1959 W. Symonds Medal - Goldfields Baseball League - Dale Hughes

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1959

Overview

The 9-carat gold, leaf-shaped medallion has a gold stickpin, approximately 6cm in length, attached to a metal loop at the top. On the front of the medallion the initials 'G.B.L.' are inscribed on a scrolled banner. Two engraved crossed baseball bats and a baseball are enclosed in a central, raised, circular feature. At the bottom of the medallion is a laurel wreath.

The reverse is inscribed with the name of the award, why and when it was awarded and who received it. The gold carat unit is stamped into the medallion.

Historical information

This Goldfields Baseball League's fairest and best medallion was sponsored by W. Symonds, who was a supporter of sport in the Goldfields and the owner of the Grand Hotel in Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie in the 1950s and 1960s.

The recipient of the 1959 medallion, Dale Hughes then aged 19, went on to represent Western Australia and Australia as an outstanding baseball player and coach.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-100-2020.653

Item type

Medallions

Themes

People
Social History
Sport

Material

Gold (Metal)

Width

2.5000 cm

Height or length

3.5000 cm

Inscriptions and markings

[Obverse inscription]
'G.B.L.'

[Reverse inscription]
'W. Symonds Medal'
'Fairest and Best'
'1959'
'D. Hughes'

'9CT'

Contextual Information

The medallion was donated to the Baseball WA Museum & Archives by the family of Dale Hughes. A multi-discipline sportsman, Hughes excelled in Australian Rules football, cricket and baseball. It was baseball that saw him represent both his state and country.

In 2016 Hughes was inducted into the Goldfields Sporting Hall of Fame.

Keywords

W. Symonds Medal

Dale Hughes

Goldfields Baseball League

Medallions

1959

Place made

Australia

Year

1959

Statement of significance

The medallion is of historic and social significance as it highlights the calibre of the early sporting career of its recipient; a player from the Goldfields of Western Australia who made an exceptional contribution to Western Australian and Australian baseball. It is a rare, well-provenanced addition to the Museum's collection.

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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