1962 Western Australian Claxton Shield Series baseball team
A photograph of the 1962 Western Australian baseball team that competed in the Australian Baseball Championship Claxton Shield Series held in Perth, Western Australia. Beside the image of the team and in the top right-hand corner is a hand-drawn image of a baseball pitcher in action with the words 'Championship Series Claxton Shield Perth 1962' in black and white.
The names of all team players and officials are hand-written on the back of the photo.
The 1962 Claxton Shield was the 23rd annual Claxton Shield. It was held in Perth, Western Australia thanks to a travelling pool to help the eastern states teams. The participants were South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland. The series was won by Victoria, claiming their seventh Shield title.
It was also the first year that a trophy sponsored by the Helms Foundation was awarded to the best player of the series in honour of South Australian player Ron Sharpe. It was to be called the Helms Award or Ron Sharpe Medal. The inaugural winner of this award was Anthony Strand from New South Wales.
The 1962 Shield was played in the warmer conditions during October, instead of the traditional late July winter period.
Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1962_Claxton_Shield]
Details
Details
Championship Series
Claxton Shield
Perth 1962
[Handwritten on the back of the photo]
Rear: Rob Gordon (Manager), John Kelly, Merv Muggleton (Coach), Eric Robertson, Dale Hughes, Rod Byrne, Snow McFarlane (Asst. Manager)
Middle: Norm Macey Jr., Neville Pratt, Brian Muggleton, Tony Mateljan, Kevin Parry, Mel O'Hern
Front: Jeff Bennett, Bob Melloncelli, Peter Colquhuon, Ron Thornton, Howard (Winky) Walker
This photograph of the 1962 Western Australian State baseball team was donated to the Baseball WA Museum & Archives by team member Mel O'Hern. It was O'Hern's first selection in a State team in the Claxton Shield Series.
Between 1955 and 1980, Mel O'Hern played baseball at league club, State and Australian team levels, primarily as a pitcher. However, in the 1962 Championship it was not only his pitching that would get attention, but also his hitting. With bases loaded in the first inning against South Australia, O’Hern hit a long and memorable Grand Slam.
In 2021 Mel O'Hern was an inaugural inductee into the Baseball WA Hall of Fame.
Of historic significance, this well-provenanced photograph records the images of Western Australian baseballers who achieved a level of excellence in their sport.
Other items from Baseball WA
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1971 Western Australian Claxton Shield Series baseball team
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1972 Western Australian Claxton Shield Series baseball team
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1978 Western Australian Claxton Shield Series baseball team
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1979 Western Australian Claxton Shield Series baseball team
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1980 Western Australian Claxton Shield Series baseball team
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1963 Western Australian Claxton Shield Series baseball team
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1974 Western Australian Claxton Shield Series baseball team
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Western Australian State Baseball Cap Badge
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1976 Western Australian Claxton Shield Series baseball team
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1974 Western Australian Under-17 baseball team
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1985 Western Australian Claxton Shield baseball champions
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