The Melbourne Aces are a professional baseball team in the Australian Baseball League based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Their home field is the Melbourne Ballpark in Altona.

Melbourne Aces
Information
LocationMelbourne, Victoria
BallparkMelbourne Ballpark
Founded2009
Division championships2 (2016–17, 2020–21)
Post-season championships2 (2019–20, 2020–21)
Colours
    •   Red
    •   Midnight blue
    •   White
OwnershipBrett Ralph and Shaun Ralph
ManagerPeter Moylan
General ManagerJustin Huber

History

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On 20 August 2010 it was announced that ex-Australian Baseball player Philip Dale would take up the head coaching role at Melbourne Aces.[1]

On 12 October 2010, it was announced by newly appointed General Manager Windsor Knox that the Aces would play home games at a redeveloped Melbourne Showgrounds.[2]

In their inaugural season the Melbourne Aces qualified for the finals before being defeated in the semi-finals series against the Adelaide Bite.

On 24 March 2011 the team announced Jet Couriers as their naming rights sponsor for the 2011–12 season.[3]

On 13 July 2012, after many rumours and internet hype, the Melbourne Aces finally announced that they will move from their home field at the Showgrounds to the Melbourne Ballpark in Altona.[4] The move has annoyed and ostracized many Aces supporters from the South Eastern suburbs, but it was the only viable option for them to continue playing in the ABL. The Showgrounds was deemed to be an unsuitable field to play on in the 3rd season. The main reasons being the Aces would not be the sole occupants of the field, having to compete with carnivals, horse shows, music festivals etc. The Showgrounds were also alleged to be booked out until late December, meaning the Aces would have to find a different home venue for the first half of the season.

The Aces won their first ABL championship in 2020 when they defeated the Adelaide Giants in the 2020 ABL Championship Series 2 games to 0, bringing the Claxton Shield to Victoria for the first time since 2010, the 24th time a team from Victoria has won the shield.[5]

Current roster

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Active Roster Reassigned Players Coaching staff
Pitchers

Right-handed pitchers

Left-handed pitchers

Catchers
  • 13   Chris Burke
  •  9   Kyle Perkins
  • 22   Jake Romanski

Infielders

Outfielders

Pitchers

Infielders

  • 23   Jordan Young

Outfielders

  • 10   Charlie Collins
  •  7   Reece Longstaff

Coaches



  : 7-day disabled list

31 December 2020.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Stockman, Jennifer (20 August 2010). "Aces set to soar as Dale takes the Pilot's seat". Melbourne Aces. Australian Baseball Federation. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  2. ^ "New Home For Melbourne Baseball Hits Fever Pitch" (Press release). Government of Victoria (Australia), Minister for Sport & Recreation. 12 October 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  3. ^ "Aces announce Jet Couriers as major sponsor". 24 March 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  4. ^ "Aces New Home is the Melbourne Ballpark". 13 July 2012.
  5. ^ "Aces sweep Giants, claim first ABL title". 8 February 2020.
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