The Greater Brisbane League or formerly the Greater Brisbane Baseball Board league (GB3) is the largest baseball league in the Australian state of Queensland and covers all teams from Brisbane North, South, West, Metro as well as three Gold Coast teams. These are from age groups Little League (U12) through to seniors. It is run by the governing body of Baseball Queensland.
To participate in the Greater Brisbane Major League, clubs must meet certain criteria set by Baseball Queensland. Generally the hardest criteria for clubs to meet is to field a team in the junior age levels U14's, U16's and U20's. When this criterion is not met, senior teams may only compete in the South Queensland Baseball League or Pacific League competition.
The GBL consists of six senior division teams from Major/Pacific League A and B through to South Queensland League A-C and a separate Masters competition. Juniors consist of an U20 competition, division one and two U16 and a division one and two U14 competitions. U8, U10 and U12 competitions are run by their respective regions and are non-divisional.
History
The Greater Brisbane League was originally known as the Queensland Baseball Association fixtures, which began in 1946 when six teams entered the competition playing primarily at New Farm Park, Kalinga Park, Langlands Park, Perry Park and the Brisbane Exhibition Ground. Uniforms were made out of surplus army uniforms and teams made up of many American ex-pat soldiers from World War II and A-Grade cricketers to keep game fit during the off-season.Harris, J.O (2009). Queensland Baseball 1905-1990.
Format The current format of the league consists of six divisions as well as a concurrently run 'masters' division for players aged over 35 and women's competition. The competition is scheduled to last 16–20 rounds played on Fridays and Sundays between the first week of October with the playoffs finishing prior to Easter.
Rounds played in Division 1 see teams match up twice in the round, usually on a Friday followed by Sunday. Rainouts are made up mid-week if possible. Division 2 is fixtured essentially as a reserve team for Division 1, playing the same club match ups prior to the Sunday game.
Clubs who do not field a Division 1 team may field individual teams in Division 3–6.
Playoffs are a top four McIntyre system, with Division 1 playing a best of three series to determine winners.
Teams Clubs currently in the Greater Brisbane League are:
Division Team Based Field Gold Coast Coomera Cubs Baseball Club Coomera Gambamora Park Coomera Cubs Baseball Club Mudgeeraba Redsox Mudgeeraba Firth Park Robina Braves Baseball Club Surfers Paradise Benowa Sir Bruce Small Park Brisbane South Mt Gravatt Eagles Mackenzie Weedon Street Beenleigh Hawks Beenleigh T E Costigan Field Indians Baseball Club Runcorn Dew Street Redlands Baseball Club Sheldon John Murray Field Brisbane West Ipswich Musketeers Tivoli Church Street Western Districts Bulldogs Darra Atthows ParkWests Baseball Club Toowoomba Rangers Toowoomba Commonwealth Oval Southern Stars Browns Plains Regency Park Sunshine Coast Sunshine Coast* Mudjimba Mudjimba Multisports ComplexThe Mackerels Baseball Club**MaroochydoreElizabeth Daniels Fields, Maroochydore Cricket club Brisbane North Narangba Demons Narangba Narangba Sport & Recreation Complex Redcliffe Padres Redcliffe Talobilla Park Pine Rivers Rapids Bray Park Les Hughes Sporting Complex - Brisbane Metro All Stars Hendra Bannister Park Carina Redsox Carina Foley Field Pine Hills Lightning Bunya James Drysdale Reserve Windsor Royals Newmarket Holloway Field *Sunshine Coast only field junior (non GBL competitors) and women's teams (GBL competitors)
**The Mackerels Baseball Club currently fields players 11 years to 17 years of age in association with Narangba Demons as the club was established in July 2020 with support from Baseball Qld.
Below is a map indicating the locations of all eighteen teams competing in the Greater Brisbane League competition. The Brisbane CBD is represented by the black square. Also note Toowoomba is located off the map to the west:
Commissioners Cup The Commissioners Cup or Commissioners Shield is an annual, end of year event that usually coincides with the Christmas break of the season. It is a one off game in Major A, B and C grades between the current Greater Brisbane League leaders of the Northside and the Southside.
Major A standings are on win percentage, whereas Major B and C-Grade standings are on points.
Major League Criteria The basics to qualifying for Major League criteria, clubs must have a minimum of: 27 senior registered players excluding U18's, in at least the Major A, B and C grades 60 junior registered players One team in each of the Baseball Queensland U14, U16 and U20 competitions; together with a minimum of one team in each of Little League, U8 and U10 One level 1 accredited coach to each team: LL, U14, U16, U20 and all senior teams One accredited scorer and umpire for all junior and senior games
Champions See: List of Greater Brisbane League seasons#Greater Brisbane League
Media coverage The Greater Brisbane League is covered across many media sources from Quest Community Newspapers including the Redcliffe and Bayside Herald, Caboolture Shire Herald, Albert and Logan News,Hawks Lack Edge 27 November 2008 Albert & Logan News Pine Rivers Press,Whiting, M. (3 February 2009) Hot Lightning strike finals Pine Rivers Press Northern Times,Trio in world spotlight (30 January 2009). Northern Times and the Logan West Leader,O'Neill, R. (20 November 2008). Ipswich Blue fall to in-form Stars U12s Logan West Leader as well as many other regional newspapers such as the Hinterland Grapevine, The Sunshine Coast Daily, Gold Coast Bulletin,Galliott, E. J. (2 November 2008). Japanese return for Masters glory and fun. Gold Coast Bulletin. Benowa Garden News,Williams, J. (2007, 10 February). Benowa big leagues. Benowa Garden News, p.4. and the Mudgee Guardian.Mahoney, D. (16 November 2008). Mudgee hot for Redsox. Mudgee Guardian, p.45.
Major League results are also covered by the television network 7 and more in depth results are covered by The Sunday Mail and The Courier Mail.Queensland Major League Results. (7 December 2008). The Sunday Mail
See also
References