1998–99 Australian Baseball League season
The 1998–99 Australian Baseball League season was the 10th season of the original Australian Baseball League, contested between six teams representing state and regional capitals: Adelaide Giants, Gold Coast Cougars, Melbourne Monarchs, Melbourne Reds, Perth Heat and Sydney Storm. The championship was won by the Gold Coast Cougars, who defeated the Sydney Storm in 2 games in the championship series at the Sydney Showground Stadium. The Adelaide Giants finished the season on top of the ladder but were knocked out in Semi-final 1 by the Sydney Storm.
| 1998–99 Australian Baseball League season | |
|---|---|
| League | Australian Baseball League |
| Sport | Baseball |
| Duration | 17 October 1998 – 13 February 1999 |
| Number of games | 132 |
| Number of teams | 8 |
| Regular season | |
| Season MVP | Adam Burton (Melbourne Reds) |
| Finals series | |
| Venue | Sydney Showground Stadium |
| Champions | Gold Coast Cougars (1st title) |
| Runners-up | Sydney Storm |
All play-off games in the 1998–99 ABL season were held at the then-recently completed Sydney Showground,[1] which was to become the main venue for baseball at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
1998–99 was the final season of the original Australian Baseball League. At the completion of the season the rights to the league were purchased by Dave Nilsson who then attempted to form the International Baseball League of Australia.
Teams
Only 6 of the 8 teams from the previous season returned, The Hunter Eagles and Brisbane Bandits were both unable to continue in the league due to increasing financial pressure.
Rosters
During the regular season each team made use of an active roster of 22–24 men, with a maximum of 4 import players.
Adelaide Giants
| Adelaide Giants roster - 1998–99 ABL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Active roster | |||
| Pitchers Right-handed pitchers
Left-handed pitchers
|
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
|
| |
| Current as of February 1999. | |||
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Melbourne Monarchs
| Melbourne Monarchs roster - 1998–99 ABL | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active roster | Coaching Staff | |||
| Pitchers Right-handed pitchers
Left-handed pitchers
|
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
|
Manager
Coaches
| ||
| Current as of February 1999.[2] | ||||
Melbourne Reds
| Melbourne Reds roster - 1998–99 ABL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Active roster | |||
| Pitchers Right-handed pitchers
Left-handed pitchers
|
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
|
| |
| Current as of February 1999. | |||
Sydney Storm
| Sydney Storm roster - 1997–98 ABL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Active roster | |||
| Pitchers Right-handed pitchers
Left-handed pitchers
|
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
|
| |
| Current as of February 1998. Incomplete | |||
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Venues
Match results
| † | Clinched final berth |
| Team[3] | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide Giants† | 28 | 17 | .622 | - | 15-9 | 13–8 |
| Gold Coast Cougars† | 24 | 20 | .545 | 31⁄2 | 16–10 | 8–10 |
| Melbourne Monarchs† | 22 | 22 | .500 | 51⁄2 | 13–8 | 9–14 |
| Sydney Storm† | 21 | 22 | .488 | 6 | 13–10 | 8–12 |
| Melbourne Reds | 20 | 23 | .465 | 7 | 15–8 | 5–15 |
| Perth Heat | 17 | 28 | .378 | 11 | 12–9 | 5–19 |
Top 10 Stats
|
|
Postseason
Finals series at Sydney Showground Stadium
The 1999 Postseason was held at the newly constructed Sydney Showground Stadium, The Showgrounds Stadium was to be the main venue for Baseball at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
The Postseason followed a 3-game Semi-final playoff format, 1st vs 4th and 2nd vs 3rd. The winners of the two Semi-finals series then played off in a 3-game Championship series.
Game 1: 10 February 1999
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney Storm | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Adelaide Giants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ? | ? | ? | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Starting pitchers: Storm: C. Anderson Giants: S. Bennett WP: C. Anderson (1–0) LP: S. Bennett (0–1) Sv: C. Lewis Home runs: Storm: G. White, C. Snelling Giants: D. Phillips Attendance: 1,500[4] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 2: 10 February 1999
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney Storm | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Adelaide Giants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Starting pitchers: Storm: G Glover Giants: M. Herges WP: G Glover (1–0) LP: M. Herges (0–1) Sv: G. Cassel Home runs: Storm: - Giants: - Attendance: 1,500[5] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 1: 11 February 1999
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne Monarchs | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Gold Coast Cougars | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: ? (1–0) LP: ? (0–1) Sv: ? Home runs: Monarchs: ? Cougars: ? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 2: 11 February 1999
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne Monarchs | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Gold Coast Cougars | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: ? (1–0) LP: ? (0–1) Sv: ? Home runs: Monarchs: ? Cougars: ? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Awards
| Award | Person | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Most Valuable Player | Adam BURTON | Melbourne Reds |
| Championship M.V.P. | Paul GORMAN | Gold Coast Cougars |
| Golden Glove | Gary WHITE | Sydney Storm |
| Batting Champion | Adam BURTON | Melbourne Reds |
| Pitcher of the Year | Pat Ahearne | Perth Heat |
| Rookie of the Year | Clinton BALGERA | Perth Heat |
| Manager of the Year |
All-Star Team
| Position | Name | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Catcher | Gary WHITE | Sydney Storm |
| 1st Base | Andrew SCOTT | Adelaide Giants |
| 2nd Base | Adam BURTON | Melbourne Reds |
| 3rd Base | Paul GONZALEZ | Melbourne Monarchs |
| Short Stop | Matt BUCKLEY | Sydney Storm |
| Out Field | Brandon POLLARD | Gold Coast Cougars |
| Out Field | Matt Quatraro | Melbourne Reds |
| Out Field | Chip SELL | Adelaide Giants |
| Designated Hitter | Craig WATTS | Adelaide Giants |
| Starting Pitcher | Pat Ahearne | Perth Heat |
| Relief Pitcher | John CHALLINOR | Adelaide Giants |
| Manager | Tony HARRIS | Adelaide Giants |
References
- Flintoff, P. (1999?) Flintoff & Dunn's Australian Major League Baseball – The First 10 Years Archived 23 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed on 28 July 2010.
- "Melbourne Monarchs Roster". Melbourne Monarchs. Archived from the original on 22 April 1999. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- "FINAL FAI CUP STANDINGS". Australian Baseball League. Sydney Storm. Archived from the original on 29 April 1999. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - "FAI CUP – Playoff 1 Game 1". Sydney Storm. Archived from the original on 29 April 1999. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
- "FAI CUP – Playoff 1 Game 2". Sydney Storm. Archived from the original on 29 April 1999. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
- "FAI CUP – Championship Game 1". Sydney Storm. Archived from the original on 29 April 1999. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
- "FAI CUP – Championship Game 2". Sydney Storm. Archived from the original on 29 April 1999. Retrieved 12 February 2013.