Inaugural 1989/90 Perth Heat baseball team poster

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1989

Overview

An A2-size multi-coloured poster on glossy coated paper, depicting the inaugural Perth Heat baseball team. The scene is set in a grassy field with the sun setting behind the team, possibly evoking the 'Field of Dreams'. The players are wearing their playing uniform of a white, short-sleeved shirt with a black neck band and broad black, red, orange and yellow bands along the shoulders, extending down the sleeves. The team's name and logo, all in black, are printed on the front of the shirt. Some players are wearing black undershirts. The pants are white, worn with a black belt, and the name of a sponsor's product is printed near the waist. Black stirrups are worn with white socks. Some players are wearing a black cap with the team logo in red and white; some are wearing a red cap advertising the sponsor's product. Various players are holding baseballs, bats or gloves and the catcher is wearing a chest-protector and leg guards and is holding the catcher's mask. Sitting in front of the players is the team's bull terrier mascot.

Printed in the top right-hand corner of the poster is the team's name and logo in red and white. Printed down the left-hand side are the names of the players, coach and mascot. Across the bottom of the poster is the tagline and name of a major sponsor.

Historical information

In 1989 the Australian Baseball Federation (ABL) professionalised baseball with the introduction of a professional league. Teams were also able to contract players from Major League Baseball (MLB). The composition of Perth Heat was, therefore, mainly local players, many of whom had represented Australia at the senior level. Mike Borgatti was the first contracted American in the Perth Heat line-up.

Pictured in the poster are:
Front row (L-R) Mike Borgatti (Pitcher), Scott Cameron (Pitcher), Tony Adamson (1st Base).
Second row (L-R) Heath Gillard (Outfield), Greg Harvey (Short Stop), Parris Mitchell (Pitcher), Ray Michell (Pitcher), Lyall Barwick (Catcher), Scott Steed (Outfield).
Back row (L-R) Ken McGee (Coach), Steve Kirkham (Pitcher), Kevin Driscoll (Pitcher), Dave Rusin (Designated Hitter), Sean Jones (3rd Base).
Mascot - Rambo.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-100-2020.702-1

Item type

Posters

Themes

People
Photography
Social History
Sport

Material

Coated Paper

Width

59 cm

Height or length

41 cm

Inscriptions and markings

'Perth HEAT' [with logo]
''Strike Out Smoking! THIS SUMMER' [with No Smoking logo]
'Health Department of Western Australia'

Contextual Information

The major sponsor, 'Strike Out Smoking', moved away from product-related advertising to health-related messages. Parry Field, the home-town venue for Perth Heat, was the first sporting venue in Western Australia to implement a smoke-free environment for spectators.

Six of the team members in this poster have been inducted into the Baseball WA Hall of Fame; Parris Mitchell, Dave Rusin, Tony Adamson, Ray Michell and Scott Steed (in 2021) and Scott Cameron (2023).

The poster was donated to the Baseball WA Museum & Archives by Merredith Eddington.

Keywords

1989/90 Perth Heat Team

Strike Out Smoking!

Health Department of Western Australia

Poster

Place made

Western Australia
Australia

Year

1989

Statement of significance

The item has historic and social significance, heralding Australian baseball's new journey from an amateur sport to a professional era. Perth Heat were the team to represent Western Australia in a new interstate competition.

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Social or spiritual significance

Comparative significance criteria

Rare or representative

Well provenanced

Baseball WA

Organisation Details
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