Oral history - Tony Mateljan

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2022

Overview

Oral history, 'Recollections of a Career in Baseball and Cricket from the 1950s', recorded with Tony Mateljan, Western Australian baseball and cricket player.
[Click on arrows above Tony Mateljan's photo to locate audio file.]

Historical information

Tony Mateljan was born in 1934 and started playing in the West Australian Baseball League in the early 1950s for Swan Districts Baseball Club. By 1954 he was promoted to the club's 'A' grade side and also played for the Swan Districts 'Angels' in the Night Baseball League. Later, in the mid-1960s, he joined the East Perth Eagles Baseball Club (formerly the American Eagles), and played with them for 10 years.

Tony's next move was to the Wanneroo Baseball Club in 1975, where he had a significant role in creating the club it proudly is today. In 1984 the Wanneroo Giants inducted him as their Inaugural Life Member.

Chosen to represent Western Australia in seven Claxton Shield Series teams in 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1965, and 1967, Tony was also selected in the All Australian Team in 1957 and 1959. He later went on to coach Western Australia's Claxton Shield teams in 1971 and 1972.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-100-2020.CD.7

Item type

Themes

Inscriptions and markings

[On CD cover]
'Tony Mateljan'
'Recollections of a Career in Baseball and Cricket from the 1950s'
'56 Mins'

Contextual Information

Tony Mateljan was a master with bat and ball, not only in baseball, but also in cricket. He has the distinct honour of being recognised as both a Claxton Shield baseballer as well as a Sheffield Shield cricketer for Western Australia.

Tony has created a lasting legacy in Western Australia, not only as a player but also for the significant amount of work he has done away from the diamond. In 2021 he was an inaugural inductee into the Baseball WA Hall of Fame. Baseball in Western Australia is richer for Tony’s contribution.

Keywords

Tony Mateljan

All Australian Baseball Team

Baseball WA Hall of Fame

Wanneroo Giants Baseball Club

Swan Districts Baseball Club

East Perth Baseball Club

Place made

Quinns Rocks
Western Australia
Australia

Year

2022

Statement of significance

This oral history from a great Western Australian sportsman in Tony Mateljan, provides a rare historic record of cricket and baseball in the State during the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Tony's first-hand recollections include the social and sporting aspects of a family's involvement in the games during those times.

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Scientific or research significance

Social or spiritual significance

Comparative significance criteria

Object’s condition or completeness

Rare or representative

Well provenanced