1938 split baseball bat with Claxton Shield teams' signatures
While a typical wooden baseball bat from the 1930s, it has been adapted to accommodate signatures of players from the four State teams competing in the 1938 Claxton Shield Series. Two sections have been cut out along the length of the barrel on both sides of the bat, then attached with hinges and screws. Signatures are handwritten in black ink inside the hinged panels.
Attached to the neck of the bat is a silver-plated shield engraved with the initials of the baseball club that presented the bat, who they presented it to and a year date. The top of the neck is bound with black tape. At the end of the handle '33' is stamped on the wood, referring to the length of the bat of 33 inches.
This autographed split bat was presented by members of the Victoria Park Baseball Club to Shane Paltridge when he was President of the club in 1939. He was also licensee of the Broken Hill Hotel located in Victoria Park, which the baseball club used for social gatherings after games and official club meetings.
It is believed the bat is from the Claxton Shield Series held in Perth in 1938, the first time Perth had hosted the Australian national baseball championships.
The tournament was held at the West Australian Cricket Association (WACA) ground and Subiaco Oval from 3 to 13 August 1938. New South Wales won the Shield for the second time, successfully defending their title from the previous year. Hosts Western Australia had their best finish, losing to New South Wales in the final to finish second overall. The other participating teams were Victoria and South Australia. The bat bears signatures from all four teams.
Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1938_Claxton_Shield]
Most of the signatures on the bat are legible or have been deciphered. They are:
New South Wales - Ken Gulliver (Capt.), Don Mould (Manager), Harry Gordon (Vice Capt.), N. Blanch, Phil Payne, Syd Yum, J. Lansfear, W. Rankin, A. Goodwin, T. Halligan, L. Dale, B. Jones, F. Dodrell, F.R. Guilfoyle.
Victoria - Joe Plant (Capt.), J.W. Ferguson, C. Miller, E. King, W. Locklier, G. McCarthy, J. Denison, Stan Quin (Vice Capt.).
South Australia - R.M. Sharpe (Capt.), P.C. Brideoake, Clem Scott, W. Fails, H. Norman, D. Mundy, Len Poole, Jeff Noblet (Vice Capt.), Geoff Martin (Manager).
Western Australia - D.H. Carr (Capt.), C.W. Puckett, T.G. Nisbet, Alex E. Barras, W.J. Lynch, Don Gilmour, A. Downing.
Details
Details
[On shield]
'V.P.B.B.C.'
'To Shane Paltridge'
'(President)'
'An appreciation from the Members'
'1939'
[Signatures on the bat]
'NSW' [15 signatures]
'Vic' [13 signatures]
'S.A.' [13 signatures]
'W.A.' [7 signatures]
'D.H. Carr (Capt)'
'C.W. Puckett'
'T.G. Nisbet'
'Alex E. Barras'
W.J. Lynch'
'Don Gilmour'
'A. Downing'
[Manufacturer's stamp]
'Spalding'
'Made in USA'
[Stamp at base of bat]
'C. Puccinelli'
This bat was donated to the Baseball WA Museum & Archives by Mary Ciccarelli, daughter of Shane Paltridge.
Born in Western Australia in 1910, Shane Paltridge served in the Aeustralian Army from 1940-1945. He became Member of Parliament for Victoria Park and was elected to the Australian Senate in 1951. Serving in the Menzies government from 1954 to 1966, he held Ministerial positions in Shipping & Transport, Civil Aviation and Defence. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1966 for his position as Leader of the Government in the Senate.
Shane Paltridge was a Senator for Western Australia from 1951 until his death in 1966 and was awarded a State funeral in Western Australia.
Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_knights_and_dames#Order_of_the_British_Empire]
This rare item of memorabilia is of historic and social significance on many levels. The contribution of the bat's original recipient, Sir Shane Paltridge, to the State of Western Australia, combined with his connection to one of the inaugural baseball clubs in Western Australia, and with the State's inaugural hosting of the Claxton Shield Championship, make this bat of prime importance to the Museum's collection. The bat is in fine condition and has impeccable provenance.
More items like this
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West Australian Baseball League cap – 1990s
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West Australian Baseball League cap – pre-1999
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1938 Claxton Shield Teams' Autographs
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West Australian Baseball League cap – pre-1999
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Western Australian State baseball cap – c.1990s
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1996 Atlanta Olympics Australian Team blazer
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1950s Perth Tigers night baseball team stick pin
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1990s Australian national baseball team tie
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1987 Western Australian State Under-18s baseball warm-up jacket
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1979 Australian composite baseball team photograph
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Dean Moyle (pitcher) - 1987 Western Australian Under-18 state baseball team
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Western Australian State baseball uniform blazer pocket
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