The history of softball in New Zealand dates back to 1935 when the game was first played as a recreation by visiting American sailors.

The man really responsible for introducing the game into New Zealand was Mr W. H. Wilson, of the Ford Motor Company, who had played the game in the United States before coming here.

The first organised competitions took place in the summer of 1937/38, the Wellington Softball (Baseball) Association was formed in November 1937, and with the game spreading rapidly up and down the country the N.Z. (Baseball) Softball Council was formed at a meeting at Kelvin Gymnasiun, Wellington, on January 11, 1938.