20 Years of Legacy, Community and Giving Back
For almost two decades, Team Spencer and the Perth Heat have shared a special connection built on family, community and a desire to make a difference.
Team Spencer was founded in memory of baby Spencer Steven, who passed away from Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) at just seven months old in 2006.
In the years since, Spencer’s parents, Rick and Ruth, have turned their love for their son into action, carrying on his legacy by raising vital funds and awareness for SMA and other neuromuscular conditions.
What started with a barbecue at the ballpark has grown into something remarkable.
Almost 20 years and more than $600,000 raised later, Team Spencer has become an important part of the Perth Heat family and the most meaningful tradition on our calendar.
More Than a Game
The annual Team Spencer Game brings our baseball community together for something bigger than what happens on the field.
Each season, Perth Heat players, staff, fans, partners, the wider WA baseball community and visiting ABL teams come together to celebrate Spencer’s legacy and support the work of Team Spencer.
Over the years, what began as a simple fundraiser has grown into a much-loved Perth Heat tradition, with fundraising, special jerseys, auctions and game day activities helping generate awareness and vital funds for the cause.
It’s a partnership that reflects what the Perth Heat has always stood for; looking after our community, honouring the people who are part of our story and using baseball as a platform to make a meaningful difference.
20 Years of Team Spencer: Saturday 9 January 2027
This season marks a special milestone as we celebrate 20 years of Team Spencer.
On Saturday 9 January, Team Spencer will once again take centre stage at NSR Hire Ballpark versus the Sydney Blue Sox.
Together, we’ll celebrate Spencer’s legacy, recognise the incredible work of Rick, Ruth and everyone who has supported Team Spencer over the past two decades, and continue raising funds and awareness for families impacted by neuromuscular conditions.
Tickets go on sale in September.
We look forward to welcoming the WA baseball community to the ballpark for a very special night.
ABOUT SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is an inherited genetic condition that affects the motor neurons responsible for controlling muscle movement.
The condition causes muscles to become progressively weaker and can affect movement as well as functions including breathing, coughing, eating and swallowing.
An estimated 1 in 10,000 children are born with SMA in Australia, while approximately 1 in 50 people are carriers of the faulty gene associated with the condition.
Significant advances in treatment have changed the outlook for people diagnosed with SMA in recent years. However, there is currently no cure, making continued research, awareness and support incredibly important.
Learn more about SMA through SMA Australia.
HELP CONTINUE SPENCER’S LEGACY
Twenty years on, Spencer continues to make an impact.
Every donation helps support the work being done for Western Australians living with neuromuscular conditions and their families.
By supporting Team Spencer, you’re helping a cause that has become part of the fabric of the Perth Heat community and helping Rick and Ruth continue the legacy they began in their son’s honour in 2006.
