Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982, and the Victoria Sports Hall of Fame in 2006, posthumous.
Joe Stephenson first served on the board for Gordon Head Little League for four years before joining the Lambrick Park Babe Ruth Baseball Association (“LPBA”) in 1997. In the Fall of 1998, he accepted the nomination to serve as President of LPBA and he immediately set to work on improving the diamond. During Joe’s tenure, the LPBA received municipal, provincial, corporate and private donations totaling more than $500,000, all of which was spent making Lambrick Park a better place for our kids to play baseball
In 1999, LPBA completed the clubhouse flooring and finished its interior window coverings. That same year, Joe lead the initiative to install a new scoreboard at Lambrick Field outside the fence in right field which was installed in time for the BC Summer Games held at the park in July, 2000. The scoreboard was not the only improvement Joe implemented in 2000. That year the LPBA also funded a new batting cage with rubber floors, lights, and a storage facility.
In 2001 we saw construction of a new backstop and a permanent fence at Lambrick Field that extended out from the dugouts around the outfield. 2003 saw the completion of the field lights project, allowing Lambrick Field to be used during the early evening darkness. The lights allow for the advent of Fall Ball in Victoria with Lambrick Park as the feature diamond for evening games.
In 2005, the wooden bleachers on the 3rd base side of this field were scheduled for demolition by Saanich Parks. Rather than lose the home side spectator seats, LPBA and Saanich Parks agreed to replace them with new concrete bleachers. The bleachers not only gave baseball fans new permanent seats, but also much needed storage space for field equipment and supplies.
In 2008, the LPBA began fund raising and applying for grants to replace the field’s existing dugouts. The dugouts were old, flooded in the winter and were frequently vandalized. Moreover, they were too small to hold the larger rosters of the higher caliber teams using the diamond. The new dugouts were to feature bat racks, washrooms and change rooms. After months of designing (by New Era), corporate fundraising, applying for provincial grants, meeting with Saanich Parks and civil engineers, more visits to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, Saanich Council gave its unanimous approval for the construction of new dugouts and they were built at a cost of about $150,000.
In 2009 LPBA secured a new British Columbia Premiere Baseball League (BCPBL) franchise based at Lambrick Park. The new high quality home park facilities were an important factor in the BCPBL’s decision to award the franchise and in 2010 the Victoria Eagles played their first home game on the Lambrick diamond. Today, three of the five Victoria Eagles teams call Lambrick Park home, as do many of our house baseball teams and the south Island Baseball League (SIBL).
On April 2nd, 2017 Lambrick Park Field was officially named Joe Stephenson Field.
Gordon Head Baseball Association amalgamated with Lambrick Park Baseball Association in 2012 to form Gordon Head at Lambrick Park Baseball Association (GHLPBA).
Distinguished Alumni
Michael Saunders
Daryn Lansdell (Drafted 1986 by Philadelphia Phillies)