Brisbane Bandits
Encyclopedia
The Brisbane Bandits were a foundation team in the Australian Baseball League which was bought by a private owner and shut down in 1999. The Bandits have now been resurrected as a team in the new Australian Baseball League
which is due to start in November 2010. The Bandits won the ABL Championship in 1994 and finished 2nd in 1997, going down to the Perth Heat
in the championship series. The Bandits only competed in the first 9 ABL Championships, but had intentions of re-joining the ABL Championship in following Seasons.
In their initial season the Bandits were based at Lang Park. The rectangular field was well suited to rugby league
and soccer but not baseball. To offset the short left field a 50 foot high wall was installed. In 1990 the team moved to the iconic Brisbane venue, the Brisbane Exhibition Ground
. The lighting and circular field surrounded by historic grandstands provided a family friendly venue and is currently where the Brisbane Bandits
in the new Australian Baseball League play. The team maintained this home venue till their championship winning 1993–94 Australian Baseball League season.
In the 1993/94 season the Bandits won the Championship series against the Sydney Blues. The Blues had finished the regular season as minor premiers and had home field advantage. This was not enough though as the Bandits won 2–0 to claim their only title.
From 1994 the Bandits changed homeground to QEII Stadium
in the city's south eastern suburbs. This venue was originally built for the 1982 Commonwealth Games
.
In the 1995–96 Australian Baseball League season the Bandits finished the regular season as minor premiers. This provided home field advantage for the first week of the playoffs. However they lost to the Waverly Reds.
In their last season, the Bandits played at Holloway Field
, the place where the Claxton Shield
team, Queensland Rams
would play for the next decade. Due to a lack of a suitable venue the Bandits did not compete in the 1998–99 Australian Baseball League season. Many of their players transferred to the nearby franchise, the Gold Coast Cougars
, who won the championship that season.
The original Bandits developed at least one Major League player. Cameron Cairncross, a left handed starting pitcher, went on to play for the Cleveland Indians
in 2000 as a relief pitcher.
The Bandits, as all teams in the ABL, had foreign imports each season. At least 3 of these went onto play in the Majors in the USA.
Kevin Jordan
In 1992/93, as a import from the New York Yankees, Jordan won the ABL league MVP and Batting Champion titles. On his return to the States he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies where he made his ‘Show’ debut in 1995.
In 1997 he returned to the Bandits during a stint of rehabilitation from injury. He successfully returned to the ‘Show” until his career finished in 2001.
Currently he is a coach with the reformed Brisbane Bandits.
http://www.pflintoff.com/AUSMajor.htm
Homer Bush
Homer Bush
Bush was a San Diego Parades draftee when he played for the Bandits in 1993/94 and 1994/95 seasons. In his original season Down Under he won the league MVP and Batting Champion awards. He hit .372 with 1HR and 16RBI.
In 1997 he was traded to the New York Yankees and went on to be a member of the 1998 World Series winning side. His only post season appearances were as a pinch runner. From 1999 till 2002 he played in the majors with the Toronto Blue Jays. In 2002 he finished the season with the Florida Marlins. After battling injury he finished his career playing a further 9 games with the Yankees in 2004.
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=bushho01
Glen Barker
It is possible the Glen Barker who played for the Bandits in the 1997/98 season gaining All Star selection as an outfielder. On his return to the USA he was selected by the Houston Astros as a Rule 5 selection, unprotected minor league player.
He has the rare distinction of scoring more runs, 53, than hits (38).
Award Winners
1989/90 Season
Allstar Team
Paul Coogan (OF)
1991/92 Season
Allstar Team
Steve Gilmore (Mgr)
1992/93 Season
League MVP & Batting Champion
Kevin Jordan (2nd)
Allstar Team
Kevin Jordan (2nd)
1993/94 Season
League MVP & Batting Champion
Homer Bush (2nd)
Championship Series MVP
Leon Glenn
Allstar Team
David Nilsson (Catcher)
Homer Bush (2nd)
Leon Glenn (OF)
1994/95 Season
Allstar Team
Steve Hinton (SS)
1995/96 Season
Golden Glove
Steve Hinton (SS)
Batting Champion
Adam BURTON
Pitcher of the Year
Frankie RODRIGUEZ
Allstar Team
Adam BURTON (2nd)
Steve Hinton (SS)
David Hynes (OF)
Grant McDonald (OF)
Frankie RODRIGUEZ (P- Starter)
1996/97 Season
Allstar Team
Paul GONZALEZ (3rd)
Grant McDonald (OF) http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Grant_McDonald
1997/98 Season
Allstar Team
Glen Barker (OF)
Grant McDonald (OF)
"Future MLB Player"
Phil Stockman. English born but Brisbane raised Stockman was a listed Bandit in their final season. The then 17yo had a brief taste of playing professional baseball at home. With the collapse of the ABL he continued his professional career in the US minor league system.
In 2008 he was called up to the Atlanta Braves as a relief pitcher. He was released in 2009 due to ongoing injury concerns. Currently he is playing with the Bandits in the new league. He is hoping the playing time will prove he still has the fitness and ability to return to the Majors.
Australian Baseball League
The Australian Baseball League was a baseball league, established in 1987 and disbanded in 1999.-Formation:Before the formation of the Australian Baseball League, the Claxton Shield, established in , was Australia's premier baseball tournament...
which is due to start in November 2010. The Bandits won the ABL Championship in 1994 and finished 2nd in 1997, going down to the Perth Heat
Perth Heat
The baseball team Perth Heat is a team in the current Australian Baseball League and a foundation member of the now-defunct Australian Baseball League...
in the championship series. The Bandits only competed in the first 9 ABL Championships, but had intentions of re-joining the ABL Championship in following Seasons.
In their initial season the Bandits were based at Lang Park. The rectangular field was well suited to rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
and soccer but not baseball. To offset the short left field a 50 foot high wall was installed. In 1990 the team moved to the iconic Brisbane venue, the Brisbane Exhibition Ground
Brisbane Exhibition Ground
The Brisbane Exhibition Ground , is a showground established in Brisbane during 1875 especially for Ekka . The Exhibition ground is owned and operated by the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland...
. The lighting and circular field surrounded by historic grandstands provided a family friendly venue and is currently where the Brisbane Bandits
Brisbane Bandits
The Brisbane Bandits were a foundation team in the Australian Baseball League which was bought by a private owner and shut down in 1999. The Bandits have now been resurrected as a team in the new Australian Baseball League which is due to start in November 2010...
in the new Australian Baseball League play. The team maintained this home venue till their championship winning 1993–94 Australian Baseball League season.
In the 1993/94 season the Bandits won the Championship series against the Sydney Blues. The Blues had finished the regular season as minor premiers and had home field advantage. This was not enough though as the Bandits won 2–0 to claim their only title.
From 1994 the Bandits changed homeground to QEII Stadium
Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre
The Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre , more commonly known by its former names ANZ Stadium or QE II, is a major sporting facility on the south side of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia...
in the city's south eastern suburbs. This venue was originally built for the 1982 Commonwealth Games
1982 Commonwealth Games
The 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from 30 September–9 October 1982. The Opening Ceremony was held at the QEII Stadium , in the Brisbane suburb of Nathan. The QEII Stadium was also the venue which was used for the athletics and archery competitions during the...
.
In the 1995–96 Australian Baseball League season the Bandits finished the regular season as minor premiers. This provided home field advantage for the first week of the playoffs. However they lost to the Waverly Reds.
In their last season, the Bandits played at Holloway Field
Holloway Field
Holloway Field is home to the baseball club, Windsor Royals in Newmarket, Queensland and is regarded as the home of baseball in Brisbane currently.-Background:...
, the place where the Claxton Shield
Claxton Shield
The Claxton Shield was the name of the premier baseball competition in Australia held between state-based teams, as well as the name of the trophy awarded to the champion team...
team, Queensland Rams
Queensland Rams
Queensland Rams compete in the Claxton Shield Baseball Championship in Australia. The Rams were one of the founding teams of the Claxton Shield in 1934 and competed as Queensland until 1988. Between 1988 and 1999, the Claxton Shield was awarded to the winner of the Australian Baseball League...
would play for the next decade. Due to a lack of a suitable venue the Bandits did not compete in the 1998–99 Australian Baseball League season. Many of their players transferred to the nearby franchise, the Gold Coast Cougars
Gold Coast Cougars
The Gold Coast Cougars were the re-branded Daikyo Dolphins after major sponsor Daikyo had to end sponsorship of the team due to financial problems with the Australian arm of the company.- See also :*Sport in Australia*Australian Baseball...
, who won the championship that season.
The original Bandits developed at least one Major League player. Cameron Cairncross, a left handed starting pitcher, went on to play for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
in 2000 as a relief pitcher.
The Bandits, as all teams in the ABL, had foreign imports each season. At least 3 of these went onto play in the Majors in the USA.
Kevin Jordan
In 1992/93, as a import from the New York Yankees, Jordan won the ABL league MVP and Batting Champion titles. On his return to the States he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies where he made his ‘Show’ debut in 1995.
In 1997 he returned to the Bandits during a stint of rehabilitation from injury. He successfully returned to the ‘Show” until his career finished in 2001.
Currently he is a coach with the reformed Brisbane Bandits.
http://www.pflintoff.com/AUSMajor.htm
Homer Bush
Homer Bush
Bush was a San Diego Parades draftee when he played for the Bandits in 1993/94 and 1994/95 seasons. In his original season Down Under he won the league MVP and Batting Champion awards. He hit .372 with 1HR and 16RBI.
In 1997 he was traded to the New York Yankees and went on to be a member of the 1998 World Series winning side. His only post season appearances were as a pinch runner. From 1999 till 2002 he played in the majors with the Toronto Blue Jays. In 2002 he finished the season with the Florida Marlins. After battling injury he finished his career playing a further 9 games with the Yankees in 2004.
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=bushho01
Glen Barker
It is possible the Glen Barker who played for the Bandits in the 1997/98 season gaining All Star selection as an outfielder. On his return to the USA he was selected by the Houston Astros as a Rule 5 selection, unprotected minor league player.
He has the rare distinction of scoring more runs, 53, than hits (38).
Award Winners
1989/90 Season
Allstar Team
Paul Coogan (OF)
1991/92 Season
Allstar Team
Steve Gilmore (Mgr)
1992/93 Season
League MVP & Batting Champion
Kevin Jordan (2nd)
Allstar Team
Kevin Jordan (2nd)
1993/94 Season
League MVP & Batting Champion
Homer Bush (2nd)
Championship Series MVP
Leon Glenn
Allstar Team
David Nilsson (Catcher)
Homer Bush (2nd)
Leon Glenn (OF)
1994/95 Season
Allstar Team
Steve Hinton (SS)
1995/96 Season
Golden Glove
Steve Hinton (SS)
Batting Champion
Adam BURTON
Pitcher of the Year
Frankie RODRIGUEZ
Allstar Team
Adam BURTON (2nd)
Steve Hinton (SS)
David Hynes (OF)
Grant McDonald (OF)
Frankie RODRIGUEZ (P- Starter)
1996/97 Season
Allstar Team
Paul GONZALEZ (3rd)
Grant McDonald (OF) http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Grant_McDonald
1997/98 Season
Allstar Team
Glen Barker (OF)
Grant McDonald (OF)
"Future MLB Player"
Phil Stockman. English born but Brisbane raised Stockman was a listed Bandit in their final season. The then 17yo had a brief taste of playing professional baseball at home. With the collapse of the ABL he continued his professional career in the US minor league system.
In 2008 he was called up to the Atlanta Braves as a relief pitcher. He was released in 2009 due to ongoing injury concerns. Currently he is playing with the Bandits in the new league. He is hoping the playing time will prove he still has the fitness and ability to return to the Majors.