Baseball in Reading began after a group of  young players played a few Softball friendlies in 1984, Reading Vikings Baseball Club was founded and established by Paul Merrifield and Terry Hall.

Vikings had a small squad of about 14 players in the first season ( 1986 ) and had a very successful .500 record in the BBF league South division 3, standing 4th out of 10 Teams in the BBF league South division 3.

Standing from left to right: Peter Graves, Terry Hall, Gary Carton, Fraser Kirk, Billy Rayburn.

Kneeling from left to right: Chris Brooks, Brian Joslyn, Craig Orrick, Ian Edwards, Paul M.

This is the Reading VIKINGS team who finished with a .500 record in the first ever season in British Baseball.

In 1987 the Vikings name was scratched off as sponsors ANC took over to keep funds and advertising going for 3 Years, the new name would be Reading ANC Royals Baseball Club.

Between 1987 and 1990 Reading Royals would get many Players joining up including some members of the Wokingham Monarchs Baseball team who played in the junior leagues during the late Seventies and early Eighties.

The Wokingham Monarchs Baseball Club was run and managed by Geoff Moffatt who had played Baseball for many Years,  Geoff was always involved wherever and Baseball was his life, guiding the Monarchs to success as well as helping the Royals in the early years to 5 successful Years of being either 1st or 2nd in the BBF leagues.

Reading Royals success was due to having quality Players who could play the game as it should be, players like Peter Edwards, Trevor Edwards, Grant Edwards, Richard Bond, John Whery, Paul Bullock and Paul Merrifield were between 1986 and 1993 the power and skill behind Royals success, managed by Jack Fraguela who had leadership qualities to lead the Royals.  

The successful READING ROYALS team, photo taken in mid summer of 1990, standing from left to right: Richard Bond, Grant Edwards, Martin Wilson, Chris Brooks, Martin Hulse, Ian Appleby, Fred Sprague, Chris Smith, Bill ??.

Kneeling from left to right: Shane Mash, Paul M, Jack Fraguela, Craig Orrick, Peter Edwards, Trevor Edwards, Paul Redpath.

In 1993 the name changed again to Reading Bulldogs who played in the new national league and then back to Royals as another group started in 1994 and then in 1996 Baseball in Reading was sadly lost because there was a lack of funding and support.

The second Royals organisation did pull a remarkable first season back losing only 3 games by winning the league Division 2 to gain promotion to Division 1 in the BBF league as the team had to drop two Divisions down with the BBF league after 2 Seasons with the national league as Reading Bulldogs with a completely new team.

The Reading Teams between 1987 and 1995 have been fortunate to have many fine ex American minor / college league players, during that time they have contributed to scoring many Home Runs and some have also pitched solid with some excellent catchers behind the home plate contributing many fine performances as a unit.

During that time between 1987 and 1995 the American players that played for the Royals were working for American companies based in Reading or nearby around Berkshire, they are as follows:  John Whery ( pitcher ), Tom Dinkall ( pitcher ), Jeff Lorre ( HR hitter & pitcher ), Jeff Hunt ( pitcher ), Dan Lohsey ( hitter ) and last of all Glenn Libby who coached the Royals players in the early stages of their Baseball career, whilst playing for Barnes in London.

A photo of the Reading Bulldogs team appears on the British Baseball page, the team and players at the time were all british players except one, it was possibly one of the best Reading had!!