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: , , , , and . 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.
All play-off games in the 1998–99 ABL season were held at the then-recently completed Sydney Showground,Flintoff, P. (1999?) . Accessed on 28 July 2010. 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
Melbourne Monarchs
Melbourne Reds
Sydney Storm
Venues
+ Teams in the ABL Team City State Stadium Ref Adelaide South Australia Norwood Oval Gold Coast Queensland Carrara Oval Melbourne Victoria Melbourne Ballpark Melbourne Victoria Moorabbin Oval Perth Western Australia Bassendean Oval Sydney New South Wales Sydney Showground Stadium
Match results + Key † Clinched final berth + Regular season standings Team W L Pct. GB Home Road † 28 17 - 15-9 13–8 † 24 20 3 16–10 8–10 † 22 22 5 13–8 9–14 † 21 22 6 13–10 8–12 20 23 7 15–8 5–15 17 28 11 12–9 5–19
Top 10 Stats
+ Defensive Stats Name Wins Losses Saves ERAAdrian Meagher6132.97Brett Cederblad4102.34Phil Brassington5303.68Paul Wollin1213.41Jason Davis2313.60Aaron Reed2223.89
+ Offensive Stars Name Avg HR RBIBrandon Pollard.3171233Ron Johnson.307519Steve Hinton.30318Grant McDonald.269529Paul Gorman.263722Jose Macias.267118
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.
Semi-final 1: 1st vs 4th
Game 1: 10 February 1999
Game 2: 10 February 1999
Semi-final 2: 2nd vs 3rd
Game 1: 11 February 1999
Game 2: 11 February 1999
Championship Series at Sydney Showground Stadium
Game 1: 12 February 1999
Game 2: 12 February 1999
Awards Award Person TeamMost Valuable PlayerAdam BURTONMelbourne RedsChampionship M.V.P.Paul GORMANGold Coast CougarsGolden GloveGary WHITESydney StormBatting ChampionAdam BURTONMelbourne RedsPitcher of the YearPat AhearnePerth HeatRookie of the YearClinton BALGERAPerth HeatManager of the Year
All-Star Team Position Name TeamCatcherGary WHITESydney Storm1st BaseAndrew SCOTTAdelaide Giants2nd BaseAdam BURTONMelbourne Reds3rd BasePaul GONZALEZMelbourne MonarchsShort StopMatt BUCKLEYSydney StormOut FieldBrandon POLLARDGold Coast CougarsOut FieldMatt QuatraroMelbourne RedsOut FieldChip SELLAdelaide GiantsDesignated HitterCraig WATTSAdelaide GiantsStarting PitcherPat AhearnePerth HeatRelief PitcherJohn CHALLINORAdelaide GiantsManagerTony HARRISAdelaide Giants
References