Sports 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 (1989–1999)|, [[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]].
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 Australian Baseball League season|1998–99]] season, The Bushrangers previously folded at the end of the [[1994–95 Australian Baseball League season|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.
Regular season.
All Star Games: 12–13 December 1997.
The All-Stars Weekend, was the first series of All-Star exhibition games held by the Australian Baseball League. The games were contested over two nights at [[Carrara Oval]] on the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]], The then home of the [[Gold Coast Cougars]] franchise. ;ref name="FAI Cup Pitches new finals format and all star competition as baseball bats up for the summer of 1997/1998." ; ;/ref ;
The games were played between the Australian All-Stars, USA All-Stars and the 1997 Japanese Industrial League Champions the Mitsubishi Juko Kobe. The Australian and USA All-Star teams were selected from players who were at the time playing in the Australian Baseball League.
Ladder.
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Top 10 Stats.
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Postseason.
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.
Postseason Ladder.
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References.
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[[Category:1997–98 Australian Baseball League season| ]]
[[Category:Australian Baseball League (1989–1999) seasons]]
[[Category:1997 in Australian sport]]
[[Category:1997 in baseball]]
[[Category:1998 in Australian sport]]
[[Category:1998 in baseball]]