The history of the Lawnmowers Baseball Club began in 1995, when a group of friends tried to play baseball on some lawn in Vienna, Austria. Regular practice egun, and in 1996 an official club was formed and first friends games played. Possibly the most curious part was the decision on a name. There were 42 suggestions (much more than players), some strange ("Maquerels"), some bold ("Pan-Galactic Master Heroes), and we finally decided on Lawnmowers, since this is what we were best at. It also reflects the not too serious attitude of our team. Despite the name, the team soon attracted new players, and in 1997 practice was regular (in gyms in winter and on our lawn in summer) and we entered the lowest league in Eastern Austria. The first year ended - of course - with the red lantern, but we had all the fun people have when playing baseball.
In the following year, the club's performance increased. Our second year saw nearly the championship of our league, but even ending second was a great success. In the relegation tournament the lawnmowers beat the Babenberg Crusaders and we went up one league.
The year 1999 also saw the Lawnmowers' first youth team, and there has been at least one ever since. We started with children from 12years on, and eventually expanded this to kids over the age of 9.
In 2002, the Lawnmowers founded a second adult team, entering again in the lowest league (the Lawnmowers I were in the 3rd of 5 levels by then). This "fun team" provides opportunity to play baseball on a lower level, ideal for newcomers or "oldies" who did not want to play or practice too hard.
From then on, the Lawnmowers have always been the third largest of the Baseball Clubs of Vienna (there have been eight so far). Besides participation in the various leagues, we have entered many national and international tournaments (baseball and softball), done many presentations (in schools etc.) and - on the whole - contributed its part to the growth of Baseball in Austria.
