Phillip Dale (born 8 August 1962 in
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
), is an Australian former
minor league baseball player and is currently a coach with the
Australia national baseball team
The Australian national baseball team represents Australia in international baseball tournaments and competitions. It is ranked as the top team in Oceania, and is the Oceanian Champion, having been awarded the title in 2007 when New Zealand wi ...
.
Dale has had a long and illustrious baseball career and was the first Australian to receive a 4-year baseball scholarship to an American university (
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University (GS or Georgia Southern) is a public research university in the U.S. state of Georgia. The flagship campus is in Statesboro, and other locations include the Armstrong Campus in Savannah and the Liberty Campus in Hine ...
). He also was a pitcher for the Australian national team, spent four seasons in the
minor leagues
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in Nor ...
, reaching AA. Dale then became one of the best players in the
Australian Baseball League
The Australian Baseball League (ABL) is a professional baseball league in Australia. The league is governed by the Australian Baseball Federation (ABF). It uses the same name as a now-defunct competition held during the 1990s, and though it sh ...
, setting several records. After his playing career, he went into scouting and coaching, including being the pitching coach for a
silver medal
A silver medal in sports and other similar areas involving competition is a medal made of, or plated with, silver awarded to the second-place finisher, or runner-up, of contests or competitions such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc ...
Athens 2004 Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympics ( el, Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004, ), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad ( el, Αγώνες της 28ης Ολυμπιάδας, ) and also known as Athens 2004 ( el, Αθήνα 2004), ...
Australian Olympic baseball team.
Background
Dale pitched for Australia in the
1982 Amateur World Series
The 1982 Amateur World Series was the 27th Amateur World Series (AWS), an international men's amateur baseball tournament. The tournament was sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (which titled it the Baseball World Cup as of the 19 ...
(
Baseball World Cup
The Baseball World Cup was an international tournament where national baseball teams from around the world competed. It was sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF). Along with the World Baseball Classic, it was one of two activ ...
). After which, he traveled to the US and pitched for
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University (GS or Georgia Southern) is a public research university in the U.S. state of Georgia. The flagship campus is in Statesboro, and other locations include the Armstrong Campus in Savannah and the Liberty Campus in Hine ...
, the first Australian baseball player to win a 4-year scholarship to a USA college. He was undrafted but signed a contract with the
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...
and debuted in 1985 for the
GCL Reds, going a very impressive 2–2 with 7 saves and a 0.89 ERA in 15 games for the team. He tied John Tanner for the
Gulf Coast League
The Florida Complex League (FCL) is a rookie-level Minor League Baseball league that operates in Florida, United States. Before 2021, it was known as the Gulf Coast League (GCL). Together with the Arizona Complex League (ACL), it forms the lo ...
lead in
saves and made the GCL All-Star team that year. He was then promoted to the
Tampa Tarpons
The Tampa Tarpons are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. They are located in Tampa, Florida. The Tarpons play their home games at George M. Steinbrenner Field, which is ...
and was 2–1 with a 2.20 ERA.
Phil was with Tampa for all of 1986, going a reasonable 5–4 with 3 saves and a 2.80 ERA. In '87, Dale was 4–4 with 12 saves for the
Cedar Rapids Reds
Cedar may refer to:
Trees and plants
*''Cedrus'', common English name cedar, an Old-World genus of coniferous trees in the plant family Pinaceae
*Cedar (plant), a list of trees and plants known as cedar
Places United States
* Cedar, Arizona
* ...
, posting a 2.95 ERA. He was released at the end of the 1988 season, when he had a 4–10 and a 4.30 ERA. Dale then moved on to work as a minor league coach in the Reds and
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. The Braves ...
chain following the end of his playing career in the USA.
Australian Baseball League
When the
Australian Baseball League
The Australian Baseball League (ABL) is a professional baseball league in Australia. The league is governed by the Australian Baseball Federation (ABF). It uses the same name as a now-defunct competition held during the 1990s, and though it sh ...
was founded in 1989–1990, Dale was manager of the
Waverley Reds
The Melbourne Reds were a Victorian-based baseball team in the Australian Baseball League. They were the only team to win the championship 3 times. The Reds originally played at the home of VFL/AFL football, Waverley Park from 1989 until the 19 ...
. He not only managed them to the pennant, but he also pitched, recording 9–2 with a 1.44 ERA, leading the league in ERA, wins and was third in
strikeouts
In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It usually means that the batter is out. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters, and is deno ...
, just missing a pitching
Triple Crown
Triple Crown may refer to:
Sports Horse racing
* Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
* Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United States)
** Triple Crown Trophy
** Triple Crown Productions
* Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
* Trip ...
. He picked up an even rarer Triple Crown, though, winning honours as Pitcher of the Year, Most Valuable Player on top of Manager of the Year.
Dale fell to 7–3, 3.18 in the 1990–1991 Australian Baseball League, still impressive figures however. Phil went an identical 7–3 with a 2.12 ERA in 1991–1992, being was second to Adrian Meagher in ERA and tied him for wins. In 1992–1993, Dale posted a 3–5, 7 Sv, 2.47 after being moved to the bullpen. He won Manager of the Year honours and was the All-Star relief pitcher.
Dale went 4–5 with five saves and a 2.72 ERA in 1993–1994, and in the 1994–1995 ABL, he returned to rotation, but giving up managing to concentrate on playing, which worked, going 12–2 with 2 saves and ended up winning Pitcher of the Year honours for the second time, then picked up the championship round
MVP
In team sports, a most valuable player award, abbreviated 'MVP award', is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual (or individuals, in the instance of a tie) whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a particu ...
award as the Reds won their second pennant. He tossed a 4-hitter against the
Perth Heat
The Perth Heat is a baseball team in the current Australian Baseball League and a foundation member of the Australian Baseball League. It is now the most successful team in ABL, winning 15 Claxton Shields.
Australian Baseball League (1989–19 ...
to win the championship.
The Melbourne native fell to 4–5 with 3 saves, a 4.46 ERA in 1995–1996, but then moved to the
Melbourne Monarchs
The Melbourne Monarchs were one of the foundation members of the original (now defunct) Australian Baseball League.
History
The Monarchs had their licence revoked after the 1990–91 championship following a controversial dispute with Australia ...
for the next season. In the 1996–1997 ABL, Dale posted a 9–7, 3.70 record, tying for the most wins in the league. He went 1–0 with a 2.13 ERA in the
1997 Intercontinental Cup
The 1997 Intercontinental Cup was an association football match played on 2 December 1997 between Borussia Dortmund, winners of the 1996–97 UEFA Champions League, and Cruzeiro, winners of the 1997 Copa Libertadores. The match was played at the ...
for the
Australia national baseball team
The Australian national baseball team represents Australia in international baseball tournaments and competitions. It is ranked as the top team in Oceania, and is the Oceanian Champion, having been awarded the title in 2007 when New Zealand wi ...
, leading the side in ERA.
In the 1997–1998 Australian Baseball League, the now ageing Dale was 8–3 with a 4.03 ERA; in innings, he struck out 95 and walked 19. He led the ABL in complete games (9), wins, innings pitched and strikeouts. Back on the international scene, Dale pitched for Australia in the
1998 Baseball World Cup
The 1998 Baseball World Cup (BWC) was the 33rd international Men's amateur baseball tournament. The tournament was sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation, which titled it the Amateur World Series from the 1938 tournament through the ...
, going 1–1 with a 4.76 ERA. During the 1998–1999 ABL campaign he was less impressive, going 2–4 and a 4.56 ERA for the Monarchs to conclude his professional playing career.
Dale was 65–39 with 18 saves and a 3.19 ERA in a decade in the Australian Baseball League. He completed 58 of 102 starts. Dale was 5th all-time in the ABL in ERA, .10 ahead of big leaguer
Pat Ahearne
Patrick Howard Ahearne (born December 10, 1969) is an American former professional baseball pitcher.
Career Amateur career
Ahearne grew up in Albuquerque but later moved to Playa del Rey, Los Angeles where he attended St. Bernard High School. ...
and .28 ahead of another big leaguer,
Shayne Bennett
Shayne Anthony Bennett (born 10 April 1972) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for North Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL), and was a right-handed baseball pitcher, who last played in Major Leag ...
. He was also first in wins (but also losses), innings pitched.
Post ABL
For the next ten years Dale found himself as a coach for the Australian national team. He held that position in the
2000 Olympics
The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad and also known as Sydney 2000 (Dharug: ''Gadigal 2000''), the Millennium Olympic Games or the Games of the New Millennium, was an international multi-sport event held from 1 ...
,
2001 Baseball World Cup
The 2001 Baseball World Cup (BWC) was the 34th international Men's amateur baseball tournament. The tournament was sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation, which titled it the Amateur World Series from the 1938 tournament through the ...
,
2004 Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympics ( el, Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004, ), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad ( el, Αγώνες της 28ης Ολυμπιάδας, ) and also known as Athens 2004 ( el, Αθήνα 2004), ...
(silver medalists),
2005 Baseball World Cup
The 2005 Baseball World Cup (BWC) was the 36th international Men's amateur baseball tournament. The tournament was sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation, which titled it the Amateur World Series from the 1938 tournament through the ...
,
2006 World Baseball Classic
The 2006 World Baseball Classic (WBC) was the inaugural tournament between national baseball teams that included players from Major League Baseball. It was held from March 3 to 20 in stadiums that are in and around Tokyo, Japan; San Juan, Puerto ...
,
2006 Intercontinental Cup
The 2006 IBAF Intercontinental Cup was held in Taichung, Taiwan from November 9 through the 19th. Eight countries contested the tournament, which was played at Taichung Baseball Field and the newly built Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium ...
,
2007 Baseball World Cup
The 2007 Baseball World Cup (BWC) was the 37th international Men's amateur baseball tournament. The tournament was sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation, which titled it the Amateur World Series from the 1938 tournament through the ...
, 2008 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament and
2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic (WBC) was an international baseball competition. It began on 5 9 and finished 5 26.
Unlike in 2006, when the round-robin format of the first two rounds led to some eliminations being decided by run-difference ti ...
. Dale is also a scout for the
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. The Braves ...
, covering
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...
and
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
in addition to Australia.
Dale was announced as the
Melbourne Aces
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.
History
On Friday, 20 August 2010 it was announced that ex ...
head coach in the new
Australian Baseball League
The Australian Baseball League (ABL) is a professional baseball league in Australia. The league is governed by the Australian Baseball Federation (ABF). It uses the same name as a now-defunct competition held during the 1990s, and though it sh ...
Personal life
Dale's nephew,
Jon Kennedy
Jon Kennedy is a drummer and electronic musician who was born in Dukinfield, Greater Manchester, England.
He was discovered in 2000 when he passed a demo CD to Ninja Tune artist Mr Scruff. Scruff played tracks from the CD soon after on his "U ...
, is also a professional baseball player.
References
External links
Phillip Dale Baseball Radio National Interview
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dale, Philip
1962 births
Living people
Australian expatriate baseball players in the United States
Baseball coaches
Baseball pitchers
Baseball players from Brisbane
Cedar Rapids Reds players
Chattanooga Lookouts players
Gulf Coast Reds players
Tampa Tarpons players