John Ostermeyer

John Ostermeyer was the key international baseball leader from Australia. Over the years, he and Peter O’Malley saw each other at important meetings around the world and became friends. Before his entering into international baseball, he was involved with sports management. Ostermeyer was Executive Director and longtime board member of the Australian Baseball Federation, as well as a board member of the Baseball Confederation of Oceania. In October 1979, Peter sent two major league Dodger coaches – pitching coach Red Adams and infield/bench coach Monty Basgall – to Sydney as guest instructors at the request of the Australian Baseball Federation which furthered the friendship. Other exchanges were to follow through the years. In 1984, the Dodgers signed Craig Shipley, the first Australian-born player in the modern baseball era to fulfill the shortstop’s dream to play for the Dodgers in the major leagues. In the 1970s and 1980’s, Ostermeyer was an advisor to various sports associations in Australia, including fencing, table tennis, Little Athletics, and volleyball. In 1981, Ostermeyer was Honorary Secretary General of the Confederation of Australian Sport.

He participated in important International Baseball Association (IBA) planning meetings for Olympic Baseball at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles. Ostermeyer was IBAF Secretary-General in 1997-2001, under President Aldo Notari, and 2007-2009 under President Harvey Schiller. In 2000, O’Malley met with Ostermeyer in Sydney, Australia, as O’Malley traveled there to watch the Olympic Baseball competition. The USA team, managed by Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda, won the gold medal by defeating Cuba in the finals. Ostermeyer twice ran for International Baseball Federation president – in 2005, but the incumbent Aldo Notari was re-elected and in 2009, but withdrew his candidacy. Ostermeyer received the Australian Sport Medal in 2000 for services to Australian and International Sport. He passed on April 30, 2018 in Rosebud, Victoria, Australia.