Melbourne Reds
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| Melbourne Reds | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| League | Australian Baseball League | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Location | Melbourne | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ballpark | Moorabin Oval | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year Founded | 1989-90 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year Defunct | 1999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | Reds | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championships | 1989-90, 1994-95, 1997-98 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Runner Up | 1995-96 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former name(s) | Waverley Reds | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former ballparks | Waverley Park (89-94) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mascot | Redmond | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998-99 | 20-23 (5th) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manager | Steve Livesey | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Red's Championships | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1989-90 | 1st | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1990-91 | 4th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991-92 | 3rd | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992-93 | 4th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993-94 | 6th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994-95 | 1st | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995-96 | 2nd | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996-97 | 8th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997-98 | 1st | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998-99 | 5th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Melbourne Reds(previously Waverley Reds) (now defunct) were the only team to win the Australian Baseball League championship 3 times. The Reds played originally at the home of VFL/AFL Football Waverley Park from 1989/90 until the 1993/94 Championship, when they moved to the former home ground of the St. Kilda Saints(a team in the AFL), Moorabbin Oval for the 1994/95 Championship up until the end of ABL play in 1999.
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[edit] On Field History
The Reds were arguably the most successful team in ABL history, having won the Championship title 3 times.
- 1989/90
The first season of ABL play the Reds burst out of the blocks winning 34 out of the 40 games, only losing 2 games at home. The Reds played off with cross-town rivals the Melbourne Monarchs, winning 3 out of the 4 play-off games to take out the Inaugural ABL championship.
- 1994/95
In their first season at Morrabbin Oval the Reds, with many new faces (most notably, Australian Major League superstar David Nilsson), the reds won 44 of the 58 games. Facing the 4th placed Sydney Blues in the "Best of 3" Semi-Finals, The Reds defeated the Blues 5-1 in Game 1, and then 7-4 in Game 2, Allowing the Reds to qualify for the Championship Series against Perth Heat, The Reds defeated Heat 5-1 in game 1, and then 4-2 in game 2 of the series to win their 2nd ABL Championship.
- 1997/98
After finishing last in the previous Championship the reds were looking for redemption. The Reds finished in the top 4 to qualify for the "3-day Round Robin Series" to be played at the Melbourne Ballpark. Facing the Sydney Storm on Day 1, the Reds easily accounted for the Storm 18-5. Day 2 saw the Reds win a tight game against the Gold Coast Cougars winning 2-1. Day 3 the Reds faced off with cross-town rival Melbourne Monarchs in a dead rubber, the Monarchs winning 12-5. The Reds then played off with the Gold Coast Cougars, which saw the Reds run out winners 4-3 in game 1, and then 4-0 in game 2, to become the only team to take out the Australian Baseball League Championship 3 times.
see also List of Waverley/Melbourne Reds players.
see also Waverley/Melbourne Reds top 10 statistics.
[edit] Off Field History
The Waverley Reds were created and founded by the Waverley Baseball Club in Melbourne. The Waverley Baseball Club were the original majority owners and managers of the team, until it was foreseen that ownership of the team was not going to be a profitable exercise and distanced themselves to avoid future debts affecting the Waverley Baseball Club.
Ownership of the team was picked up by a young American, Andy Karetsky. Although Karetsky had previously made attempts to purchase the Perth Heat he jumped at the opportunity for the majority ownership of the Waverley Reds. Throughout Karetsky's ownership many changes took place, most notably the move from Waverley Park to Moorabbin Oval before the 1994/95 Championship and the even bigger move from the Waverley Reds name to the more generic Melbourne Reds, in the hope of broadening the supporter base of the club. However, Karetsky had to sell his ownership of the Reds due to personal reasons a short time later.
After Karetsky, local Baseball junkie and businessman Geoff Pearce purchased the majority ownership of the Reds, leading into the most difficult time of the ABL. Dwindling crowd numbers, severe lack of media attention and the ever shrinking budget of the club took away a lot of the early excitement and entertainment from the Reds games. However, with all these factors Pearce lead the club to its last hurrah in the 1997/98 Championship, becoming the only team to win the ABL competition 3 times. However, after the next season the League and Reds were forced to close their doors for many reasons after the short 10 years of the League.
[edit] Uniform
Waverley white with red trim top with "Reds" across the front, Red undershirt, white pants with red double strip down the leg, white socks with red t-bars.
Melbourne Home - white with red trim top with "Reds" across the front, navy blue undershirt, white pants with red strip down the leg, white socks with red t-bars. Away - same as home but with grey where white is.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
| Australian Baseball League Australian Baseball Federation | Claxton Shield | International Baseball League of Australia ABL Seasons: 1989-90 | 1990-91 | 1991-92 | 1992-93 | 1993-94 | 1994-95 | 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 2007-08 |
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Adelaide Team | Australian Privincial | Melbourne Team | Perth Heat | Queensland Team | Sydney Team |
