Neil Page
Encyclopedia
Neil Philip Page is a former Australian
baseball
representative. A left-hand starting pitcher
, he regularly played for Australia
from 1964 until 1977.
, the son of Roy Page, a well-known local baseball identity. As a junior, Page grew up playing for the Glenelg Tigers
and Adelaide Angels
baseball clubs, before transferring, in 1969, to the Goodwood Indians
baseball club in the South Australian Baseball League (SABL). Page attended Adelaide Boys High School
from February 1956 to 1960.
On 1 February 1966, Page became the first modern Australian player to sign a professional contract with a Major League Baseball
organisation, the Cincinnati Reds
. He remained with the organisation until 16 October 1967, but was released following an arm injury. Page won the Helms Award
in 1969, regarded as Australian Baseball’s most prestigious award; and is judged based on a players performance in National Claxton Shield
competition. He also won the Capps Medal
in 1974, for the "best and fairest
" player during the regular SABL season (i.e. not including finals matches) as decided upon by umpires votes. Page played for South Australia
at 8 Claxton Shields (1964, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973 & 1974) and Western Australia
at 3 Claxton Shields (1975, 1976 & 1977). In 1977, Page won the Presidents Medal, for the Most Valuable Player
in the West Australian Baseball League
.
On 16 March 1972, Page was involved in one of the greatest games in Australian baseball history. Under lights at Norwood Oval
, in the 1971/72 SABL Grand final
between the Goodwood Indians and Port Adelaide Magpies
, Page pitched all 19 innings (21 strikeouts, 9 hits & 1 walk), only to lose the game 1 - 0.
In the book, A History of Australian Baseball: Time and Game, Page is described as "one of the greatest pitchers Australia has ever produced". At the 2000 Millennium Sports Award recognising achievements in Australian sport, Page won the Australian Sports Medal
for "45 years involvement in Baseball as player and coach, many individual achievements". In 2005, Page was an inaugural inductee into the Baseball Australia Hall of Fame
. At the 2009 Baseball Australia Diamond Awards
, Page was named as a starting pitcher to the 75th Diamond Anniversary Claxton Shield All Stars team.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
representative. A left-hand starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
, he regularly played for Australia
Australia national baseball team
The Australian national baseball team represents Australia in international baseball tournaments and competitions. They are ranked as the top team in Oceania, and are the Oceanian Champions, having been awarded the title in 2007 when New Zealand withdrew from the Oceania Baseball Championship. They...
from 1964 until 1977.
Career
Page was born in AdelaideAdelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, the son of Roy Page, a well-known local baseball identity. As a junior, Page grew up playing for the Glenelg Tigers
Glenelg Baseball Club
Glenelg is a Baseball club playing in the South Australian Baseball League. Known as the Tigers, their home ground is Anderson Reserve in Glenelg. The ground will host half the home games of the South Australia baseball team in the 2009 Claxton Shield....
and Adelaide Angels
Adelaide Baseball Club
Adelaide is a Baseball club playing in the South Australian Baseball League. Known as the Angels, their home ground is Weigall Oval in Plympton.-External links:*...
baseball clubs, before transferring, in 1969, to the Goodwood Indians
Goodwood Baseball Club
Goodwood is a Baseball club playing in the South Australian Baseball League. Known as the Indians, their home ground is Mortlock Park in Colonel Light Gardens....
baseball club in the South Australian Baseball League (SABL). Page attended Adelaide Boys High School
Adelaide High School
Adelaide High School is a coeducational state high school situated on the corner of West Terrace and Glover Avenue in the Adelaide Parklands. It is the first government high school in South Australia...
from February 1956 to 1960.
On 1 February 1966, Page became the first modern Australian player to sign a professional contract with a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
organisation, the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. He remained with the organisation until 16 October 1967, but was released following an arm injury. Page won the Helms Award
Helms Award
The Helms Award is an annual sporting award given to the most Outstanding Australasian Athlete.-Past winners:1919 - [Harold Clive Disher] *1920 - Ivo Whitton - golfer*1932 - [Edgar L...
in 1969, regarded as Australian Baseball’s most prestigious award; and is judged based on a players performance in National Claxton Shield
Claxton Shield
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...
competition. He also won the Capps Medal
Capps Medal
The Capps Medal is the medal awarded to the "best and fairest" player in the South Australian Baseball League during the regular season as decided upon by umpires...
in 1974, for the "best and fairest
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
" player during the regular SABL season (i.e. not including finals matches) as decided upon by umpires votes. Page played for South Australia
South Australia (Baseball Team)
South Australia compete in the Claxton Shield Baseball Championship in Australia. They were one of the founding teams of the Claxton Shield in 1934 and competed until 1988 where the Claxtion Shield was thereafter awarded to the winner of the Australian Baseball League until 1999 when they were...
at 8 Claxton Shields (1964, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973 & 1974) and Western Australia
Perth Heat
The baseball team Perth Heat is a team in the current Australian Baseball League and a foundation member of the now-defunct Australian Baseball League...
at 3 Claxton Shields (1975, 1976 & 1977). In 1977, Page won the Presidents Medal, for the Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
in the West Australian Baseball League
Baseball WA
Baseball WA is the governing body of baseball within Western Australia. Baseball WA is governed by the Australian Baseball Federation...
.
On 16 March 1972, Page was involved in one of the greatest games in Australian baseball history. Under lights at Norwood Oval
Norwood Oval
Norwood Oval is a suburban oval in the western end of Norwood, an inner eastern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. Norwood, Payneham & St Peters Council own the Oval but rent it, for a peppercorn rental, to the Norwood Football Club...
, in the 1971/72 SABL Grand final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
between the Goodwood Indians and Port Adelaide Magpies
Port Adelaide Baseball Club
Port Adelaide is a Baseball club playing in the South Australian Baseball League. Known as the Magpies, their home ground is War Memorial Reserve in Port Adelaide.2008-2009 Management Committee:President: Graham PettreyVice President: Tracy Vasic...
, Page pitched all 19 innings (21 strikeouts, 9 hits & 1 walk), only to lose the game 1 - 0.
In the book, A History of Australian Baseball: Time and Game, Page is described as "one of the greatest pitchers Australia has ever produced". At the 2000 Millennium Sports Award recognising achievements in Australian sport, Page won the Australian Sports Medal
Australian Sports Medal
The Australian Sports Medal was an award given during 2000 to recognise achievements in Australian sport.Recipients of the award included competitors, coaches, sports scientists, office holders, and people who maintained sporting facilities and services. Over 18,000 Medals were...
for "45 years involvement in Baseball as player and coach, many individual achievements". In 2005, Page was an inaugural inductee into the Baseball Australia Hall of Fame
Baseball Australia Hall of Fame
The Baseball Australia Hall of Fame or Australian Baseball Federation Hall of Fame is a group of baseball players, managers and coaches who have been recognised by the Australian Baseball Federation as having had an impact on baseball in Australia over a prolonged period of time "at the highest...
. At the 2009 Baseball Australia Diamond Awards
Baseball Australia Diamond Awards
The Baseball Australia Diamond Awards — begun in 2006 — are given annually by the Australian Baseball Federation, to honor persons who have excelled in playing, managing, or serving the sport of baseball. The awards ceremony is usually held in or about February, soon after the conclusion of that...
, Page was named as a starting pitcher to the 75th Diamond Anniversary Claxton Shield All Stars team.