Official ABL Media Launch - NEWLY FORMED ABL MAKES THEIR PITCH TO SPORTS FANS
Jennifer Stockman, Thursday, 28 October 2010
http://theabl.com.au/?page=66026&format



The new Australian Baseball League, a landmark initiative of Major League Baseball (MLB), the Australian Baseball Federation (ABF) and the Australian Sports Commission was officially launched today ahead of the Season Opener on November 6.
The six new ABL teams Adelaide Bite, Brisbane Bandits, Canberra Cavalry, Melbourne Aces, Perth Heat, and Sydney Blue Sox, introduced their 35-man playing roster and unveiled their uniforms for the first time.

The Australian Baseball League will feature Australia’s best homegrown talent, including professionals plying their trade in the major and minor leagues of North America and Asia, and a number of high profile imports.

Australian players have long been competing at the highest professional and amateur levels around the world but a lack of domestic competition prevented them from being able to showcase their skills in front of a home crowd.

The ABL season, in which each team will play 40 games, will run throughout the southern summer, from November to January. The season complements the northern hemisphere baseball season, which begins in March.

The establishment of the ABL is the latest success in the long-term partnership between MLB and the ABF. The Major League Baseball Australian Academy Program began in 2001 to provide world-class coaching, training and development opportunities for elite young players and has led to a 40% increase in the number of Australians playing professional and college baseball.

ABL Chairman Mark Peters said the ABL is exciting because this current generation of Australian baseball stars will get the opportunity to showcase their talent at home.

“Many of our current players who are playing in the Major leagues were too young to play in front of a home crowd in the former ABL, now it’s their turn to excite the next generation of players, and recruit fans to the game,” he said.

“As well as showcasing our own Australian talent, the ABL will feature top international stars who will be utilising the ABL as a catalyst to further their careers into some of the most notable professional Leagues around the world.”

Australian Baseball Federation Director of High Performance, David Hynes foresees the ABL as next important step in the development of our junior elite players, and the growth of the sport in Australia.

“Our National teams have proven that our player talent is on par with some of the best baseball nations in the world; all without the existence of a professional League in Australia. The new League will allow us to develop that talent event further and advance our world 8th ranking.”

Hynes also foresees the League as a fundamental component of increasing the game’s participation numbers.

“The ABF has always enjoyed a solid foundation at grassroots and community level in baseball, but what the ABL represents is an opportunity to drum up some excitement around the sport, and expand the already thriving baseball fraternity in this country.

Dave Nielsen, is he behind this?

Pretty sure Ian Maurice had money in the Sydney team at the time also.

Play a promo game in Wagga and I'll watch.

A snail Grand Prix could be held in Wagga and you'd attend. lol

Do we know who is going to play for each side?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010%E2%80%9311_Australian_Baseball_League_team_rosters
This was all I could find for having all the teams in the same place, but it looks like a few teams are yet to fill their rosters!

You know you're coming as well DT it's right near your area pretty much :P

This guy so career orientated :P

Haha well I just applied for an internship, I suggest you do too :P

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010%E2%80%9311_Australian_Baseball_League_team_rosters
This was all I could find for having all the teams in the same place, but it looks like a few teams are yet to fill their rosters!

Sydney have actually sold all of their allocated memberships and have a waiting list for next year!
I've heard the opening game next Saturday vs Canberra (also the opening game for the whole league) was close to a sell out.

I cant take this seriously. I used to follow Baseball back in the day. i was a pretty into it Cleveland Indians fan. But 6 teams that play each other 4 times over 2 weeks. It is a bit repetative for us all, issn't it?

I don't think I have the time to waste following a mediocore league sport. Twenty/20 Cricket is much better thought out and has at least an appeal to a wider audiance.

http://www.theabl.com.au/default.asp?MenuID=Team_Roster/23881/0

Yeah, there's only like 120 standing tickets left.

Edited by martyB: 29/10/2010 12:30:56 PM

I cant take this seriously. I used to follow Baseball back in the day. i was a pretty into it Cleveland Indians fan. But 6 teams that play each other 4 times over 2 weeks. It is a bit repetative for us all, issn't it?

I don't think I have the time to waste following a mediocore league sport. Twenty/20 Cricket is much better thought out and has at least an appeal to a wider audiance.

Not bad, I'll probably get pulled along because I have a couple of friends who are into baseball/softball. Where's the ground Benjo?

Showgrounds.

The first game Saturday November 6th, Sydney vs Canberra at Blacktown Olympic Park is almost sold out.
Yesterday there were <50 standing room only tickets left.

how many does that ground hold? ive been there one to watch my friend play and there wasn't many seats behind the plate,

According to Austadiums, the ground capacity is somewhere around 5000.http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums.php?id=252

any idea where the brisbane team will be playing their games?

so there saying 5000 tickets have been sold? im surprised seeing how its not the most popular sport in Sydney,

Don't know how that figured has been arrived at. Could be the licenced capacity of the entire complex (3 fields.) They have sold all 1600 seating tickets and have just about sold all the 400 tickets for standing room.

Don't know how that figured has been arrived at. Could be the licenced capacity of the entire complex (3 fields.) They have sold all 1600 seating tickets and have just about sold all the 400 tickets for standing room.

I recall reading somewhere that they'll use the Brisbane Exhibition Ground.

http://www.theabl.com.au/?Page=65971&MenuID=Shop%2F23877%2F0

im sure the quality is good but really all there is is 2 hats and 3 shirts,look at other sports stores sydney fc for example and the amount of goods is fairly big, i was thinking more of wanting to get sydney socks singlet as on those hot sunny days you would be sitting in the sun for a few hours would be perfect

Sunburn much? :lol:
I'm sure the range will increase over time.

Opening game last night and the atmosphere was pretty good. Game never reached any great heights, was a pitchers duel for most of it, Sydney won 1-0.

Opening game last night and the atmosphere was pretty good. Game never reached any great heights, was a pitchers duel for most of it, Sydney won 1-0.

Atmosphere wasn't quite what I expected TBH. I remember when the Claxton Shield tournament was played there a few years back, the crowd was ten times more rowdy than that when NSW played. Admittedly, I didn't really get into it at all; also a bit hard when the game was by and large uneventful.

Couldn't see ya though. Suppose you'd have had a jacket over your Blue Jays top. I was the douchebag in the University of Newcastle hoody sitting in the Team Sox seats behind homeplate.

well bluesox got belted last night

Finished 9-5, hardly a belting.

What did the Bite end up with? I am not all that interested in baseball (lack of understanding on my part) but do try and keep up with how Adelaide teams are doing.

you beat perth 7-3 after losing on wednesday night, the loss wednesday was your first and only loss so far

didnt the bandits score 8 points in one innings? thats a belting, it was 8-1 after 4

ABL announces inaugural All-Star Game in Perth
Australian National Team to face ABL's best imports in showcase tilt
12/04/2011 3:55 AM ET

SYDNEY, 3 December - Nearly a half billion baseball fans in over fifty countries are expected to watch Australia's brightest baseball talent from the ABL take on the League's top international players in the newly created 2011 ABL All-Star Game at Barbagallo Ballpark in Perth on Wednesday, 21 December at 4pm local time.

The inaugural ABL All-Star game could potentially include as many as 10 current and former Major League players and will feature Australia's National Baseball Team in a single nine inning game against the best import players from the US, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, India and Italy.

[size=6]The 2011 ABL All-Star game will be televised live in Australia by Fox Sports and Asia through ESPN Star and replayed through the MLB Network in the United States. The estimated audience is expected to be one of the largest ever for a baseball game held in Australia.[/size]

The All-Star game will mark the first time in two years Australia's national team will showcase their skills before a home crowd in Perth and the only chance for Aussie baseball fans to see the national team in action on home soil this year.

Minnesota Twins/Perth Heat infielder Luke Hughes and Sydney pitcher Chris Oxspring, formerly with the Detroit Tigers, are expected among the names headlining the Australian team.

Four international professional baseball leagues will be represented at the event, including players from Major League Baseball, Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball League, the Korean Baseball Organisation and the Chinese Professional Baseball League.

'We are grateful for the support of the West Australian Government in helping bring this unique event to fruition and look forward to showcasing our outstanding players to baseball fans in Australia and around the world,' said Peter Wermuth, CEO of the Australian Baseball League.

'The event, secured exclusively for Western Australia, will showcase our extraordinary State to millions of viewers across the world via Fox Sports and the Major League Baseball (MLB) Network,' says WA Tourism Minister, Dr Kim games.

The international team is expected to feature Taiwanese defensive whiz Chin-Lung Hu, legendary Korean reliever, Dae-Sung Koo and former New York Yankee pitcher Jason Hirsh amongst many others.

Tickets are now on sale. Members receive exclusive access to reserved seating purchases until Tuesday, 6 December. Must sign in to gain access. General admission tickets are currently available to all fans wishing to purchases tickets for this great event.

For more information on the ABL All-Star game, please visit www.theabl.com.au.

For media enquiries, please contact Terry Whitaker at the Australian Baseball League on 0405 100 796 or twhitaker@theabl.com.au.

This story was not subject to the approval of the Australian Baseball League or its clubs.

http://web.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111204&content_id=26086100&vkey=news_l595&fext=.jsp&sid=l595

ABL All-Star game to get serious
By Joe Barton
18:47 AEST Thu Dec 8 2011

Melbourne slugger Justin Huber insists ABL stars will be playing to win in this month's inaugural All-Star game in Perth.

In five seasons playing Major League Baseball in America, Huber watched as the cream of the crop were brought together every year to play in a mostly non-competitive environment.

Huber feels Team Australia are too competitive to take the field half-hearted and should start favourites against a star-studded Team World for the December 21 fixture.

"There's never a time I put the green and gold on and don't think I'm going to win," Huber told AAP on Thursday.

"That's not the way to go out there.

"I'll be the first to say I expect us to win ... but we'll see what happens on the day."

Huber, one of six players named in either squad on Thursday with Major League experience, will bring a veteran touch to the Australian team.

He will be joined by Minnesota and Perth infielder Luke Hughes, Sydney pitcher Chris Oxspring and Adelaide's Tom Brice as the biggest names on the 21-man roster.

Huber expects Australia to build on their strong results from October's baseball World Cup, where they finished fifth with Brice named in the competition's All-Star team.

And bragging rights will simply provide extra motivation.

"I definitely think there'll be some bragging rights from this game," Huber added.

"There's no time you ever put on the green and gold and take it easy.

"That's not in our DNA.

"You can expect to see some serious baseball.

"There's a potential in these sort of events to just go through the motions and play the games and try not to get hurt.

"But I think this is going to be different to that."

Huber is one of seven Melbourne Aces across both squads, with defending champions Perth (11 players) the best represented and Sydney, just four players, the least.

Despite Huber's confidence, the numbers are stacking up against the home side.

The imports boast the competition's leading pitcher (Mike McGuire) and slugger (Alex Burg), as well as Adelaide's Denny Almonte, who holds the record for most RBI in an ABL match.

Last season's MVP James McOwen was also named for Team World.

McGuire, who has a staggering ERA of .36 with a league-leading 35 strikeouts for Canberra, is the likely starting pitcher for Team World.

"It's definitely going to be a great and exciting day," McGuire said.

The match will be broadcast across Australia, Asia and America, giving the opportunity to showcase the progress of the local product to an enormous worldwide audience.

http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8386778

Epic bump Marty.
Been hard to get interested in the league this year for some reason. Still bought season tix, but I've only been to a handful of games.

How are the Blue Sox going?

I have a perth heat cap, before i moved houses i realised i lived 5minutes away from the Heats homeground. Is there gonna be any TV coverage this year or will the Asia series be on TV?

Whereabouts did you live? Thornlie? i live in Cannning Vale.

It was Huntingdale but near where Thornlie,Canning vale and Huntingdale all met. I have lived in Canning vale though and went school there.

SYDNEY, 11 October - The Australian Baseball League has announced a new television partnership that will see Fox Sports show a 'Game of the Week' throughout the 2012-13 ABL season.
The weekly hour-long program will feature a condensed ABL game along with news, highlights and feature stories from around the league as well as Australian grassroots baseball and Major League Baseball.

Peter Wermuth, CEO of the Australian Baseball League, said expanding television coverage of games beyond the ABL Championship Series and ABL All-Star Game is a significant step forward for one of the country's newest sports leagues, now entering only its third season.

"We are excited to be able to showcase the amazing talent of our players on a national stage," said Wermuth. "Having our sport on national television week-in and week-out is essential to increasing baseball's visibility and accessibility in Australia, not only to die-hard baseball fans but also those new to the game."

The weekly program will air Thursdays from 4-5pm EST. The ABL Games of the Week to be featured include:


1 November - Team Australia vs. Sydney Blue Sox
8 November - Sydney Blue Sox vs. Canberra Cavalry
15 November - Brisbane Bandits vs. Sydney Blue Sox
22 November - Melbourne Aces vs. Perth Heat
30 November - Perth Heat vs. Sydney Blue Sox
6 December - Adelaide Bite vs. Canberra Cavalry
13 December - Canberra Cavalry vs. Sydney Blue Sox
20 December - Adelaide Bite vs. Brisbane Bandits
27 December - Perth Heat vs. Adelaide Bite
3 January - Adelaide Bite vs. Sydney Blue Sox
10 January - Brisbane Bandits vs. Melbourne Aces
17 January - Melbourne Aces vs. Sydney Blue Sox
24 January - Sydney Blue Sox vs. Canberra Cavalry
31 January - Brisbane Bandits vs. Sydney Blue Sox
7 Febuary - ABL Playoffs Round 1

Canberra beat Perth tonight to take the Championship Series 2-0.

/end thread until November

ABL announces streaming details

SYDNEY, 28 October - With first pitch just two days away, the Australian Baseball League is revolutionizing the way fans across Australia and around the globe will witness baseball Down Under. The ABL is proud to announce the launch of an all new ABL.tv, the league's flagship YouTube channel and web streaming platform, and to once again welcome iiNet on board as a streaming partner for select games in the 2014/15 season.


· 2014/15 ABL streaming calendar
· Visit ABL.tv on YouTube
ABL.tv will revolutionise the way Australian Baseball League fans access games. In addition to live streams of dozens of games throughout the season, the ABL's YouTube channel will featured archived versions of every game played throughout the fixture as well as highlights, features, and more. For the first time, ABL fans will have full YouTube access to multimedia content updated regularly and organised by team, bringing them closer to the action than ever before.

Additionally, ABL games will be easily accessible from mobile devices, Apple TV, and other internet-connected consoles. Wherever YouTube is available, ABL.tv is, too. It won't just be regular season contests on ABL.tv, either. The league's YouTube home will carry the 2014 Australian Baseball League All-Star Game on 17 December as well as the 2015 ABL Preliminary Final and Championship Series in January and February.

Beyond just ABL.tv, iiNet, Australia's second-largest internet service provider, is set to partner with the ABL for weekday games throughout the 2014/15 season. Close to 70 games will be streamed on iiNet ahead of weekend showdowns to be carried live on ABL.tv.

TheABL.com.au is supporters' home for the league's round-by-round viewing schedule, and fans can also look for stream information on the ABL's social media outlets on Facebook and Twitter. Stream links will be provided before and during games, and archived versions of each broadcast will be linked once games are completed.

This story was not subject to the approval of the Australian Baseball League or its clubs.