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 details
SportBaseball
Country Australia
Teams6
Dates17 October 1998 – 13 February 1999
Defending champions Melbourne Reds (1997–98)
Champions Gold Coast Cougars (1st title)
MVPAdam Burton ( Reds)
Final positions
Champions Gold Coast Cougars
Runners-up Sydney Storm
Finalists Adelaide Giants
Finalists Melbourne Monarchs
Fifth place Melbourne Reds
Sixth place Perth Heat
Regular season
Games played132
Best batting averageBrandon Pollard ( Cougars) (.317)
Most homeruns hitBrandon Pollard ( Cougars) (12)
Best ERABrett Cederbald ( Cougars) (2.34)

Last updated on 13 February 2013

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
  • ? Darren Phillips
  • ? Sam Tibbets

Infielders

Outfielders

  • ? Jay Ivanoff
  • ? Tony Mota
  • ? Mark Paparella
  • ? Chip Sell
  • ? Eric Stuckenschneider
  • ? Andrew Taintley
  • ? Marc Taintley
  • ? Craig Watts
Current as of February 1999.

Melbourne Monarchs
Melbourne Monarchs roster - 1998–99 ABL
Active rosterCoaching Staff
Pitchers

Right-handed pitchers

Left-handed pitchers

 Catchers
  • 14 Brett Caulfield
  • 28 John Edwards
  • 36 Steve Dax Norris

Infielders

Outfielders

 Manager

Coaches

  • - Neil Bourke
Current as of February 1999.[2]

Melbourne Reds
Melbourne Reds roster - 1998–99 ABL
Active roster
Pitchers

Right-handed pitchers

  • 27 Matthew Gourlay
  • ? Ben Mann
  • 37 Warren May
  • ? Denis Pujals
  • ? Lucas Van Raake
  • ? David White
  • ? Gregg Wiltshire

Left-handed pitchers

  • ? John Box
  • 44 Ben Donald
  • ? Matt Ryan
Catchers
  • 8 Scott Dawes

Infielders

  • 22 Myles Barnden
  • ? Brian Becker
  • 20 Adam Burton
  • 16 Shane Hogan
  • 30 Ben Utting

Outfielders

  • ? Cameron Hubbard
  • ? Matt Kent
  • ? David McGrady
  • ? Matt Quatraro
  • 26 Jeff Spencer
  • 19 Darren White
  • ? Glynn Kimberley
  • 35 Glen Reeves
  • 46 Derek Shumpert
  • 18 Paul Weichard
Current as of February 1999.

Sydney Storm
Sydney Storm roster - 1997–98 ABL
Active roster
Pitchers

Right-handed pitchers

Left-handed pitchers

 Catchers

Infielders

  • ? Matt Buckley
  • ? Greg Morrison
  • 19 Mark Shipley
  • 43 Craig Stone
  • 4 Scott Tunkin

Outfielders
Current as of February 1998. Incomplete

Venues
Teams in the ABL
Team City State Stadium Ref
Adelaide Giants Adelaide South Australia Norwood Oval
Gold Coast Cougars Gold Coast Queensland Carrara Oval
Melbourne Monarchs Melbourne Victoria Melbourne Ballpark
Melbourne Reds Melbourne Victoria Moorabbin Oval
Perth Heat Perth Western Australia Bassendean Oval
Sydney Storm Sydney New South Wales Sydney Showground Stadium

Match results
Key
†Clinched final berth
1997-98 regular season standings
Team
[3]		 W L Pct. GB Home Road
Adelaide Giants† 2817.622-15-913–8
Gold Coast Cougars† 2420.5453​1⁄216–108–10
Melbourne Monarchs† 2222.5005​1⁄213–89–14
Sydney Storm† 2122.488613–108–12
Melbourne Reds 2023.465715–85–15
Perth Heat 1728.3781112–95–19

    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
    Team123456789RHE
    Sydney Storm0101003117102
    Adelaide Giants000001010???
    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
    Team123456789RHE
    Sydney Storm000200010381
    Adelaide Giants000000001132
    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
    Team123456789RHE
    Melbourne Monarchs????????????
    Gold Coast Cougars????????????
    WP: ? (1–0)   LP: ? (0–1)   Sv: ?
    Home runs:
    Monarchs: ?
    Cougars: ?
    Game 2: 11 February 1999
    Team123456789RHE
    Melbourne Monarchs????????????
    Gold Coast Cougars????????????
    WP: ? (1–0)   LP: ? (0–1)   Sv: ?
    Home runs:
    Monarchs: ?
    Cougars: ?

    Game 1: 12 February 1999
    Team123456789RHE
    Sydney Storm5000200007131
    Gold Coast Cougars0310200028121
    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]

    Game 2: 12 February 1999
    Team123456789RHE
    Sydney Storm2010212008138
    Gold Coast Cougars12010820-1491
    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]

    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
    1. Flintoff, P. (1999?) Flintoff & Dunn's Australian Major League Baseball – The First 10 Years. Accessed on 28 July 2010.
    2. "Melbourne Monarchs Roster". Melbourne Monarchs. Archived from the original on 22 April 1999. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
    3. "FINAL FAI CUP STANDINGS". Australian Baseball League. Sydney Storm. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
    4. "FAI CUP – Playoff 1 Game 1". Sydney Storm. Archived from the original on 29 April 1999. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
    5. "FAI CUP – Playoff 1 Game 2". Sydney Storm. Archived from the original on 29 April 1999. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
    6. "FAI CUP – Championship Game 1". Sydney Storm. Archived from the original on 29 April 1999. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
    7. "FAI CUP – Championship Game 2". Sydney Storm. Archived from the original on 29 April 1999. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
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