Prize Bat, Shawme Base Ball Club

This prize bat was awarded to the Shawme Base Ball Club of Sandwich, Massachusetts as part of the “Catholic Fair, November 28th, 1868.” The club, organized in 1867, reflects the early popularity of baseball in American communities following the Civil War.

The reference to a Catholic fair points to a significant shift in Sandwich’s population during the mid-1800s. The Boston & Sandwich Glass Company brought skilled workers from the United Kingdom and Europe, many of whom were Catholic, contributing to the growth of new religious and cultural communities in the town.

Objects like this bat connect recreation, labor, and identity. Baseball clubs provided opportunities for social life and community building, while events such as fairs supported emerging institutions and networks.