1973 Western Australian State Baseball Team cap

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Overview

A 1973 Western Australian State baseball team cap in the State colours of black and yellow. The crown, top button and visor of the cap are of black woollen fabric. Embroidered in yellow thread on the front of the crown is 'W.A.' above two crossed baseball bats. Below the crossed bats is a baseball embroidered in white thread. The underside of the visor is lined with green cotton fabric. The inside of the crown is lined with tan, black and red plaid cotton fabric with a brown vinyl sweatband. The name of the owner of the cap is hand-written in pen under the visor.

Historical information

1973 was the 34th Claxton Shield Series, an Australian national competition. It was contested at Subiaco Oval in Perth, Western Australia from January 5-14. Competing States were Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland, with Victoria winning their 11th Claxton Shield.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-100-2020.438

Item type

Material

Width

18 cm

Height or length

16 cm

Depth

27 cm

Themes

People

Social History

Sport

Inscriptions and markings

'W.A.'
'M. O'Hern' [written under the visor]

Contextual Information

This Western Australian State cap from the 1973 Australian baseball championships was donated to the Baseball WA Museum & Archives by Mel O'Hern. It was the fourth year Mel had represented Western Australia at the championships. It was also the year he was selected in the Australian team to compete in the Asian Baseball Championship series played in Manila, Philippines. In 2021 Mel was an inaugural inductee into the Baseball WA Hall of Fame.

Keywords

Western Australian State Baseball Team

Western Australian State Baseball Cap

Western Australian State Baseball Uniform

Claxton Shield 1973

Perth, Western Australia

Mel O'Hern

Sports Uniform

Statement of significance

This cap has historic and social significance because of Mel O’Hern’s involvement in baseball in Western Australia, which spanned 25 years from 1955 to 1980. An outstanding player, some of his achievements include State League Champions - 1962, 1963; Claxton Shield Player - 1962, 1963, 1970, 1973; Presidents Medal winner - 1963, 1966/67, 1968/69 & 1969/70; and Team Australia representative - 1963 and 1972/73. This item has excellent 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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