Other Australian Baseball Pages
Australian Baseballers in the Major Leagues in the USA
Australia's best young baseballers have been popular for a long time with Major League Scouts in the United States. There are currently 60 Australians playing in the US Major League system ranging from Rookie Ball, A, AA, AAA to the Major Leagues. There are also a number of Australians who have won baseball scholarships to attend college in the US, allowing them to study and play baseball there. Australians have also played in semiprofessional leagues around the world including Canada, Japan and Sweden. The following Australian players have joined the ranks of the Major League in the United States : Craig Shipley: Infielder The second Australian (the first was Joe Quinn who played from 1884 1901) to play Major League Baseball when he debuted with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1986. He started playing baseball at the age of eight, and represented Australia at all levels for over ten years. Craig attended the University of Alabama, and now plays for the Houston Astros. Graeme Lloyd: Pitcher The first Australian pitcher ever to pitch in the Major Leagues. Lloyd was signed in 1988 and currently plays for the Milwaukee Brewers in the US and the Brisbane Bandits in the Australian Baseball League (ABL). David Nilsson: Catcher/Outfielder Signed a Major League contract in 1987 and currently plays for the Milwaukee Brewers alongside teammate Lloyd. Long considered Australia's most popular baseballer, he also plays for the Melbourne Reds in the ABL and is involved in developing the sport in Australia. Mark Hutton: Pitcher A third generation baseball player, Hutton has played since he was nine years old. After representing Australia in the 1987 and 1988 World Youth Championships, he signed with the New York Yankees, the richest baseball club in the 1995/96 . Mark Ettles: Pitcher After he represented Australia at all junior levels, Mark attended the University of Florida. He signed with the San Diego Padres in 1989. Mark played for Perth Heat in the Australian Baseball League from 19891993, and again in the 1995/96 season.DID YOU KNOW?
...Baseball was played in Australia as long ago as 1856, when American goldminers at Ballarat played on the diggings. ... Baseball became popular in Australia when American Arthur Spalding organised a world tour of American Baseball teams. The teams played several exhibition matches in Australia between December 1888 and January 1889. ...Baseball became a full medal Olympic sport in the 1992 Olympics at Barcelona. Previously, it was a demonstration sport in the 1904, 1912, 1936, 1952, 1956, 1964 and 1984 Olympics. ....The Australian Baseball League or ABL in Australia in 1995 consisted of eight teams the Perth Heats, Gold Coast Cougars, Sydney Blues, Melbourne Monarchs, Adelaide Giants, Hunter Eagles, Melbourne Reds and the Brisbane Bandits.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW YORK YANKEES FOR WINNING THE 1996 WORLD SERIES!
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