NATIONAL CROQUET MUSEUM

With competitive fire, Jim Bast set lofty goals for United States Croquet and his skills helped achieve them. He was a leader during a critical time in the history of our sport when the USA was first seeking and obtaining international recognition. Decades later, he is still setting the bar high and making history, both at home and abroad. Notably, he was part of the first USA Team to win the prestigious international Association-Rules Solomon Trophy.

An avid 9-wicket player in the Kansas City area throughout the 1970’s, Bast was introduced to the American 6-wicket game in Phoenix in 1981 when he joined the US Croquet Association (USCA) and the Arizona Croquet Club. His talent was promptly apparent as he was named the USCA’s Rookie of the Year in 1982.

Then in 1984, he won both the Singles and Doubles in the American-Rules National Championship in NYC’s Central Park, landing a front-page picture in the New York Times. He was the first USCA National Champion not from the Eastern Seaboard, reflecting the growth of croquet “Out West” during that decade.

As an early member of the Arizona Croquet Club, Bast was a leader of the vanguard of players that helped reshape and define the way that American-Rules croquet was played. Bast then turned his attention to helping USCA founder Jack Osborn to achieve his goal of establishing international recognition for American Croquet and having the USA accepted as the fourth member country for the MacRobertson Shield competition, the pinnacle of international competition. Bast was part of the original Team USA selected to compete in the International Challenge Cup in 1982 and 1983. This event promoted both American Six Wicket and Association Croquet Laws, giving the USA opportunities to play against countries like South Africa, Scotland and Ireland here on American soil. In 1985, he joined Team USA to compete in the USCA National Team Great Britain Tour, the first test match.

Before triple peels were commonplace, it is significant that Bast was the first American to record a triple in tournament competition and in an international competition during the inaugural USA versus Great Britain Test Match in 1985. After 10 years of the USA’s striving to improve its game and stature, the USA was admitted as the fourth country for the MacRobertson Shield. Bast humbly admits that he was the first and only American to defeat the legendary John Solomon in tournament competition. He was also the first American to reach the finals of the Sonoma-Cutrer World Croquet Championship, narrowly losing to David Maugham in 1991.

Striving to promote the game in these early years, he introduced innumerable high-achieving players to the game. He mentored them through pro-am competitions and instructing at the Arizona Croquet Club. His students included Hall-of-Famer Jerry Stark and National and World Champion Jacques Fournier. Bast also served as an instructor in USCA instructional schools and helped publicize the game when he was featured in domestic and international media coverage.

When Bast moved to Austin, Texas, in 1995, a city without a croquet court or club, he essentially retired from competitive croquet to raise a family with his wife Cynthia. In 2003, inspired by visiting his croquet friends who were playing in the MacRobertson Shield in Florida, Bast knew he wanted to play competitively again. He then set his sights high, intending to qualify once again to play on USA international teams. This goal was realized with his selection as an alternate for the Solomon Trophy team in 2008, and ultimately as a member of the 2009 team, the first USA victory. Subsequently he was chosen for the 2010 MacRobertson Shield team. His comeback was all the more remarkable since his nearest practice facility was more than three hours from home. Since his return to competition, Bast has once again been a stout competitor in domestic and international events, as shown by the various championships listed below. In addition, Jim has contributed to the USCA by serving on the International Committee and writing columns for USCA publications. He currently serves on the USCA Nominating Committee under Rich Curtis.

In a croquet career spanning 40 years, some of Bast’s accomplishments include:
USCA Southwestern Regional Champion (American Rules) 1996
Member of 12 USCA National Teams
International Challenge Cup 1982, 1983
National Team Great Britain Tour 1985
Solomon Trophy 1991, 2008 (reserve), 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016 (reserve)
MacRobertson Shield 1993, 2010, 2014
Canadian National Champion 2009, 2012
USCA Eights Co-Champion 2010, 2013
USCA Western Regional Champion (Association Croquet Laws) 2015
Multiple Arizona Open titles, including the first Arizona Open Champion
USCA National Doubles Champion Association Croquet Laws 2016

Bast has competed in eight Sonoma-Cutrer World Croquet Championships, including the first seven events, five WCF World Croquet championships and numerous Calzona competitions.

In summary, Jim Bast is a man who has successfully played croquet at the highest level, in both the Association Rules version and in American Six Wicket. He epitomizes enthusiasm, bonhomie and camaraderie. He has traveled widely in the pursuit of his sport and represented his country with distinction and honor. The pleasure he takes in warmly greeting fellow croquet players whenever the opportunity arises makes him a special ambassador for American croquet wherever he travels, abroad or in the US. Above all, he has been a huge credit to the game as a player and exemplar, a most welcome addition to the United States Croquet Hall of Fame.