Sydney Blue Sox

Sydney Blue Sox
Information
LocationBlacktown, New South Wales
BallparkBlacktown International Sportspark
Founded2009
Division championships2010–11
Colours
    •   Carolina blue
    •   Black
    •   White
OwnershipAustralia Darren Macbeth and Robert Hazan[1]
ManagerAustralia Tony Harris
Uniforms
Sydney Blue Sox's inaugural season uniforms.Sydney Blue Sox uniforms including caps.Current as of 2015/16 season

The Sydney Blue Sox are a professional baseball team, and one of eight foundation teams in the re-formed Australian Baseball League (ABL). The team plays their home games at Blacktown International Sportspark (BISP),[2] one of the two venues used for baseball at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, when it was known as Blacktown Olympic Park. The Blue Sox hosted the league's Opening Day for the inaugural season on 6 November 2010, when they played against the Canberra Cavalry,[3] and won the game 1–0.[4] The Blue Sox are the only team in the Australian Baseball League to implement sabermetrics as a way to run their team with volunteer statistician, Anthony Rescan.[5]

Fan response was very positive for the Blue Sox in the lead up to their inaugural season. As the sole team in New South Wales, they attracted interest beyond the Sydney metropolitan region; as far north as Newcastle, which hosted the former ABL franchise Hunter Eagles throughout the 1990s. Five hundred season tickets were allocated for the 2010–11 season, which sold out two months prior to the season's start;[6] a waiting list for 2011–12 season tickets was soon created.[7] Such was the demand to see professional baseball return to Sydney, several games had sold out well in advance of their scheduled dates,[6] including the season opener.[8]

  1. ^ "Baseball Australia Announces New Sydney Blue Sox Ownership Deal". Sydney Blue Sox. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference bluesox was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Stockman, Jennifer (26 August 2010). "ABL Release Inaugural Season Schedule". Sydney Blue Sox. Australian Baseball League. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  4. ^ "Canberra @ Sydney boxscore". Australian Baseball League. 6 November 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  5. ^ "Effectively Wild Episode 700: Sabermetrics, Australia-Style". 29 June 2015.
  6. ^ a b Lewis, Daniel (29 October 2010). "Bases loaded: expats rush back for new league". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Australian Associated Press. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  7. ^ "Sydney Blue Sox 'Wait List for 2011' Season Tickets". Sydney Blue Sox website. Sydney Blue Sox. 21 September 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  8. ^ "Sydney Blue Sox Tickets Sold Out .... for Season Opener on Sat Nov 6". Sydney Blue Sox. Australian Baseball Federation. 3 November 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2010.