New South Wales Major League
Encyclopedia
The New South Wales Major League (also called the Sydney Major League or NSWML) is the highest level of play for the sport of baseball
in New South Wales
. It is currently composed of clubs predominantly from Sydney
, with one club from the Central Coast. The current first grade premiers are Blacktown, and the current club champions are Baulkham Hills.
The teams play a round-robin
format of games that forms the regular season. The teams in each division are ranked on their win/loss percentage
, dividing the number of wins (counting ties as a half win) by the number of games played. The five highest-placed teams from each division progressing to compete in their respective finals series in the post-season, to determine the four division Premiers. The finals are played at the neutral venue of Blacktown Olympic Park, one of the venues for baseball during the 2000 Sydney Olympics
, and home of the Sydney Blue Sox
during the Australian Baseball League
, ABL.
At the end of the regular season, the Club Championship is calculated by:
The club with the highest total is declared the Club Champion.
- 1st Grade: 17 (Waverely & Petersham)
- 2nd Grade: 19 (Petersham)
- 3rd Grade: 16 (Petersham)
) was first established in 1894. But it was not until 1899 that what is now known as the NSW Major League was played, with Redfern as the inaugural winners. The league expanded in 1901 to include a second grade, with clubs fielding teams in both. Paddington won the premiership for both grades that year, a feat which has been achieved a total of 27 times over the 107 seasons of Second Grade played.
The League expanded again in 1911 to three grades. Though First and Second Grades have both been contested continuously since their respective introductions, Third Grade initially only lasted until the 1915 season. It was reintroduced for the 1918 and continued through to 1941. The league expanded to three grades once more in 1944, and with the exception of the following year has continued as such since.
1973 was the final year that the League played during the winter months, as the Australian Baseball Federation
decided to make baseball a summer sport. The move was designed to allow more favourable weather conditions for spectators and players alike, and to bring it in line with baseball in the United States
. This saw the creation of the Sydney Winter League in 1974, and the first summer season of the NSW Major League played in 1974-75.
A Club Championship was introduced for the 1980-81 season, which was used to determine the best performing club over the three grades. Auburn was the first club to win the Championship, winning nine times in the first twelve seasons, though they have yet to win any since.
An Under 18s competition was incorporated into the League for the 1985-86 season, with Baulkham Hills the inaugural winners.
in the offseason of 2001, with the first NSWML All Star Games held during the season's Christmas break on 12 January 2002, held at ELS Hall Park. Three games were played: First Grade, Second Grade, and a combined Third Grade/Under 18s game. To determine the makeup of the teams, the teams were the 'Odds' and the 'Evens', based on their position at the time of the game. The 'Evens' won all three games.
The following season it was decided to change the format to have a doubleheader
contested between the NSW Patriots
Claxton Shield
squad and a Major League All-Stars team. Though the quality of games was high, fewer were in attendance, which resulted in the decision to revert to having the separate grades each with their own all-star game.
From the 2003-04 season it was decided that the teams in the all-star games would be determined geographically:
The current all-star winners are:
Since the switch to geographic-based all-star teams, no division has won both the First & Second Grade games in the same season.
In addition to the all-star games, a home run derby
has been held each season (with the exception of the 2006-07 season). Only Dane Tomaszewski has won the home run derby more than once, winning it in both 2002-03 and 2003–04, representing Blacktown both times. The reigning champion from the 2008-09 season is Jaron Van Dyke, representing the Central Coast.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. It is currently composed of clubs predominantly from Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, with one club from the Central Coast. The current first grade premiers are Blacktown, and the current club champions are Baulkham Hills.
Structure
The NSW Major League is composed of four separate divisions of play. Each club participating is required to field a team in each division, of:- 1st Grade
- 2nd Grade
- 3rd Grade
- Under 18s
The teams play a round-robin
Round-robin tournament
A round-robin tournament is a competition "in which each contestant meets all other contestants in turn".-Terminology:...
format of games that forms the regular season. The teams in each division are ranked on their win/loss percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
, dividing the number of wins (counting ties as a half win) by the number of games played. The five highest-placed teams from each division progressing to compete in their respective finals series in the post-season, to determine the four division Premiers. The finals are played at the neutral venue of Blacktown Olympic Park, one of the venues for baseball during the 2000 Sydney Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, and home of the Sydney Blue Sox
Sydney Blue Sox
The Sydney Blue Sox are a professional baseball team, and one of six foundation teams in the re-formed Australian Baseball League . The team plays their home games at Blacktown International Sportspark Sydney , one of the two venues for used for baseball at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, when it was...
during the Australian Baseball League
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...
, ABL.
At the end of the regular season, the Club Championship is calculated by:
- multiplying first grade's win/loss percentage by 20
- multiplying second grade's win/loss by 10
- multiplying both third grade's and under 18s' win/loss by 5
- totalling the above figures
The club with the highest total is declared the Club Champion.
Teams
The following 10 clubs competed in the 2010-11 season.| Club | Team Name | Home Ground(s) | Location | Club Championships |
Grade Premierships | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | U/18 | |||||
| Baulkham Hills | Kookaburras | Kellyville Park Northmead Reserve |
Kellyville Kellyville, New South Wales Kellyville is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Kellyville is located 36 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of The Hills Shire, part of the Hills District region.-History:... , Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... Northmead Northmead, New South Wales Northmead is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Northmead is located 26 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government areas of the City of Parramatta and The Hills Shire... , Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... |
11† | 7 | 9† | 7† | 4‡ |
| Blacktown | Workers | Laybutt Reserve | Huntingwood Huntingwood, New South Wales Huntingwood is a predominantly industrial suburb in the City of Blacktown, in Western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia.The composite name was chosen because the first English-style hunting is said to have taken place here and the 'Woods Estate', owned by the Woods family for... , Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... |
- | 1 | - | - | - |
| Canterbury Bankstown | Vikings | McLaughlin Oval | Riverwood Riverwood, New South Wales Riverwood is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Riverwood is located 18 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district and is part of the St George area... , Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... |
- | 9†‡ | 1 | 6 | 3 |
| Central Coast | Marlins | Adcock Park Baseball Park |
West Gosford West Gosford, New South Wales West Gosford is a suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the City of Gosford local government area.... , Central Coast East Gosford East Gosford, New South Wales East Gosford is a suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, located immediately southeast of Gosford's central business district... , Central Coast |
1 | - | 2‡ | - | 1 |
| Cronulla Sutherland | Sharks | Tom Evans Field Tonkin Oval |
Bonnet Bay Bonnet Bay, New South Wales Bonnet Bay is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Bonnet Bay is located 29 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the Sutherland Shire. The postcode is 2226, which it shares with neighbouring Jannali and Como... , Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... Cronulla Cronulla, New South Wales Cronulla is a beachside suburb, in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Cronulla is located 26 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Sutherland Shire.... , Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... |
2 | 1 | 3 | 4‡ | 5† |
| Macarthur | Orioles& | Gilchrist Oval | Campbelltown Campbelltown, New South Wales Campbelltown is a suburb in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Campbelltown is located 51 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Campbelltown.- History :Campbelltown... , Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... |
- | 1 | - | 1 | - |
| Manly Warringah | Eagles | Aquatic Reserve | Allambie Heights Allambie Heights, New South Wales Allambie Heights is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Allambie Heights is located 17 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Warringah Council and is part of the Northern Beaches region.- History :Allambie... , Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... |
- | 2 | 3 | - | 5† |
| North Shore | Knights | Blacktown Olympic Park | Rooty Hill Rooty Hill, New South Wales Rooty Hill is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Rooty Hill is located 42 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Blacktown and is part of the Greater Western Sydney region.-History:Rooty Hill was named after... , Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... |
- | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Penrith | Panthers | Andrews Road | Cranebrook Cranebrook, New South Wales Cranebrook is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Cranebrook is located 65 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Penrith and is part of the Greater Western Sydney region.... , Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... |
- | - | - | - | - |
| Ryde Eastwood | Hawks | ELS Hall Park | North Ryde North Ryde, New South Wales North Ryde is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. North Ryde is located 15 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Ryde... , Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... |
6‡ | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
- † - signifies most championships/premierships by an active club
- most championships/premierships by any club, where held by a non-active club;
- 1st Grade: 17 (Waverely & Petersham)
- 2nd Grade: 19 (Petersham)
- 3rd Grade: 16 (Petersham)
- ‡ - signifies current champion/premier
- & Macarthur Colts merged with Auburn Orioles in 2010/11. Prior to the merger Macarthur had one (1) 1st Grade title and one (1) 3rd Grade title.
- Championships correct as of the completion of 2009-10 season.
History
The NSW Baseball Association (the precursor to Baseball NSWBaseball NSW
Baseball NSW is the governing body of baseball within New South Wales . Baseball NSW is governed by the Australian Baseball Federation. It is located in Rooty Hill in Greater Western Sydney, and is based at Blacktown Olympic Park....
) was first established in 1894. But it was not until 1899 that what is now known as the NSW Major League was played, with Redfern as the inaugural winners. The league expanded in 1901 to include a second grade, with clubs fielding teams in both. Paddington won the premiership for both grades that year, a feat which has been achieved a total of 27 times over the 107 seasons of Second Grade played.
The League expanded again in 1911 to three grades. Though First and Second Grades have both been contested continuously since their respective introductions, Third Grade initially only lasted until the 1915 season. It was reintroduced for the 1918 and continued through to 1941. The league expanded to three grades once more in 1944, and with the exception of the following year has continued as such since.
1973 was the final year that the League played during the winter months, as the Australian Baseball Federation
Australian Baseball Federation
The Australian Baseball Federation is the national governing body of Baseball in Australia. Baseball is played in all the mainland states and territories, but it struggles for popularity due to the popularity of many other sports, including the comparable sport of cricket, in which Australia has...
decided to make baseball a summer sport. The move was designed to allow more favourable weather conditions for spectators and players alike, and to bring it in line with baseball in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. This saw the creation of the Sydney Winter League in 1974, and the first summer season of the NSW Major League played in 1974-75.
A Club Championship was introduced for the 1980-81 season, which was used to determine the best performing club over the three grades. Auburn was the first club to win the Championship, winning nine times in the first twelve seasons, though they have yet to win any since.
An Under 18s competition was incorporated into the League for the 1985-86 season, with Baulkham Hills the inaugural winners.
All-star games
The league first considered an all-star gameAll-star game
An all-star game is an exhibition game played by the best players in their sports league, except in the circumstances of professional sports systems in which a democratic voting system is used...
in the offseason of 2001, with the first NSWML All Star Games held during the season's Christmas break on 12 January 2002, held at ELS Hall Park. Three games were played: First Grade, Second Grade, and a combined Third Grade/Under 18s game. To determine the makeup of the teams, the teams were the 'Odds' and the 'Evens', based on their position at the time of the game. The 'Evens' won all three games.
The following season it was decided to change the format to have a doubleheader
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
contested between the NSW Patriots
New South Wales Patriots
New South Wales Patriots compete in the Claxton Shield baseball championship in Australia.The Patriots were one of the founding teams of the Claxton Shield in 1934 and competed as New South Wales until 1988 when the Claxtion Shield was awarded to the winner of the Australian Baseball League...
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...
squad and a Major League All-Stars team. Though the quality of games was high, fewer were in attendance, which resulted in the decision to revert to having the separate grades each with their own all-star game.
From the 2003-04 season it was decided that the teams in the all-star games would be determined geographically:
- North East division - including Central Coast, Cronulla, Manly Warringah, North Shore & Ryde Eastwood (as of 2008-09)
- South West division - including Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Canterbury, Macarthur & Penrith (as of 2008-09)
The current all-star winners are:
- First Grade - South West division
- Second Grade - North East division
- Third Grade/Under 18s - South West division
Since the switch to geographic-based all-star teams, no division has won both the First & Second Grade games in the same season.
In addition to the all-star games, a home run derby
Home Run Derby
The Home Run Derby is an event played prior to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. It is a contest among the top home run hitters in Major League Baseball to determine who can hit the most home runs. The event is currently sponsored by State Farm Insurance...
has been held each season (with the exception of the 2006-07 season). Only Dane Tomaszewski has won the home run derby more than once, winning it in both 2002-03 and 2003–04, representing Blacktown both times. The reigning champion from the 2008-09 season is Jaron Van Dyke, representing the Central Coast.
External links
- New South Wales Major League
- Auburn Orioles Baseball Club
- Baulkham Hills Baseball Club
- Blacktown Workers Baseball Club
- Canterbury Bankstown Baseball Club
- Central Coast Marlins Baseball
- Cronulla Sutherland Baseball Club
- Macarthur Colts Baseball League
- Manly Warringah District Baseball Club
- North Shore Baseball Club
- Penrith Baseball Club
- Ryde Eastwood Hawks
- Baseball NSW
- Australian Baseball Federation