| 1998–99 Australian Baseball League season | |
|---|---|
| League | Australian Baseball League |
| Sport | Baseball |
| Duration | 17 October 1998 – 13 February 1999 (1998-10-17 –1999-02-13) |
| Games | 132 |
| 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 |
| Seasons | |
1999–2000 → | |
The 1998–99Australian Baseball League season was the 10th season of the originalAustralian Baseball League, contested between six teams representing state and regional capitals:Adelaide Giants,Gold Coast Cougars,Melbourne Monarchs,Melbourne Reds,Perth Heat andSydney Storm. The championship was won by theGold Coast Cougars, who defeated theSydney Storm in 2 games in the championship series at theSydney Showground Stadium. TheAdelaide Giants finished the season on top of the ladder but were knocked out in Semi-final 1 by the 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 the2000 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 byDave Nilsson who then attempted to form theInternational Baseball League of Australia.
Only 6 of the 8 teams from the previous season returned, TheHunter Eagles andBrisbane Bandits were both unable to continue in the league due to increasing financial pressure.
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 roster – 1998–99 ABL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Active roster | |||
| Pitchers Right-handed pitchers
Left-handed pitchers | Catchers Infielders Outfielders
| ||
| Current as of February 1999. | |||
| 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 roster – 1998–99 ABL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Active roster | |||
| Pitchers Right-handed pitchers Left-handed pitchers | Catchers Infielders Outfielders
| ||
| Current as of February 1999. | |||
| Sydney Storm roster – 1997–98 ABL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Active roster | |||
| Pitchers Right-handed pitchers
Left-handed pitchers | Catchers
Infielders Outfielders
| ||
| Current as of February 1998.Incomplete | |||
| † | 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 |
|
|
The 1999 Postseason was held at the newly constructedSydney Showground Stadium, The Showgrounds Stadium was to be the main venue for Baseball at theSydney 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.
| 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] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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: ? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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: ? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney Storm | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Gold Coast Cougars | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Starting pitchers: Storm: C. Lawrence Cougars: K. Calvert WP: A. Meagher (1–0) LP: G. Cassel (0–1) Sv: nill Home runs: Storm: - Cougars: R. Jonhnson, B. Pollard, P. Gorman Attendance: 3,120[6] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney Storm | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 13 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Gold Coast Cougars | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | - | 14 | 9 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Starting pitchers: Storm: C. Lewis Cougars: P. Brassington WP: P. Brassington (1–0) LP: S. Pepper (0–1) Sv: nill Home runs: Storm: S. Tunkin, G. White (2) Cougars: S. Hinton, A. Pearce Attendance: 5,600[7] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 |
| 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 |
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