In Australia, baseball is a game that is played in all states and territories of the country.
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 International Baseball League of Australia was a baseball league which existed from 1999 to 2002.
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 1936 Claxton Shield was the third annual Claxton Shield, an Australian national baseball tournament. It was held at Marrickville Oval in Sydney from 3 to 10 August, and was won by South Australia for the third time in a row. The other participating teams were Victoria and hosts New South Wales.
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 1953 Claxton Shield was the 14th annual Claxton Shield, it was held at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground and Davies Park in Brisbane, Queensland from 11 to 19 July 1953. It was the first Claxton Shield held in Queensland. The participants were South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. The Western Australia team, holders of the Shield, were unable to afford the costs to travel to Brisbane. The series was won by New South Wales, their seventh 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 1988 Claxton Shield was the 49th annual Claxton Shield. The participants were South Australia, New South Wales Patriots, Victoria Aces, Western Australia, Queensland Rams and Northern Territory. The series was won by Queensland claiming their fourth and second consecutive Shield title.
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 2010 Claxton Shield is the 76th edition of the premier baseball competition in Australia, contested between teams representing the five mainland states: New South Wales Patriots, Queensland Rams, defending champions Perth Heat, South Australia and Victoria Aces.
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 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.
Ronald Maxy Sharpe is regarded as South Australia's and Australia's finest ever baseball player.
The 1987 Claxton Shield was the 48th annual Claxton Shield. The participants were South Australia, New South Wales Patriots, Victoria Aces, Western Australia, Queensland Rams and Northern Territory. The series was won by Queensland, who took a 17–3 record into the final against Western Australia, before claiming their third title. Peter Vogler was named the MVP of the Finals Series against WA
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.
The 1986 Claxton Shield was the 47th annual Claxton Shield. The participants were South Australia, New South Wales Patriots, Victoria Aces, Western Australia, Queensland Rams and Northern Territory. The series was won by Victoria.
