History
During World War II, Marston Green became home to No.7 Canadian General Hospital, where members of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps were stationed. Amid the challenges of wartime service, these Canadian personnel found solace and camaraderie through baseball, playing on the very grounds that would later host the Birmingham Baseball Club. Their presence left a lasting cultural imprint on the area, inspiring the club’s original name the Birmingham Maple Leafs as a tribute to their legacy. The connection between sport, service, and community continues to echo through the club’s identity and its home field, known as Maple Leaf Stadium.
Founded in 2003 by a local enthusiast, the team was originally named the Birmingham Maple Leafs. This was an homage to the members of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps who were based at No.7 Canadian General Hospital in Marston Green, [1] and took up baseball as recreation.
The club changed its name to the Birmingham Bandits in 2014 [2] and competed at both AA and AAA levels within the British baseball system.
The club changed its name again in 2020, with the team becoming the Birmingham Metalheads, referencing the musical heritage of the region. [3] In 2023, the club launched a second team, the Birmingham Bats, and in 2024 began their youth programme, the Birmingham GOATs. In 2024, the club launched its youth programme, the Birmingham GOATs, aimed at developing players aged 7 to 14. The initiative was created to promote youth participation in baseball and quickly attracted a growing number of young players. Training sessions are held at the club’s field in Marston Green Recreation Ground also known as Maple Leaf Stadium.
In 2024, the Birmingham Metalheads won the BBF Summer Cup Silver Level and the WMBL championship. [4] [5]
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