OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - A brief history of the Australia-New Zealand Baseball League (AUNZBL, 2019-2119)

Izz · 09-07-2014, 10:59 PM

2019/2020

Perhaps the greatest surprise of the inaugural season, according to what limited archived data we have, was the fact that New Zealand took to baseball with a passion. Formerly a softball stronghold, baseball had, by all accounts, been steadily picking up support pre-War, and it seemed with no international softball on the horizon post-War, the country’s softball players decided to try the overarm sport instead.

Unfortunately, much of the statistical data for the early seasons has been lost, but we do know the following:

The Inaugural AUNZBL Championship was won by the Christchurch Cowboys, who finished second in their division with a 92-70 record, but won their 5-game Division Finals series against the Perth Heat, and then the 7-game Championship Series against the Sydney Blue Sox.

Slugger of the year went to Canberra Cavalry 2nd baseman Stewart ‘Cricket’ Warwick, a 22 year-old converted cricket player who’d avoided the military draft due to New Zealand’s 2017 withdrawal from The War. He went .357/.424/.596 with 22 homeruns in his debut season (WAR 8.0, VORP 75.2). Unsurprisingly, he also picked up the Rookie of the Year award.

Hurler of the Year went to Sydney Blue Sox ace Carlo Browne, a 28-year old right-hander who went 18-9, throwing 234 innings for a 3.12 ERA (3.71 FIP), a 5.1 WAR and a 50.8 VORP.

09-07-2014, 10:59 PM	#2
Izz Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 2,469	2019/2020 Perhaps the greatest surprise of the inaugural season, according to what limited archived data we have, was the fact that New Zealand took to baseball with a passion. Formerly a softball stronghold, baseball had, by all accounts, been steadily picking up support pre-War, and it seemed with no international softball on the horizon post-War, the country’s softball players decided to try the overarm sport instead. Unfortunately, much of the statistical data for the early seasons has been lost, but we do know the following: The Inaugural AUNZBL Championship was won by the Christchurch Cowboys, who finished second in their division with a 92-70 record, but won their 5-game Division Finals series against the Perth Heat, and then the 7-game Championship Series against the Sydney Blue Sox. Slugger of the year went to Canberra Cavalry 2nd baseman Stewart ‘Cricket’ Warwick, a 22 year-old converted cricket player who’d avoided the military draft due to New Zealand’s 2017 withdrawal from The War. He went .357/.424/.596 with 22 homeruns in his debut season (WAR 8.0, VORP 75.2). Unsurprisingly, he also picked up the Rookie of the Year award. Hurler of the Year went to Sydney Blue Sox ace Carlo Browne, a 28-year old right-hander who went 18-9, throwing 234 innings for a 3.12 ERA (3.71 FIP), a 5.1 WAR and a 50.8 VORP.