Our History
More than four decades of baseball and softball in Zürich – from a single car's namesake to ten Swiss championships.
1980–1986
From a Dodge Challenger to Switzerland's first champions
The Challengers Baseball Club Zürich was founded on 5 December 1980, though the very first training sessions had already taken place that summer on the Allmend Brunau. The club owes its name to one of its founders' car – a Dodge Challenger. Switzerland's first-ever baseball game was played in Reussbühl that November, and famously had to be called off early because the players ran out of baseballs.
Founders Enrico and Werner Zingg were also instrumental in setting up the Swiss Baseball and Softball Federation. It didn't take long for the young club to make its mark: the Challengers won Switzerland's first official championship in 1982, defended the title in 1983, and – after outgrowing their original grounds and relocating to Heerenschürli in Schwamendingen – added a third championship in 1986.
1980
Club founded (5 Dec)
1982
First Swiss championship
1983
Championship defended
1986
Third championship; move to Heerenschürli
1980–1986
From a Dodge Challenger to Switzerland's first champions
The Challengers Baseball Club Zürich was founded on 5 December 1980, though the very first training sessions had already taken place that summer on the Allmend Brunau. The club owes its name to one of its founders' car – a Dodge Challenger. Switzerland's first-ever baseball game was played in Reussbühl that November, and famously had to be called off early because the players ran out of baseballs.
Founders Enrico and Werner Zingg were also instrumental in setting up the Swiss Baseball and Softball Federation. It didn't take long for the young club to make its mark: the Challengers won Switzerland's first official championship in 1982, defended the title in 1983, and – after outgrowing their original grounds and relocating to Heerenschürli in Schwamendingen – added a third championship in 1986.
Late 1980s–1990s
Building the next generation
With the club growing fast, a junior program was launched in the mid-1980s under Manuela and Kurt Vogt, Ursula and Iwao Yamaguchi, and the Zingg brothers – laying the foundation for decades of youth baseball at the club. In 1987 the Zürich Challys, the club's first softball team, took the field for the first time, going on to win their only championship in 1990.
By the early 1990s the club had grown to around 130 active members and more than 200 passive members. The decade also produced one of the most dominant individual seasons in Swiss baseball history: in 1994, Adris Linares hit .547 with a .605 on-base percentage and a 1.358 slugging percentage – numbers that remain unmatched to this day. The 2nd team was just as successful, winning back-to-back titles in 1991 and 1992 in Liga 1, and again in 1993 and 1995 in the NLB.
1987
Zürich Challys (softball) take the field
1990
Softball's first championship
1991–95
2nd team's back-to-back titles
Late 1980s–1990s
Building the next generation
With the club growing fast, a junior program was launched in the mid-1980s under Manuela and Kurt Vogt, Ursula and Iwao Yamaguchi, and the Zingg brothers – laying the foundation for decades of youth baseball at the club. In 1987 the Zürich Challys, the club's first softball team, took the field for the first time, going on to win their only championship in 1990.
By the early 1990s the club had grown to around 130 active members and more than 200 passive members. The decade also produced one of the most dominant individual seasons in Swiss baseball history: in 1994, Adris Linares hit .547 with a .605 on-base percentage and a 1.358 slugging percentage – numbers that remain unmatched to this day. The 2nd team was just as successful, winning back-to-back titles in 1991 and 1992 in Liga 1, and again in 1993 and 1995 in the NLB.
1997–2007
A golden era
Under president Marianne Blickenstorfer, the Challengers entered their most successful stretch yet, winning five Swiss championships and a Cup title between 1998 and 2004. Pitcher Thomas Landis led the club to the 1998 title against the Zürich Barracudas, and the Challengers went on to beat the Therwil Flyers in the finals every year from 1999 to 2004. The 2004 season brought a rare "double": the national championship alongside a 6–1 Cup final win over the Bern Cardinals. Softball returned to the club that same year, and the team celebrated its first championship in 2006.
1998–2004
Five championships & a Cup title
2004
"The double": championship + Cup
2006
Softball's first championship
1997–2007
A golden era
Under president Marianne Blickenstorfer, the Challengers entered their most successful stretch yet, winning five Swiss championships and a Cup title between 1998 and 2004. Pitcher Thomas Landis led the club to the 1998 title against the Zürich Barracudas, and the Challengers went on to beat the Therwil Flyers in the finals every year from 1999 to 2004. The 2004 season brought a rare "double": the national championship alongside a 6–1 Cup final win over the Bern Cardinals. Softball returned to the club that same year, and the team celebrated its first championship in 2006.
2010–2023
A home stadium and new records
In 2010 the city upgraded the baseball stadium at Heerenschürli, built to international standards and equipped with floodlights. It's shared with other Zürich clubs rather than owned by the Challengers, but with both the NLA and NLB calling it home, it's still the club's home stadium today. The years that followed brought individual honours alongside team success: Robert Sedin was named Best Pitcher in 2013 and Best Batter in 2014, while Ryan Byrne was named MVP in 2014 after striking out 182 batters, a Swiss league record that still stands.
After a title drought of eleven years, the Challengers fought their way back to the 2018 final via the wild card, beating the Therwil Flyers in a decisive game five on a two-run home run by Jesus Martinez – the club's ninth national championship. The softball team added a second title of their own in 2021, edging out the Wittenbach Panthers 10–9. In 2023, the baseball team won its tenth championship, beating Therwil Flyers 3–1 in the final series after a dramatic 12-inning semifinal win over the Zürich Barracudas.
2010
Heerenschürli becomes home stadium
2018
Ninth championship, ending 11-year drought
2021
Softball's second championship
2023
Tenth championship
2010–2023
A home stadium and new records
In 2010 the city upgraded the baseball stadium at Heerenschürli, built to international standards and equipped with floodlights. It's shared with other Zürich clubs rather than owned by the Challengers, but with both the NLA and NLB calling it home, it's still the club's home stadium today. The years that followed brought individual honours alongside team success: Robert Sedin was named Best Pitcher in 2013 and Best Batter in 2014, while Ryan Byrne was named MVP in 2014 after striking out 182 batters, a Swiss league record that still stands.
After a title drought of eleven years, the Challengers fought their way back to the 2018 final via the wild card, beating the Therwil Flyers in a decisive game five on a two-run home run by Jesus Martinez – the club's ninth national championship. The softball team added a second title of their own in 2021, edging out the Wittenbach Panthers 10–9. In 2023, the baseball team won its tenth championship, beating Therwil Flyers 3–1 in the final series after a dramatic 12-inning semifinal win over the Zürich Barracudas.
The next generation
The club's youth program keeps paying off: Challengers junior teams have won four U12 titles in six years, and the U15 squad added a Swiss championship of its own in 2023 – a strong sign for the club's future.
2018–2023
Four U12 titles in six years
2023
U15 Swiss championship
The next generation
The club's youth program keeps paying off: Challengers junior teams have won four U12 titles in six years, and the U15 squad added a Swiss championship of its own in 2023 – a strong sign for the club's future.