1937 Australian Baseball Carnival West Australian Souvenir Programme
The 1937 Australian Baseball Carnival West Australian Souvenir Programme has front and back covers of textured orange card with black lettering. The back cover has original autographs of members of the New South Wales, South Australian and Western Australian teams. The inside pages are white with black print and contain profiles of the Western Australian players, a caricature of the players and officials as well as a team photograph, a scoresheet, W.A. team itinerary and three team songs.
The 1937 Claxton Shield was the 4th annual Claxton Shield, an Australian baseball tournament, and was held in Adelaide, South Australia. Competing teams were New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and, for their first appearance, Western Australia. New South Wales won the Shield for the first time.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1937_Claxton_Shield]
This program records the names the first Western Australian team to compete for the Claxton Shield and includes the players' photographs and profiles. A cartoon caricature of the team and officials and three songs written about the team are featured. The caricature was first published in the Perth 'Daily News' newspaper in July 1937 and was drawn by long-time chief artist Clive Gordon. It was accompanied by the following caption:
"THE STATE BASEBALLERS HAVEN'T REALLY GOT TO LAUGH when Manager Ron Halcombe cracks a joke, but, according to Gordon, it's good policy.
On the extreme left, Scorer Hosken listens in while Patron C.P. Smith tells Coach R. Denford and League President R.J. Bryant that the winning of the carnival is not going to be all beer and skittles. That's why they're laughing. Llew Jones holds the bat, with Wally Nightingale and Ron Black a bit sceptical about things. 'Micky' Carr (capt.) is surprised and George Evans happy at the manager's remarks. Bill Lynch has been promised a new mask, which tickles Don Gilmour and Jack McNamara. George Dickinson, thinking of curves, leans nonchalantly on 'Tich' Downing, while Glen Dunstan (vice-capt.) and Frank Crookes also know when a joke's a joke."
[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/82543198]
Details
Details
'N. Claxton' [Front cover signature]
'Commemorating Western Australia's entry into Claxton Shield contests. Australian Baseball Carnival Unley Oval, Adelaide. August 7 to August 14, 1937. West Australian Souvenir Programme' [Front cover]
[Front cover: Fixtures and Finals dates are listed]
[Back cover: Autographs of members of the New South Wales, South Australian and Western Australian teams.]
The Claxton Shield is named for Australian sports philanthropist Norman (Norrie) Claxton, who donated the trophy in 1934. This 1937 West Australian souvenir program is one of two programs autographed on the front cover by Norrie Claxton, and donated to the Baseball WA Museum & Archives by Norrie's son John Claxton.
The West Australian Souvenir program commemorates Western Australia's entry into the Claxton Shield championship series and was produced in addition to the official program issued by the South Australian Baseball League.
Of great historical significance in the history of Claxton Shield baseball in Western Australia, this program bears not only the signatures of the first State team to compete in the championships, but also the signature of the man after whom the tournament and its trophy are named. The item is rare, being one of only two autographed copies known to exist, and is in excellent condition. It has good provenance, as it was donated by the family of Norrie Claxton.
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