Sport Baseball Defending champions Perth Heat (1996–97) Champion Melbourne Reds Teams 8 | Country Australia Champions Melbourne Reds MVP Brendan Kingman | |
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Dates 31 October 1997 – 15 February 1998 Champions Melbourne Reds (3rd title) People also search for 1996–97 Australian Baseball League season | ||
The 1997–98 Australian Baseball League season was the 9th season of the original Australian Baseball League, contested between eight teams representing state and regional capitals: Adelaide Giants, Brisbane Bandits, Gold Coast Cougars, Hunter Eagles, Melbourne Monarchs, Melbourne Reds, Perth Heat and Sydney Storm. The Melbourne Reds became the first three-time champions defeating the Gold Coast Cougars 2 games to 0 in the Championship series, in front of a small home crowd of 600 at the Melbourne Ballpark.
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Teams
Each of the 8 teams from the previous season returned, however the Sydney Blues changed their name to the Sydney Storm after legal action taken by Cricket NSW during the offseason.
In the season opening press release, The league called for expressions of interest in a licence to reform the Canberra Bushrangers for the 1998-99 season, The Bushrangers previously folded at the end of the 1994-95 season.
Rosters
During the regular season each team made use of an active roster of 22-24 men, with a maximum of 4 import players.
All Star Games: 12–13 December 1997
The series was held at Carrara Oval.
Game 1 was played against the Japanese Industrial League Champions and Game 2 against combined team of Americans playing in the ABL.
Finals Series at Melbourne Ballpark
In previous years the post season was played as home and away best of 3 games, with the two winner of each series meeting for a best of 5 series{fact}, in 1997–98 this was changed to a round robin play-off format with each team playing 3 games, 1 against each of the other 3 qualified teams, with the two highest places teams playing off in the Championship Series.
All games for the 9th ABL title were played at the Melbourne Ballpark from February, 10-12 with the best of three championship series 14–15 February.