West Australian Women's Baseball League 1937 Golden West team

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Overview

A reproduction of a black and white image (with caption) of the 1937 Golden West Women's Baseball Team. The caption identifies two of the players, indicating one with an 'X' marked on her cap.

Historical information

In June 1936 the first Women's Baseball Association in Western Australia was formed, with Mrs C.P. Smith elected as president. As it was already late in the season, no competition matches were played that year. This enabled the women to spend the rest of the season in practice, to allow them to become more proficient in each facet of the game. Initially the players used the soft ball to become accustomed to catching and throwing. However, when the competition matches commenced, the hard ball was used.
Four teams comprised the competition in 1937 and 1938—Golden West, Boomerang, Blue Sox and Burley.

National Library of Australia [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/40725914]; [/article/40730642]; [/article/210883815]; [/article/41430857]; [/article/41431867]

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-100-2020.414

Item type

Material

Themes

Inscriptions and markings

[Caption to photograph] '1937 Golden West Women's Baseball Team "A League of Their Own"
For two seasons the West Australian Baseball League ran a competition for women. Four teams comprised the competition in 1937 and 1938.
The photograph is from Mrs Noreen Lethlean who was the catcher. Her older sister Phyllis with the X on her cap was the pitcher.'

Contextual Information

This 1937 image of the Golden West women's baseball team identifies the pitcher, Phyllis Cook, and the catcher, Mrs Noreen Lethlean (nee Cook). Other members of the 1937 team were Hazel Hill (captain), Flo Levitske, Ivy Levitske, Pat Williams, Gwen Hummerston, H. Bain, Jessie Ramson, M. Christie and Betty Gilmore. The Golden West team won the grand final after defeating the Boomerang team 23 - 16.

The image was reproduced from a copy published in the December 2002 edition of the 'Claxton Shield Club Newsletter', provided by Warren Wood.

Keywords

Golden West Women's Baseball Team

West Australian Baseball League

West Australian Baseball League Women's League

Women's Baseball

Noreen Lethlean

Phylllis Cook

Statement of significance

1936 was an historic year for women's sport in Western Australia. Enthusiasts were endeavouring to enter a sport, namely baseball, recently made popular by the men in this State. When the idea of a women's association was first discussed, there were many who scoffed, but the men, knowing the thrill which baseball can give, heartily supported the proposal. This is a rare image of one of those first Western Australian Women's Baseball League teams, which significantly enhances the Baseball WA Museum & Archives' collection.

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Scientific or research significance

Social or spiritual significance

Comparative significance criteria

Rare or representative

Baseball WA

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