The Baseball Career of Norman Davies “Chalky” White
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THE BASEBALL CAREER OF NORMAN DAVIES “CHALKY” WHITE. Chalky’s story has been researched and Collated by Doug White The following information has been collected through Google on Trove newspapers South Australian Night Baseball League programmes The history of Australian Baseball by Joe Clark The Australian Baseball Federation Information collected through Norm’s scrap book Extract from Night Baseball League programme season 1953/54 One of the State’s outstanding baseballers of the post-war-era, Chalky White has rendered yeoman service to his Adelaide and North Adelaide clubs and, the State and the game. Always a trier, irrespective of the state of the game, Chalky is a student of the sport and believes no situation is impossible until the last batter is dismissed. There is probably no keener baseballer in South Australia, and his enthusiasm for the game is contagious. Like many others, Chalky was a protégé of Ron Sharpe, to whom promotion of junior baseball was one of his greatest ambitions. Chalky has followed in steps of his mentor and has done grand work for schoolboy baseballers. His shift work as an engine driver in the South Australian Railways permits him to find available time during school hours. It was a common sight to see his motor car filled with lads and baseball equipment and to see school teams playing under the guidance of Chalky White. Chalky started his career at Goodwood Technical School in 1940 as a pitcher. He was captain of the school team and also played with Goodwood Baseball Club’s Minor B team. He won the 1940 Alex Smith medal for the best schoolboy player in the competition. By the end of the following season he had been promoted to Goodwood’s top side as a first baseman, a position he occupied until1945, when his mentor, Ron Sharpe advised him to play outfield and also changed his batting style. Chalky has never regretted taking this advice. He transferred to the Adelaide Club in 1946, and manned the outfield continuously for Adelaide until he retired. Chalky was selected to play in his first State team in 1946 when South Australia played a special series against Western Australia in Perth. This was the beginning of a long run of Interstate representation for the State. He played in his first Claxton Shield series in 1947. He was one of a few baseballers from South Australia at the time to have played representative baseball in every State of the commonwealth since 1947. Chalky achieved his ambition last year in Brisbane when he was selected in the 1953 all-Australian team. During the later war years, the Victorian Baseball Association hosted special baseball games featuring American soldiers. South Australia also had a special midweek competition during 1944 which teenage Chalky White, a future Olympian, played in, 1 Chalky recalls: “We used to play midweek baseball games against the army and every now and again we’d play against an American service’s team. The servicemen came from the Sandy Creek US army camp. We also had a midweek competition between the police and the army at Wayville Showgrounds. That was a team of players my age (19 years old) and older”, with a few of the older ones playing baseball on a Wednesday afternoon”. Chalky is a runner of sufficient ability to have three times won the railways loco handicap off the scratch mark. His fleetness of foot has characterized his play in the outfield and on running the bases. Chalky’s base running is not only brilliant, but almost amounts to audacious in some of his “steals”. That speed has also assisted to make position for outfield catches which appeared impossible. Five times winner of the Baseball Leagues base running event. Chalky clocked 14.5 seconds as his best effort. Not bad for 120 yards round the bases. Chalky has always been a batter of great potential and some of his big hits are amazing for one so small in stature. A left hander, he can hit to right or left fields, and is a difficult batter to anticipate in field placement. A punishing left-hand bat at cricket, and useful bowler, Chalky’s employment has not permitted him to play other than spasmodic cricket. On a number of occasions in the 1940’s he has helped to pull Goodwood Baseballers cricket team out of trouble. Not yet 30 years of age, Chalky White has plenty of good baseball in his bag. When he does retire from the game, its “peanuts to a gooseberry” that junior baseball will retain a hardworking enthusiastic mentor. Enthusiasm of the nature shown by Chalky will not die with his retirement from active play. In all his years playing with Adelaide, Chalky only managed to play in one grand final. That was in 1947. The Grand Final was played against West Torrens on the Unley Oval. Adelaide lost the final 6 runs to one. Chalky did his best getting two safe hits for the game, but Torrens defence was too strong as they only allowed the one run. 2 For the winners, Dooland pitched splendidly, and was ably supported by Phil Brideoke in the mask. Stewart led the team in batting, while Branstrom gave his usual fine display at first base. Colin Watts played a very fine game for Adelaide, while McConnell at first and Chalky White with the bat were the best of the others. He had a little better outcome appearing in in three Grand finals (1953/54, 1954/55 and 1955/56) with North Adelaide. Unfortunately, Norm missed out on a premiership because North lost all three of the grand finals. Following are a number of newspaper articles featuring information on Chalky’s baseball career. These articles were found through googling “Trove” newspapers. The Adelaide Mail – Saturday evening the 14th May 1949. “By Baseballer” Norman “Chalky” White achieved a rare feat for Adelaide against Goodwood in a senior baseball match this afternoon played in the south parklands. In his team’s second innings he slammed a mighty home run over right field’s head, with all bases loaded. This is known throughout the baseball world as a “baseballers’ dream”, or grand slam. 3 The Adelaide Advertiser-Monday the 15th August 1949. “Jet White” By Assist Although black is black and that is that, some things are often termed “jet black” because of their apparent depth of capacity. “Jet white” therefore would seem illogical, but this soubriquet was earned by Norm White, South Australian baseball outfielder during the recent series played in Melbourne. It appears that Norm,(or “Chalky “ for obvious reasons) failed to take what his team mates thought was a relatively simple catch from a high fly from Ken Gulliver, former NSW Sheffield Shield captain. On being taxed with this point of view, Norm offered the naïve explanation that the ball and the vapour trail from an RAAF jet fighter plane became mixed up and his attention was momentarily diverted. He thus became “Jet White” for the remainder of the series, and because his team mates then were his friendly rivals in club games back in Adelaide, he may have a hard time to live it down The Adelaide Advertiser- Thursday the 4th December 1952 Baseball notes North Adelaide is still undefeated in the night baseball series as a result of last Wednesday’s win over 4 Norwood by 1 run. Much of the credit for the win goes to Bruce Southwell who pitched for the whole game. Bruce was ably assisted by Norm (Chalky) White who received full points for the best in the News Trophy. Norm has been the outstanding base runner of the series to date, every time he makes first he always steels to second. His outfield play also has been top class. The Adelaide Advertiser Wednesday 11th March 1953. Lecturing schoolboys about baseball By HOME RUN Inconvenience caused by an appendix operation has not dampened the enthusiasm of “Chalky “White, North Adelaide star player in the night baseball league, writes HOME RUN. While still on the in-active list, Chalky is spending his time away from baseball lecturing at a number of primary schools on the merits of playing baseball. The Adelaide Advertiser Saturday 29th August 1953 Schoolboy Baseball During Show Week By HOME RUN Several baseball games will be played during Show Week between teams chosen from the combined 5 Mount Gambier Primary Schools and boys attending Adelaide schools. The manager of the Adelaide primary schools team is Norm “Chalky” White a member of this year’s State baseball team who was also chosen in the Australian Baseball Federation team. The Adelaide Advertiser Thursday 29th October 1953 Spectacular Start For Baseball BY BILL RADBONE The 1953/54 night baseball season had a spectacular opening at Norwood Oval last night, with a colourful parade of the six teams and a powerful home run by Norm ”Chalky”) White of North Adelaide. A crowd estimated to be equal to last season’s opening night crowd of 6,000, saw last night’s series. White’s home-run won him a 44- gallon drum of petrol from the sponsor of an advertisement on the home run fence The first game ended in a dray between Sturt Tigers and Goodwood Indians, which hit the tying run seconds before the siren in a sensational finish. North had a fairly easy win over the new-formed Woodville Magpies in the second game. The Adelaide Advertiser Monday 15th March 1954 6 North beat Norwood in baseball semi-final By HOME RUN In winning 9-2 North treated spectators to one of the season’s finest exhibitions of all round baseball, which must make North favourite for the grand final.