Baseball WA is excited to announce three inductees for the BWA Hall of Fame Class of 2025.
The Hall of Fame celebrates outstanding achievements of the players, coaches, and officials who have shaped our beloved game across the state. At the BWA Awards Dinner set for April, the following inductees will be officially presented:
- Mr John (Kerry) Wither
- Mr Mark Stipetich
- Mr Murray Westphal
“It is with great pride that we welcome our newest inductees to the Baseball WA Hall of Fame. Kerry, Mark, and Murray are incredibly deserving of this honour after outstanding performances and long-lasting impacts and inspiration at the club, state, national, and international levels,” Baseball WA CEO Lachlan Dale said.
“We look forward to continuing our new but beloved tradition of BWA Hall of Fame Inductions. It is truly special to be able to recognise the individuals who have helped transform WA and Australian baseball into such an enduring and rewarding game.”
Click HERE to learn more about the Baseball WA Hall of Fame and check out summaries of our newest inductees below. Please stay tuned for details on the BWA Awards Dinner.
Mr John (Kerry) Wither
Kerry Wither was recruited to Western Australia from NSW in 1974 by WA and Australian coach, Rodney Byrne. He played WA State League for six seasons from 1974/75 to 1979/80. He was appointed coach of State League team Swan Districts for three years, and in his first season, he brought the Swans from a bottom four team to premiership contenders. For two consecutive years they played off in the grand final under Kerry’s playing and coaching skills. He demonstrated the values of fairness, integrity, inclusion and respect on the diamond while, at the same time, achieving significant individual success through State League and Claxton Shield Awards. Kerry represented WA in five Claxton Shield Series and has the distinction of being vice-captain and a key player in three national championship teams. Kerry’s ability was recognised with selection to various Australian All-Star Teams, Australian Touring Teams, and Domestic Goodwill tours over a 12-year national career playing at an elite level.
Mark Stipetich
Mark Stipetich was jointly recruited to Australia by the Victoria Park Baseball Club and the Perth Redbacks Basketball Club. It was during an era prior to the NBL and ABL (national leagues for basketball and baseball). Thus, the best baseball players in the country (Australians and imports) played for their club teams throughout the season. Mark was dominant both on the mound and at the plate from the day he arrived in Western Australia. During four seasons in State League from 1976-1980, Mark won three consecutive President’s Medals (BWA League MVP) and four Victoria Park Baseball Club MVP Awards. He was also a three-time Lenegan Medal Winner as Grand Final MVP. Mark had a 63-4 win/loss record as a State League pitcher with a 1.08 ERA and 19 complete game shutouts, plus a .368 batting average.
Murray Westphal
From a playing career that started in a Little League team in the Perth suburb of Tuart Hill to the international stage representing Australia in Seoul Stadium in Korea, Murray Westphal has enjoyed a wonderful and fulfilling career both on and off the field. Murray Westphal’s career and contribution to baseball in Western Australia has been unique on many levels. He was an outstanding multidimensional player for West Stirling at the State League level, a multiple winning pitcher and excellent hitter for Western Australia at the Claxton Shield level and played with distinction for our national team. His pitching effort in beating Korea at Seoul Stadium in Korea was, and still is, one of Australian baseball’s greatest international victories.