Australian Baseball League 19891999

The Australian Baseball League (ABL) initially operated from 1989 to 1999, featuring teams such as the Sydney Blue Sox and Melbourne Metros, with many players imported from MLB's minor leagues. The league faced financial challenges and suspended operations in 1999.

Efforts to relaunch the ABL began in 2008 with collaboration between Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Australian Baseball Federation (ABF). The Claxton Shield format was introduced, eventually leading to a new league structure in 2010 under MLB's majority ownership (75%). The inaugural season started in 2010, featuring teams from Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, and Canberra, with players receiving an average salary of $800 per month.

By the 2018/2019 season, the league expanded to eight teams, including Auckland and Geelong-Korea. It is now organized into two divisions: South-West and North-East. This expansion and restructure aim to revitalize baseball in Australia with support from MLB and the ABF.