Signed baseball from 1978 Amateur World Series baseball championships
This baseball is inscribed in blue ink with 20 Australian players' signatures. The ball has a cork-rubber core, around which two snuggly-fitted pieces of discoloured white leather are sewn together with red stitching. Stamped on the ball are the name of the Italian baseball/softball federation, the baseball tournament and the manufacturer's name.
Australian baseball team member Ray Michell pitched this ball against Holland in September 1978 in Italy during the 'XXV Campionato Mondiale' (World Championships). The ball is inscribed Australia 1 Holland 0 although the final score was 4-1 to Australia. It is possible that Ray Michell was starting pitcher and left the game when Australia were 1-0. The ball is also inscribed with the signatures of 20 Australian team members.
The tournament was held from August 25 to September 6, with games being played in Bologna, Parma and Rimini. It was only the second time the world championships had been held outside the Americas. Cuba won the title from the United States.
Details
Details
[Inscribed in blue biro] 'Australia 1 Holland 0'.
[Stamped on the leather] 'Rawlings' (manufacturer); 'Italia XXV Campionata Mondiale 1978' (tournament); 'FIBS Italia' (logo of Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball)
1978 was the first occasion Australia had contested the World Championships. The team played 10 games and won 2 to tie for 9th of 11 teams. Besides Holland, Belgium was the only other team Australia defeated.
Western Australia had four representatives in the team: Ray Michell (pitcher), Don Knapp (catcher), Kerry Wither (outfield) and Graham Ward (infield). Graham Ward was the better hitter for Australia - hitting .334
This baseball belonged to pitcher Ray Michell and was given to the Baseball WA Museum & Archives by the Michell Family, to be permanently retained on a loan basis.
As an item of memorabilia from Australia's first participation in the Amateur World Series baseball championships, representing Oceania, this baseball is rare and has historic significance. The original signatures of the Australian team on the ball add to its aesthetic and social significance. The ball belonged to Ray Michell, a member of the team, and has excellent provenance.
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1939 Victoria Park Baseball Club photograph of teams and officials
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1938 Australian Baseball Carnival photograph - South Australian Baseball Team
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