The Claxton Shield was the name of the premier baseball competition in Australia held between state-based teams, as well as the name of the trophy awarded to the champion team. From the summer of 1989–90 until 2001–02, and again since 2010–11, the tournament was replaced by one of three other competitions: the original Australian Baseball League (ABL), the International Baseball League of Australia (IBLA), and since the 2010–11 season the new ABL. Despite other competitions being held in place of the Claxton Shield, the physical trophy has remained the award for the winning teams. Though city-based teams have competed for the Claxton Shield in some seasons, the name engraved on the shield is that of the winning state; for the 2010–11 ABL season won by the Perth Heat, "West Australia 2011" was engraved.
The 2007 Claxton Shield was the 73rd anniversary of the event, it was held between 19 and 28 January 2007, at Baseball Park in Western Australia, the first to be held outside of Blacktown Baseball Stadium in New South Wales since 2002 when it was held at the Melbourne Ballpark. The 2007 Shield featured over 120 of Australia's best baseballers, including 45 professionals.
The 74th Claxton Shield was held from 28 December 2007 to 10 February 2008. The 2008 Shield was conducted on a Home and Away series made up of 2 Divisions; Eastern Division: Australian Provincial, New South Wales Patriots and the Queensland Rams, Southern Division: Perth Heat, Victoria Aces and South Australia. Each divisional series saw each team meet 6 times with 3 home games and 3 away games, the top team from each division then meet in a 3-game Championship series.
The 2009 Diamond Anniversary Claxton Shield was the 75-year anniversary of the Claxton Shield and was held from 2 December 2008 to 8 February 2009 and was the Shield's Diamond anniversary. The Perth Heat won the tournament after defeating the New South Wales Patriots 3–2 in the third game of a best of three series.
The 1946 Claxton Shield was the seventh annual Claxton Shield, an Australian national baseball tournament—the first time the tournament was held after a seven-year break due to World War II. It was held at Petersham Oval and Marrickville Oval in Sydney from 3 to 10 August, and was won by the hosts New South Wales for the fourth time in a row. With this tournament win, they overtook South Australia as the outright leading state in Claxton Shield tournament wins.
The 1950 Claxton Shield was the 11th annual Claxton Shield; it was held in Sydney, New South Wales. The participants were South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland. The series was won by New South Wales, their fifth Shield title.
The 1951 Claxton Shield was the 12th annual Claxton Shield, and was held in Adelaide from 28 July to 4 August. The participants were hosts South Australia, defending champions New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland. The series was won by an undefeated New South Wales, their sixth Shield title.
The 1954 Claxton Shield was the 15th annual Claxton Shield, and was held in Melbourne. The participants were South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland. The series was won by Victoria, defeating previous champions New South Wales 6–5, claiming their fourth Shield title.
The 1955 Claxton Shield was the 16th annual Claxton Shield, and was held in Sydney. The participants were hosts New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, defending champions Victoria and Western Australia. The series was won by the New South Wales for their eighth Shield title.
The 1958 Claxton Shield was the 19th annual Claxton Shield, and was held in Brisbane. The participants were South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland. The series was won by Victoria claiming their sixth Shield title.
The 1959 Claxton Shield was the 20th annual Claxton Shield, it was held in Melbourne, Victoria. It was originally scheduled for Perth, Western Australia, but when teams hinted at pulling out of the Shield that year due to travel costs, the venue was moved. The participants were South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland. The series was won by South Australia, claiming their fifth Shield title.
The 1960 Claxton Shield was the 21st annual Claxton Shield, it was held in Sydney, New South Wales. The participants were South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland. The series was won by South Australia, claiming their sixth Shield title.
The 1961 Claxton Shield was the 22nd annual Claxton Shield, it was held at Norwood Oval in Adelaide, South Australia. The participants were South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland. The series was won by the home team South Australia, claiming their seventh and third consecutive Shield title.
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. The participants were South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland. The series was won by Victoria claiming their sixth Shield title.
The 1963 Claxton Shield was the 24th annual Claxton Shield, it was held at the Brisbane Cricket Ground and Bannister Park in Brisbane, Queensland. The participants were South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland. The series was won by New South Wales claiming their ninth Shield title and first since the 1955 Claxton Shield.
The 2010 Claxton Shield was the 76th Claxton Shield tournament, the premier baseball competition in Australia, and was held from 6 November 2009 to 7 February 2010. It was hailed as the precursor to the new Australian Baseball League that will start in the place of the Claxton Shield in late 2010 to early 2011. The Victoria Aces defeated South Australia two games to nil in the championship series to win the tournament; this was the 22nd time the Claxton Shield had been awarded to a Victorian team. The competition was sponsored by Domino's Pizza.
The 1964 Claxton Shield was the 25th annual Claxton Shield, it was held at the Albert Park in Melbourne, Victoria. The participants were South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland. The series final was between South Australia and Victoria, with South Australia defeating the Victorians led by newcomer Ian Chappell who drove in seven runs in the final alone.
The 1965 Claxton Shield was the 26th annual Claxton Shield, it was held in Sydney. The participants were South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland. Victoria won their 8th Claxton Shield title in poor weather conditions similar to that of the 1964 Shield.
The 1989 Claxton Shield was the 50th annual Claxton Shield and the final Shield in its traditional state format before the Australian Baseball League (1989–1999). The participants were South Australia, New South Wales Patriots, Victoria Aces, Western Australia and Northern Territory with the incumbent back to back champions Queensland absent. The tournament was held in Sydney over twelve days at Auburn Baseball Club's Oriole Park rather than a home and away series. The home New South Wales team were champions.
