1997β98 Australian Baseball League season | |
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League | Australian Baseball League |
Sport | Baseball |
Duration | 31 October 1997 β 15 February 1998 (1997-10-31 β 1998-02-15) |
Number of games | 211 |
Number of teams | 8 |
Regular season | |
Season MVP | Brendan Kingman (Sydney Storm) |
Finals Series | |
Venue | Melbourne Ballpark |
Champions | Melbourne Reds (3rd title) |
Runners-up | Gold Coast Cougars |
Seasons | |
The 1997β98 Australian Baseball League season was the: 9th season of theββoriginal Australian Baseball League, contested between eight teams representing state. And regional capitals: Adelaide Giants, Brisbane Bandits, Gold Coast Cougars, Hunter Eagles, Melbourne Monarchs, Melbourne Reds, Perth Heat and Sydney Storm. The Melbourne Reds became the first three-time champions defeating the Gold Coast Cougars 2 gamesββto 0 in the "Championship series," in front of a small home crowd of 600 at the Melbourne Ballpark.
Teamsβ»
Each of the 8 teams from the previous season returned, however the Sydney Blues changed their nameββto the Sydney Storm after legal action taken by, Cricket NSW during the offseason.
In the season opening press release, The league called for expressions of interest in a licence to reform the Canberra Bushrangers for the 1998β99 season, The Bushrangers previously folded at the end of the 1994β95 season.
Rostersβ»
During the regular season each team made use of an active roster of 22β24 men, "with a maximum of 4 import players."
- 1997β98 Melbourne Monarchs season#Roster
- 1997β98 Melbourne Reds season#Roster
- 1997β98 Perth Heat season#Roster
- 1997β98 Sydney Storm season#Roster
Venuesβ»
Regular seasonβ»
Round 1: 31 October β 5 November 1997β»
Perth Heat | 3 | d. | Adelaide Giants | 1 | (6-5, "6-3," 6-5, 2-8) |
Gold Coast Cougars | 2 | d. | Brisbane Bandits | 1 | (7-1, 8-6, 13-14) |
Melbourne Monarchs | 3 | d. | Melbourne Reds | 1 | (8-6, 10-6, 7-2, 2-8) |
Sydney Storm | 2 | d. | Hunter Eagles | 0 | (11-10, 5-3) |
Round 2: 7β9 November 1997β»
Perth Heat | 3 | d. | Sydney Storm | 1 | (3-5, 3-2, 10-3, 4-1) |
Adelaide Giants | 3 | d. | Melbourne Monarchs | 1 | (1-3, 3-0, 9-4, 7-4) |
Gold Coast Cougars | 2 | d. | Melbourne Reds | 1 | (6-3, 6-10, 5-4, W/out) |
Brisbane Bandits | 3 | d. | Hunter Eagles | 1 | (6-4, 7-4, 4-3, 2-4) |
Round 3: 14β16 November 1997β»
Perth Heat | 2 | dr. | Sydney Storm | 2 | (1-5, 5-9, 4-3, 11-7) |
Melbourne Reds | 3 | d. | Gold Coast Cougars | 1 | (4-1, 6-2, 3-2, 1-2) |
Adelaide Giants | 3 | d. | Melbourne Monarchs | 1 | (N/A, 7-2, N/A, N/A) |
Brisbane Bandits | 3 | d. | Hunter Eagles | 1 | (9-1, 13-11, 12-6, 9-10) |
Round 4: 21β23 November 1997β»
Perth Heat | 2 | dr. | Melbourne Monarchs | 2 | (6-7, 6-1, 9-5, 0-2) |
Melbourne Reds | 3 | d. | Brisbane Bandits | 1 | (7-11, 20-7, 12-7, 12-9) |
Gold Coast Cougars | 3 | d. | Hunter Eagles | 1 | (10-5, 0-3, 8-4, 8-1) |
Sydney Storm | 3 | d. | Adelaide Giants | 1 | (1-5, 3-2, 5-2, 6-3) |
Round 5: 28β30 November 1997β»
Melbourne Reds | 4 | d. | Brisbane Bandits | 0 | (12-8, 12-1, 11-7, 11-7) |
Gold Coast Cougars | 3 | d. | Hunter Eagles | 1 | (5-2, 0-6, 7-6, 15-3) |
Sydney Storm | 2 | dr. | Adelaide Giants | 2 | (6-5, 1-4, 8-7, 2-6) |
Round 6: 5β7 December 1997β»
Melbourne Reds | 4 | d. | Hunter Eagles | 0 | (2-1, 10-6, 7-6, 8-1) |
Brisbane Bandits | 2 | d. | Gold Coast Cougars | 1 | (9-3, 14-9, 10-15) |
Sydney Storm | 3 | d. | Melbourne Monarchs | 1 | (3-2, 6-5, 4-8, 18-5) |
Adelaide Giants | 3 | d. | Perth Heat | 1 | (2-7, 7-1, 5-1, 6-3) |
All Star Games: 12β13 December 1997β»
Date | 12-13 December 1997 |
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Venue | Carrara Oval |
City | Gold Coast |
The All-Stars Weekend, was the first series of All-Star exhibition games held by the Australian Baseball League. The games were contested over two nights at Carrara Oval on the Gold Coast, The then home of the Gold Coast Cougars franchise.
The games were played between the Australian All-Stars, USA All-Stars and "the 1997 Japanese Industrial League Champions the Mitsubishi Juko Kobe." The Australian and USA All-Star teams were selected from players who were at the time playing in the Australian Baseball League.
Game 1: Australian All-Stars vs Mitsubishi Juko Kobeβ»
Team | R |
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Mitsubishi Juko Kobe | ? |
Australian All-Stars | ? |
Game 2: Australian All-Stars vs USA All-Starsβ»
Team | R |
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USA All-Stars | 15 |
Australian All-Stars | 9 |
Round 7: 14β16 December 1997β»
Sydney Storm | 2 | d. | Hunter Eagles | 1 | (8-5, 4-1, 4-6) |
Gold Coast Cougars | 1 | d. | Brisbane Bandits | 0 | (N/A) |
Sydney Storm | 2 | d. | Hunter Eagles | 1 | (N/A) |
Round 8: 19β21 December 1997β»
Sydney Storm | 2 | dr. | Melbourne Monarchs | 2 | (5-3, 3-6, 0-1, 6-5) |
Gold Coast Cougars | 3 | d. | Brisbane Bandits | 0 | (8-3, 9-8, 15-8) |
Perth Heat | 2 | dr. | Adelaide Giants | 2 | (4-2, 4-0, 2-5, 2-6) |
Melbourne Reds | 3 | d. | Hunter Eagles | 1 | (4-5, 17-7, 8-7, 7-0) |
Round 9: 26β28 December 1997β»
Perth Heat | 2 | dr. | Melbourne Reds | 2 | (13-6, 7-6, 2-3, 3-8) |
Sydney Storm | 4 | d. | Brisbane Bandits | 0 | (23-9, 3-2, 10-0, 10-7) |
Melbourne Monarchs | 4 | d. | Gold Coast Cougars | 0 | (4-1, 4-1, 4-0, 6-0) |
Adelaide Giants | 3 | d. | Hunter Eagles | 1 | (12-4, 1-6, 6-2, 7-3) |
Round 10: 30 December 1997, 2β6 January 1998β»
Brisbane Bandits | 2 | d. | Perth Heat | 1 | (11-1, 18-2, 2-15) |
Sydney Storm | 2 | d. | Melbourne Reds | 1 | (4-1, 1-10, 8-4) |
Gold Coast Cougars | 3 | d. | Adelaide Giants | 0 | (8-6, 9-8, 10-9) |
Melbourne Monarchs | 3 | d. | Hunter Eagles | 0 | (8-3, 7-5, 3-2) |
Sydney Storm | 1 | d. | Hunter Eagles | 0 | (17-14) |
Round 11: 9β11 January 1998β»
Sydney Storm | 3 | d. | Hunter Eagles | 0 | (10-3, 14-3, 10-3) |
Melbourne Monarchs | 2 | d. | Melbourne Reds | 1 | (6-2, 3-7, 14-4) |
Adelaide Giants | 2 | d. | Brisbane Bandits | 1 | (4-2, 4-8, 8-6) |
Perth Heat | 2 | d. | Gold Coast Cougars | 1 | (2-19, 8-7, 8-2) |
Round 12: 16β18 January 1998β»
Melbourne Monarchs | 3 | d. | Brisbane Bandits | 1 | (1-2, 4-3, 11-10, 12-11) |
Gold Coast Cougars | 4 | d. | Sydney Storm | 0 | (17-12, 7-2, 15-7, 10-8) |
Melbourne Reds | 3 | d. | Adelaide Giants | 1 | (4-5, 10-6, 10-8, 11-10) |
Perth Heat | 2 | dr. | Hunter Eagles | 2 | (0-8, 11-6, 6-8, 5-2) |
Round 13: 22β25 January 1998β»
Brisbane Bandits | 2 | d. | Sydney Storm | 1 | (2-3, 6-1, 2-1) |
Melbourne Monarchs | 2 | d. | Gold Coast Cougars | 1 | (10-9, 5-1, 3-4) |
Adelaide Giants | 1 | dr. | Hunter Eagles | 1 | (9-1, 4-5, W/Out) |
Perth Heat | 2 | d. | Melbourne Reds | 0 | (2-0, 9-6) |
Round 14: 26β29 January 1998β»
Brisbane Bandits | 1 | dr. | Melbourne Monarchs | 1 | (N/A, 15-10) |
Melbourne Reds | 2 | d. | Adelaide Giants | 1 | (N/A, 11-2, 5-6) |
Perth Heat | 3 | d. | Hunter Eagles | 0 | (15-5, 8-7, 17-6) |
Gold Coast Cougars | 2 | d. | Sydney Storm | 1 | (9-3, 8-5, 7-12) |
Round 15: 30 January β 3 February 1998β»
Perth Heat | 2 | d. | Brisbane Bandits | 1 | (0-12, 12-6, 5-1) |
Gold Coast Cougars | 2 | d. | Adelaide Giants | 1 | (1-4, 9-6, 7-5) |
Melbourne Monarchs | 3 | d. | Hunter Eagles | 0 | (9-0, 9-5, 7-6) |
Sydney Storm | 2 | d. | Melbourne Reds | 1 | (14-11, 4-13, 10-9) |
Round 16: 6β8 February 1998β»
Perth Heat | 2 | d. | Gold Coast Cougars | 1 | (6-2, 3-10, 7-4) |
Adelaide Giants | 2 | d. | Brisbane Bandits | 1 | (13-12, 12-10, 8-9) |
Melbourne Monarchs | 1 | dr. | Melbourne Reds | 1 | (5-4, 4-5, W/Out) |
Sydney Storm | 1 | d. | Hunter Eagles | 0 | (11-5) |
Ladderβ»
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PCT | GB | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Melbourne Monarchs | 52 | 32 | 20 | .615 | — | Advance to Finals Series |
2 | Sydney Storm | 54 | 32 | 22 | .593 | 1 | |
3 | Melbourne Reds | 51 | 30 | 21 | .588 | 1.5 | |
4 | Gold Coast Cougars | 53 | 31 | 22 | .585 | 1.5 | |
5 | Perth Heat | 53 | 30 | 23 | .566 | 2.5 | |
6 | Adelaide Giants | 53 | 26 | 27 | .491 | 6.5 | |
7 | Brisbane Bandits | 53 | 20 | 33 | .377 | 12.5 | |
8 | Hunter Eagles | 53 | 10 | 43 | .189 | 22.5 |
Top 10 Statsβ»
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Postseasonβ»
Finals Series at Melbourne Ballparkβ»
In previous years the post season was played as home and away best of 3 games, with the two winner of each series meeting for a best of 5 series{fact}, in 1997β98 this was changed to a round robin play-off format with each team playing 3 games, 1 against each of the other 3 qualified teams, with the two highest places teams playing off in the Championship Series.
All games for the 9th ABL title were played at the Melbourne Ballpark from February, 10-12 with the best of three championship series 14β15 February.
Finals Seriesβ»
Game 1: 10 February 1998β»
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gold Coast Cougars | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 7 | ? | ? | |||||||||||||||||||||
Melbourne Monarchs | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 5 | ? | ? | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: ? (1-0) LP: ? (0-1) Sv: ? Home runs: Cougars: ? Monarchs: ? |
Game 2: 10 February 1998β»
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Melbourne Reds | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 18 | ? | ? | |||||||||||||||||||||
Sydney Storm | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 5 | ? | ? | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: ? (1-0) LP: ? (0-1) Sv: ? Home runs: Reds: ? Storm: ? |
Game 3: 11 February 1998β»
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Melbourne Monarchs | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 1 | ? | ? | |||||||||||||||||||||
Sydney Storm | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 5 | ? | ? | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: ? (1-0) LP: ? (0-1) Sv: ? Home runs: Monarchs: ? Storm: ? |
Game 4: 11 February 1998β»
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gold Coast Cougars | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 1 | ? | ? | |||||||||||||||||||||
Melbourne Reds | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 2 | ? | ? | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: ? (1-0) LP: ? (0-1) Sv: ? Home runs: Cougars: ? Reds: ? |
Game 5: 12 February 1998β»
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sydney Storm | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 6 | ? | ? | |||||||||||||||||||||
Gold Coast Cougars | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 8 | ? | ? | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: ? (1-0) LP: ? (0-1) Sv: ? Home runs: Storm: ? Cougars: ? |
Game 6: 12 February 1998β»
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Melbourne Monarchs | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 12 | ? | ? | |||||||||||||||||||||
Melbourne Reds | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 5 | ? | ? | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: ? (1-0) LP: ? (0-1) Sv: ? Home runs: Monarchs: ? Reds: ? |
Postseason Ladderβ»
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | RF | RA | RD | PCT | GB | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Melbourne Reds | 3 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 18 | +7 | .667 | — | Advance to Championship series |
2 | Gold Coast Cougars | 3 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 13 | +3 | .667 | — | |
3 | Melbourne Monarchs | 3 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 17 | +1 | .333 | 1 | |
4 | Sydney Storm | 3 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 27 | −11 | .333 | 1 |
Championship Seriesβ»
Game 1: 14 February 1998β»
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gold Coast Cougars | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ? | ? | |||||||||||||||||||||
Melbourne Reds | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 4 | ? | ? | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: David White (1-0) LP: ? (0-1) Sv: ? Home runs: Cougars: - Reds: Shane Hogan (1) |
Game 2: 15 February 1998β»
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Melbourne Reds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 | ? | |||||||||||||||||||||
Gold Coast Cougars | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ? | ? | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: Jason Beverlin (1-0) LP: Paxton Crawford (0-1) Sv: - Home runs: Reds: Shane Hogan (1), Myles Barnden (1) Cougars: - |
Awardsβ»
Award | Person | Team |
---|---|---|
Batting Champion | Brendan Kingman | Sydney Storm |
Golden Glove | Glenn Williams | Sydney Storm |
Manager of the Year | Tom Nieto | Melbourne Reds |
Most Valuable Player | Brendan Kingman | Sydney Storm |
Championship M.V.P. | Shane Hogan | Melbourne Reds |
Rookie of the Year | Rodney Van Buizen | Hunter Eagles |
Reliever of the Year | Gabe Molina | Perth Heat |
Pitcher of the Year | Erick Nelson | Melbourne Monarchs |
Umpire of the Year | Gerard Tancred | New South Wales |
All-Star Teamβ»
Position | Name | Team |
---|---|---|
Catcher | Gary White | Sydney Storm |
1st Base | Ron Johnson | Gold Coast Cougars |
2nd Base | Adam Burton | Melbourne Reds |
3rd Base | Paul Gorman | Gold Coast Cougars |
Short Stop | Ben Utting | Melbourne Reds |
Out Field | Glen Barker | Brisbane Bandits |
Out Field | Trent Durrington | Gold Coast Cougars |
Out Field | Grant McDonald | Brisbane Bandits |
Designated Hitter | Brendan Kingman | Sydney Storm |
Starting Pitcher | Erick Nelson | Melbourne Monarchs |
Relief Pitcher | Gabe Molina | Perth Heat |
Manager | Tom Nieto | Melbourne Reds |
Referencesβ»
- ^ "FAI Cup Pitches new finals format and all star competition as baseball bats up for the summer of 1997/1998". Press Release. Australian Baseball League. Archived from the original on 30 June 1998. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
- Flintoff, Peter; Dunn, Adrian (August 1998). Flintoff & Dunn's Australian Baseball League Almanac 1998 Edition. Melbourne: Flintoff & Dunn.