User:The-Pope/Baseball WA

Baseball WA is the governing body of baseball within Western Australia. Baseball WA is governed by the Australian Baseball Federation.

In 1999, Baseball WA Ltd was formed as a company limited by shares by the merger of the West Australian Baseball League, the West Australian Junior Baseball League and the Baseball Development Foundation. Each member club is considered a shareholder in the company, as well as the local umpires and scorers associations and the local masters league, for players over 35 years of age.

State League
The top level of baseball locally in Western Australia is the Baseball WA State League. The league began in 1936 as the West Australian Baseball League's 'A Grade' competition, changing its name to State League in 1991/92. The league played during the winter months from its formation until 1963, switching to a summer competition for the 1963/64 season.

State League Clubs

 * Championship total for Braves includes championships won under their former names of East Fremantle, Cockburn and Melville Braves.
 * Championship total for West Stirling includes championships won under their former names of Wests, Press (Wests and Press merged in 1946) and West Perth.

A Grade/State League Premiers
*Premierships since 1936
 * Perth - 16
 * South Perth - 12
 * Swan Districts - 11
 * West Stirling - 9 (*inc. 3 as Wests, 3 as Press and 2 as West Perth)
 * Braves - 8 (*inc. 1 as East Fremantle, 1 as Cockburn and 3 as Melville)
 * Victoria Park/Belmont - 7 (all won as Victoria Park)
 * Wanneroo Giants - 6
 * Wembley - 5
 * Morley Eagles - 4

Neville Pratt Medal
The Neville Pratt Medal is the most prestigious baseball award in Western Australia and is presented to the best and fairest player in the State League season. Until 2014/15, the award was determined through umpires votes from each minor round game with the best player on the day receiving 3 votes, the second best 2 votes and the third best 1 vote. For the 2015/16 season, a special panel will be convened by Baseball WA to determine the winner.

The medal was known as the President's Medal from its founding in 1952 until 2000, when it was renamed for its 1961 winner, 1956 Olympian and legendary WABL administrator Neville Pratt. Since 1984/85, the medal has also incorporated the James Garfield Crawford Memorial Award.