1937 Western Australian Newspaper Baseball League Souvenir Plaque

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Overview

This rectangular, silver-coloured metal plaque has an engraved internal black border. Attached at the top of the plaque is a black and silver-coloured metal diamond shape. Inside the diamond, against a black background, is the image of a baseballer swinging a bat. A commemorative plate is attached to the rectangular plaque by four metal pins. Engraved on the plate are details of who presented the plaque, the recipient, and the year date. The feet of the plaque are circular in shape, designed to look like baseballs.

Historical information

Summer baseball was played for the first time in Western Australia in January 1937, when the newly-formed Newspaper Baseball League began a series of lunch-hour matches on the Esplanade in Perth. The new league had four teams, 'The West Australian', 'The Daily News', 'The Western Mail' and 'The Broadcaster', with Mr. C.P. Smith as patron, and Mr. S. Longmore as president. It was affiliated with the West Australian Baseball League. There were about 2000 people present at the opening match. The president of the Newspaper League pitched the first ball to open the season.

All games were to be played on the west end of the Esplanade from 1.05 p.m. to 1.55 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday of each week. No team was allowed to score more than three runs in any innings unless it was more than three runs behind its opponents. The team in arrears could make sufficient runs to equal the score, but not pass it. The newspaper companies would present a pennant to the winners to be held for a year. All teams were to play in full dress. The Umpires' Association was to take charge of the games and supply an umpire for each match.

The Newspaper Baseball League continued until 1939.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-100-2020.508

Item type

Plaques

Material

Metal

Width

12.5000 cm

Height or length

13.5000 cm

Depth

3.5000 cm

Themes

People

Social History

Sport

Inscriptions and markings

'Presented by the W.A. Newspaper Baseball League to Glen Dunstan Captain of the West Australian Team as a souvenir of Season 1937.'

Contextual Information

Glen Dunstan worked for West Australian Newspapers and captained the company's baseball team for the first two years of the Newspaper Baseball League competition. As well as playing in the team, he was a committee member of the League at its formation in late 1936 and held the Hon. Treasurer position in 1937.

This plaque was presented to Dunstan as a souvenir of the 1937 season. It has been donated to the Baseball WA Museum & Archives by the family of Glen Dunstan OBE.

Keywords

W.A. Newspaper Baseball League

'The West Australian' team

Glen Dunstan

1937 Baseball Team

Place made

Australia

Statement of significance

This trophy was presented to a Western Australian baseball player in 1937 at the beginning of his outstanding career in the sport. As well as serving as an administrator at both club, league and State levels, Glen Dunstan represented WA in seven State teams—four as a player and three as team manager. A rare item, the plaque has impeccable provenance.

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Social or spiritual significance

Comparative significance criteria

Object’s condition or completeness

Rare or representative

Well provenanced

Baseball WA

Organisation Details
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