Australian Baseball League

[LostDoggy]

Not a massive fan of the sport, but don't mind watching a game if it's on TV.

Heard the Ceo of the new Australian Baseball League on SEN today, talking about the new league being launched later this year. I remember a league with the old Monarchs from years ago, but the sport seems to have gone by the way side since. Australia does have it's fair share of pro players abroad & with the new league starting, it could really kick start something bigger.

The catch with this new league, is the fact that Major League Baseball are going to help fund it all. They're investing in the league & will be providing players as well, be it Australians or young prospects from the states.

Interesting times ahead for Baseball.




Official website link.

http://www.theabl.com.au/

[Flamethrower]

Re: Australian Baseball League

I am a huge baseball fan (as anyone who knows me will attest) and former player, so I am looking forward to the second coming of the Australian Baseball League

It will be interesting to see how version 2 of the ABL goes. I was a foundation member of the Melbourne Monarchs and have good memories of the league that lasted for over a decade from 1989/90 until financial pressures and September 11 combined to put the league into hiatus.

Major League Baseball was heavily involved in the ABL, with all of the Australian clubs having a US affiliate. The American clubs sent out a small number of Minor League players (usually 4) to play "Winter Ball", and a good number of them went on to play in the Majors. Kevin Millwood is probably the best known and most successful of these.

The biggest hurdle for the original ABL were the lack of baseball only facilities. Most of the teams played at converted AFL and NRL grounds - Waverley, Moorabbin, Cramer Street in Preston, Norwood Oval, WACA, Whitten Oval, Parramatta Stadium etc

Then there was Altona - a baseball only facility that was built for the 1996 Melbourne Olympic Bid bud left not even half finished when the bid failed. Had the ground been finished it would have rivalled many AAA ballparks in the USA, had an off ramp from the freeway and a railway station built. In fact the ballpark sitting there today was only going to be a secondary ground - the main stadium was to be built next to it with a capacity of closer to 15,000 with an all grass infield, and better protection from the southerly winds that prevail.

Money was always a major problem too, as way too much was spent expecting the league to rival the NBL and hoping to attract Major League players during their offseason. They should have been happy with being on a par with a strong single A level minor league competition. September 11 happened at the worst possible time for the league too, as all of a sudden MLB teams stopped sending their players overseas for Winter Ball just when the league was shaky and needed better support - despite former Australian Major Leaguer Dave Nilsson trying to give the league some life support with his MLB contacts and financial backing, it ended up being the death knell.

The best thing to come out of the original ABL is that it opened the eyes of the US teams as to how much talent there is down under. There have been hundreds of Australians playing professionally or at college level in the States since the beginning of the ABL. At last count we have had 28 Aussies play in the Majors.

There is a great website run by Adrian Dunn of the Herald Sun and Peter Flintoff that has info about Aussies playing in the US and the history of the ABL. http://www.pflintoff.com/

[GVGjr]

Re: Australian Baseball League

I am a huge baseball fan (as anyone who knows me will attest) and former player, so I am looking forward to the second coming of the Australian Baseball League

It's a fascinating sport full of statistics and tradition but it moves a bit slow for my liking. I used to go and watch the Waverly Reds for a while and enjoyed it. I'm sorry to say that I would be surprised if the Australian League was a long term success though.

Do you get involved in reading about the history of the game because there has been some great books? That Moneyball book about the Oakland A's was an interesting read for me.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Australian Baseball League

Love the game followed the Monarchs regular visitor to Altona. Unfortunately the stadium was very fan unfriendly freezing conditions mostly and infested with mozzies on hot nights!I'll be heading out to follow the New Franchise and hopefully it's successful.

[SonofScray]

Re: Australian Baseball League

Still have a signed ball from Pookie Wilson somewhere. Not a big baseball man but I like to check all sports out for something to do so I'll head along, buy a shirt etc to support it.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Australian Baseball League

I used to go watch the Waverley Reds out at VFL Park. Even in Summer it was cold there.

[Desipura]

Re: Australian Baseball League

I heard on SEN a new team called the Melbourne Aces will be playing this season. Is that correct?

[LostDoggy]

Re: Australian Baseball League

I heard on SEN a new team called the Melbourne Aces will be playing this season. Is that correct?

Yep that is correct.

The link i provided in the first post, has all the teams websites in there.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Australian Baseball League

Interesting the last part of the article.

Adrian Dunn From:Herald Sun
August 06, 2010

MELBOURNE Aces is the name of the new Melbourne team in the revamped Australian Baseball League.

While the names of all teams were announced yesterday, there was no news on where the Aces would play.

It had been hoped that Victoria Park would host some games, but Yarra council vetoed those plans.

Plans to play at Etihad Stadium were scuttled because of the cost and an upgrade of the Waverley Baseball Club, the most successful in Victoria, surprisingly failed to gain any traction.

La Trobe University and Geelong have been mooted as likely venues and even Altona - long considered not a viable option - is back in the mix.

A manager of the Melbourne Aces is expected to be announced next month. Phil Dale, who led Victoria to the Claxton Shield earlier this year, is short-priced favourite.

The Melbourne Aces will be joined by the Adelaide Bite, Brisbane Bandits, Canberra Cavalry, Perth Heat and Sydney Blue Sox as the clubs in the rebirth of the ABL.

Brisbane and Perth have retained their names from the original ABL, which ran from 1989-99, while Melbourne chose to recognise the Victorian Aces, which won three Claxton Shields from 2002-10.

The 40-game season begins in November, with some players from American minor leagues, Japan and Korea.

It will be played as a home-and-away season followed by a playoff series.

The ABL is negotiating with Foxtel and One HD to show packaged highlights of games.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/ac...-1225901830053

[Flamethrower]

Re: Australian Baseball League

It's a fascinating sport full of statistics and tradition but it moves a bit slow for my liking. I used to go and watch the Waverly Reds for a while and enjoyed it. I'm sorry to say that I would be surprised if the Australian League was a long term success though.

Do you get involved in reading about the history of the game because there has been some great books? That Moneyball book about the Oakland A's was an interesting read for me.

Absolutely - I literally have hundreds of books and almost as many videos/DVDs about baseball. Probably the best are The History of Baseball - a massive book about the complete history of baseball in the USA and around the world. It is fascinating to read about how the game developed in the 1800s. The other is called Pure Baseball by former player Keith Hernandez, which explains the game and the tactics involved in unbelievable detail, pitch by pitch.

I played A grade baseball for over 10 years, and have travelled around the world (mainly the States) to watch the game. At last count I have been to almost 300 Major and Minor League games in the USA alone.

As for the new ABL, I hear from my contacts at Baseball Victoria that the Melbourne Aces are having trouble accessing a ground from the upcoming season. They would prefer not to play at Altona or Geelong so as not to alienate the many baseball fans located in the eastern, south eastern and northern suburbs - there are plenty of local baseball fans in the western suburbs and in Geelong who wouldn't mind though. At one stage it looked as though they could be playing at Etihad Stadium, but the big, bad AFL put a stop to that.

[anfo27]

Re: Australian Baseball League

I've only been into baseball for the last 4 or so years and find the game quite addictive. The more I learn about the game the more i love it and to have a new national league that will bring out some major league prospects is something that interests me greatly.

Still a lot about the game that I'm still trying to come to grips with, like some of the stats and the whole trade scenario which is very complicated.

[Missing Dog]

Re: Australian Baseball League

So where will the aces play I will be buggered if i will travel out to waverly to watch i hope its a central venue that is fair to all.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Australian Baseball League

Absolutely - I literally have hundreds of books and almost as many videos/DVDs about baseball. Probably the best are The History of Baseball - a massive book about the complete history of baseball in the USA and around the world. It is fascinating to read about how the game developed in the 1800s. The other is called Pure Baseball by former player Keith Hernandez, which explains the game and the tactics involved in unbelievable detail, pitch by pitch.

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

It's a classic episode.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Australian Baseball League

August 19, 2010
Former Olympian and major league player Glenn Williams has been named head coach of the Sydney Blue Sox for the first season of the recently formed Australian Baseball League.

Williams signed with the Atlanta Braves as a 16-year-old and enjoyed a decade-long career in the MLB system.

He was also a key member of the Australian baseball team that confounded most expectations by claiming silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

"I could not be more excited to return to my roots for the inaugural season of the ABL as the Blue Sox manager," Williams said.

"I am delighted to be able to give back to a sport that has provided so much for me.

"As a young player growing up in Sydney, the former ABL provided such great heroes and role models for me as I pursued my playing dreams.

"I am excited to be part of shaping the future of Australian baseball and hopefully to inspire more and more young people to have a go at the sport and experience Blue Sox baseball at Blacktown Olympic Park."

Blue Sox general manager Eddie Bray said Williams' enviable reputation as a mentor means his appointment is the perfect fit.

"We could not ask for a better head coach to lead this team," he said.

"Glenn's leadership and vision will help catapult professional baseball in Sydney and around the country to new heights.

"Glenn has high expectations of his players both on and off the field; he prides himself on his professionalism.

"We are confident that his leadership will help to develop and lead a team that will operate and perform in a manner that is nothing less than extraordinary."

The new league is due to start in November.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Australian Baseball League

Jennifer Stockman, Friday, 20 August 2010
The Melbourne Aces, one of six founding clubs in the new Australian Baseball League (ABL), announced today that Phil Dale will lead the team as Head Coach in the inaugural 40-game ABL season.

In what could be considered as history repeating itself, Dale also served as foundation manager for the Waverley Reds in 1989 (in which he also pitched), leading the side to the inaugural League championship, and winning Pitcher of the Year, Most Valuable Player, and Manager of the Year honours. He won another championship with the Reds in 1994-95, before he moved across town to the Melbourne Monarchs in 1995-1996, where he played until his retirement in 1999.

Dale said he was delighted to lead the Aces in their ABL Campaign.

"I am honoured to lead Melbourne into the inaugural season of the new ABL," he said. "I look forward to helping develop the baseball stars of tomorrow, today, on our home soil, and provide our fans with a highly competitive baseball team."

Melbourne Aces General Manager Stephen Nash said he was thrilled to have Dale on board for their first season.

"Melbourne is a first-class sporting city that deserves a first-class manager; and Phil Dale is just that," he said. "Phil is definitely a leader of our game in Australia and a tremendous mentor and teacher of the game. We are thrilled to have him as our head coach; and are confident that the Aces will soar with Phil in the pilots seat."

Dale is considered a legend of Australian baseball, and became the first Australian to win a baseball scholarship in the United States. He started his career as a pitcher with Georgia Southern University, before being signed by Major League Baseballs Cincinnati Reds, where he ascended to the clubs "AA" affiliate, Chattanooga. After his playing career, he worked as a minor league coach for Cincinnati and the Atlanta Braves. He returned home in 1989 to compete in every season of the previous ABL, and in 1998, he pitched for Australia in the Baseball World Cup.

Dales exceptional baseball career includes a litany of coaching accolades. His term as a manager began following his retirement in 1999. He has served as the pitching coach for the Australian national team, a role which has seen him lead the squad into three Baseball World Cups, two World Baseball Classics, and three Olympic campaigns, the most successful of which was in 2004, when Australia famously knocked off baseball powerhouse Japan to win the silver medal. Dale has also been involved in the Major League Baseball Academy Program (MLBAAP) since its inception 10 years ago.

In 2005, Dale was inducted into the Baseball Australia Hall of Fame. He is also a scout for the Atlanta Braves, covering the Australasian Pacific Region.