Greater Brisbane League

The Greater Brisbane League or formerly the Greater Brisbane Baseball Board league (GB3) is the largest baseball league in the Australian state of Queensland and covers all teams from Brisbane North, South, West, Metro as well as three Gold Coast teams. These are from age groups Little League (U12) through to seniors. It is run by the governing body of Baseball Queensland.[1]

Greater Brisbane League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event Greater Brisbane League 2020–21
SportBaseball
Founded1946
FounderBaseball Queensland
No. of teams20 (9 Div 1&2 teams)
CountryAustralia
Most recent
champion(s)		Pine Rivers Rapids
Related
competitions		Claxton Shield
Official websitehttp://www.qld.baseball.com.au

To participate in the Greater Brisbane Major League, clubs must meet certain criteria set by Baseball Queensland. Generally the hardest criteria for clubs to meet is to field a team in the junior age levels U14's, U16's and U20's. When this criterion is not met, senior teams may only compete in the South Queensland Baseball League or Pacific League competition.

The GBL consists of six senior division teams from Major/Pacific League A and B through to South Queensland League A-C and a separate Masters competition. Juniors consist of an U20 competition, division one and two U16 and a division one and two U14 competitions. U8, U10 and U12 competitions are run by their respective regions and are non-divisional.[2]

History
See also: List of Greater Brisbane League seasons

The Greater Brisbane League was originally known as the Queensland Baseball Association fixtures, which began in 1946 when six teams entered the competition playing primarily at New Farm Park, Kalinga Park, Langlands Park, Perry Park and the Brisbane Exhibition Ground. Uniforms were made out of surplus army uniforms and teams made up of many American ex-pat soldiers from World War II and A-Grade cricketers to keep game fit during the off-season.[3]

Format

The current format of the league consists of six divisions as well as a concurrently run 'masters' division for players aged over 35 and women's competition. The competition is scheduled to last 16–20 rounds played on Fridays and Sundays between the first week of October with the playoffs finishing prior to Easter.

Rounds played in Division 1 see teams match up twice in the round, usually on a Friday followed by Sunday. Rainouts are made up mid-week if possible. Division 2 is fixtured essentially as a reserve team for Division 1, playing the same club match ups prior to the Sunday game.

Clubs who do not field a Division 1 team may field individual teams in Division 3–6.

Playoffs are a top four McIntyre system, with Division 1 playing a best of three series to determine winners.

Teams

Clubs currently in the Greater Brisbane League are:

Division Team Based Field
Gold Coast Coomera Cubs Baseball Club Coomera Gambamora Park [4]
Mudgeeraba Redsox Mudgeeraba Firth Park [5]
Surfers Paradise Benowa Sir Bruce Small Park [6]
Brisbane South Mt Gravatt Eagles Mackenzie Weedon Street [7]
Beenleigh Hawks Beenleigh T E Costigan Field [8]
Runcorn Indians Runcorn Dew Street [9]
Redlands Sheldon John Murray Field [10]
Brisbane West Ipswich Musketeers Tivoli Church Street [11]
Western Districts Bulldogs Darra Atthows Park [12]
Toowoomba Rangers Toowoomba Commonwealth Oval [13]
Southern Stars Browns Plains Regency Park
Sunshine Coast Sunshine Coast* Mudjimba Mudjimba Multisports Complex
The Mackerels Baseball Club** Maroochydore Elizabeth Daniels Fields, Maroochydore Cricket club
Brisbane North Narangba Demons Narangba Narangba Sport & Recreation Complex [14]
Redcliffe Padres Redcliffe Talobilla Park [15]
Pine Rivers Rapids Bray Park Les Hughes Sporting Complex -
Brisbane Metro All Stars Hendra Bannister Park [16]
Carina Redsox Carina Foley Field [17]
Pine Hills Lightning Bunya James Drysdale Reserve [18]
Windsor Royals Newmarket Holloway Field [19]

*Sunshine Coast only field junior (non GBL competitors) and women's teams (GBL competitors)

**The Mackerels Baseball Club currently fields players 11 years to 17 years of age in association with Narangba Demons as the club was established in July 2020 with support from Baseball Qld.

Below is a map indicating the locations of all eighteen teams competing in the Greater Brisbane League competition. The Brisbane CBD is represented by the black square. Also note Toowoomba is located off the map to the west:

All Stars
Carina Redsox
Toowoomba Rangers
Mt Gravatt Eagles
Redlands
Logan Sharks
Southern Stars
Beenleigh Hawks
Mudgeeraba Redsox

Commissioners Cup

The Commissioners Cup or Commissioners Shield is an annual, end of year event that usually coincides with the Christmas break of the season. It is a one off game in Major A, B and C grades between the current Greater Brisbane League leaders of the Northside and the Southside.

Major A standings are on win percentage, whereas Major B and C-Grade standings are on points.

Major League Criteria

The basics to qualifying for Major League criteria, clubs must have a minimum of:

  • 27 senior registered players excluding U18's, in at least the Major A, B and C grades
  • 60 junior registered players
  • One team in each of the Baseball Queensland U14, U16 and U20 competitions; together with a minimum of one team in each of Little League, U8 and U10
  • One level 1 accredited coach to each team: LL, U14, U16, U20 and all senior teams
  • One accredited scorer and umpire for all junior and senior games

Champions
See: List of Greater Brisbane League seasons#Greater Brisbane League

Media coverage

The Greater Brisbane League is covered across many media sources from Quest Community Newspapers including the Redcliffe and Bayside Herald,[20] Caboolture Shire Herald,[21] Albert and Logan News,[22] Pine Rivers Press,[23] Northern Times,[24] and the Logan West Leader,[25] as well as many other regional newspapers such as the Hinterland Grapevine,[26] The Sunshine Coast Daily,[27] Gold Coast Bulletin,[28] Benowa Garden News,[29] and the Mudgee Guardian.[30]

Major League results are also covered by the television network 7 and more in depth results are covered by The Sunday Mail and The Courier Mail.[31]

See also

References
  1. "Baseball Queensland". Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
  2. Baseball Queensland Competitions
  3. Harris, J.O (2009). Queensland Baseball 1905-1990.
  4. Coomera Cubs Baseball Club
  5. Robina Braves Baseball Club
  6. Surfers Baseball
  7. "Eagles Baseball Club". Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
  8. "Beenleigh Baseball Club". Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
  9. Runcorn Indians Baseball Club
  10. "Redlands Baseball Club". Archived from the original on 3 September 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
  11. "Musketeers Baseball Club". Archived from the original on 18 November 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
  12. Wests Baseball Club
  13. Rangers Baseball Club
  14. Narangba Demons Baseball Club
  15. "Redcliffe Padres Baseball Club". Archived from the original on 18 December 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
  16. All Stars Baseball Club
  17. "Carina Baseball Club". Archived from the original on 7 January 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
  18. Pine Hills Baseball Club
  19. Windsor Baseball Club
  20. "Land, K. (30 October 2008). Padres Thump All Stars. Redcliffe and Bayside Herald". Archived from the original on 19 September 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
  21. "News Photos - Narangba vs Beenleigh". Archived from the original on 26 October 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
  22. Hawks Lack Edge Archived 2 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine 27 November 2008 Albert & Logan News
  23. Whiting, M. (3 February 2009) Hot Lightning strike finals Archived 26 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine Pine Rivers Press
  24. Trio in world spotlight Archived 2 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine (30 January 2009). Northern Times
  25. O'Neill, R. (20 November 2008). Ipswich Blue fall to in-form Stars U12s Archived 10 July 2012 at archive.today Logan West Leader
  26. Fawkes, L. (16 November 2006). 14 year-old chosen to represent Australia. Hinterland GrapeVine
  27. Tuxworth, J. (16 May 2006). Overseas ticket a tough pitch to Hass. Sunshine Coast Daily
  28. Galliott, E. J. (2 November 2008). Japanese return for Masters glory and fun. Gold Coast Bulletin.
  29. Williams, J. (2007, 10 February). Benowa big leagues. Benowa Garden News, p.4.
  30. Mahoney, D. (16 November 2008). Mudgee hot for Redsox. Mudgee Guardian, p.45.
  31. Queensland Major League Results. (7 December 2008). The Sunday Mail
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