One hundred years before players took to the field, and on the opposite side of the world is where you'll find the origin story of Whittaker's Peanut Slab Baseball.
In 1868, John Henry Whittaker is born in Macclesfield, England. By age 14, he is employed by Cadbury's where he learns the trade of chocolate inside out. By 1890, he makes the voyage to New Zealand via Sydney on the `Valetta' and the `Wakatipu',
presumably to act as a salesman for Cadbury's but in reality he had greater things in mind.
By 1896, he established the company that still stands today, selling his own chocolate out of the back of a horse and cart. A business he would continue to grow until his death in 1947. When his children took over, they continued his work to peddle chocolate and sweets into the mouths of New Zealanders. During the 1950's, they released the defining product of their company: the Peanut Slab.
This heavenly combination of chocolate and peanut won over the hearts and minds of Kiwis but Whittaker's still faced stiff competition from companies like Cadbury's and when Cadbury's introduced the Creme Egg in 1963 they knew they were in trouble.
What followed was a bold attempt by Whittaker's to establish themselves as the premier Chocolatier in the eyes of New Zealand. That came through the introduction of new products and various marketing schemes: including establishing a nationwide baseball league.
The sport of baseball had exploded in popularity the last decade and Whittakers were keen to get into the action. They scouted players and potential owners until finally in 1970, they had all their ducks lined up in a row for the first season of
Whittaker's Peanut Slab Baseball.
Ten teams from across the country will take part in two divisions over a 80 game season. The winners of each division will take part in a seven game series to determine the ultimate winner of the Peanut Slab.
The charter teams were such:
Pohutukawa Division
Auckland Sharks
Bay of Plenty Steam
Hawkes Bay Moonshots
Taranaki Thunder
Waikato Morepork
Kowhai Division
Canterbury Knights
Manawatu Vikings
Otago Penguins
Southland Stags
Wellington Bees
