1966 Claxton Shield

1966 Claxton Shield
Tournament details
Sport Baseball
Country  Australia
Hosts South Australia Adelaide, SA
Teams 5
Defending champions Victoria (Australia) Victoria (1965)
Final positions
Champions
 South Australia (9th title)
Runner-up
 Victoria
1965
1967

The 1966 Claxton Shield was the 27th annual Claxton Shield, it was held in Adelaide, South Australia. The participants were South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland. The series was won by South Australia who finished ahead of Victoria on run percentage for their 9th title.[1]

The standard of the tournament was of poor quality with 114 errors committed over the 20 games. The 1966 Shield also marked the start of modern Australian players getting signed to the Major League system with Neil Page of South Australia getting signed to the Cincinnati Reds and Sid Thompson from New South Wales signing with the Philadelphia Phillies. Both players were released at the end of the 1967 Major League Baseball season.[2]

References

  1. Clark, Joe (2003). A History of Australian Baseball: Time and Game. Lincoln, NE, United States: University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 0-8032-6440-2. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
  2. Major League Contract Records: 1945-1972. Cooperstown, New York: National Baseball Hall of Fame Library.