Because the ABL's season takes place from November to February, the ABL is one of baseball's recognised winter leagues (although it is summer in Australia when the season takes place), where minor-league prospects in North America are often assigned as an English-speaking alternative to the primary Spanish-speaking Latin America-based winter leagues.

[1] Rather than following more traditional models of the franchises being owned privately by individuals or organisations, the league is the owner of each team.

One of the rationales for this structure is to closely manage the financial situation, helping to ensure that all teams are equally viable.

It is expected that this arrangement will continue for at least the first five seasons: the period of time covered by the financial commitment made by MLB and the ABF.

The ABL has considered the possibility of having one or two marquee players paid above the standard scale, though no final decision has been made with regard to this.

ABF management has also expressed the concern that if this league were to fail, there may never be another opportunity for professional baseball in Australia.

Following the A.G. Spalding tour by the Chicago White Sox and All-America teams in 1888 & 1889, Harry Simpson stayed in Australia, formed baseball clubs in Melbourne, Adelaide, Broken Hill, and eventually Sydney with competition games being played.

When he suddenly died in September 1891, after setting up the NSW Baseball League, it was a New Zealander, Tony Chuck, who took his place in Australia.

At the time, it replaced the Claxton Shield as the top baseball competition in the country, with eight teams from Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

The offer, however, was declined on the basis that there was not sufficient infrastructure, specifically citing the need for a suitable stadium and a major sponsor for the team.

[2] On 18 November 2009, it was announced by the ABF that the Canberra bid was successful, confirming that the inaugural season would include six teams.

For each franchise, four team-name options were available to choose from, in addition to being able to enter another name created by the entrant.

[17] In the league's second season, it was announced that an All-Star Game would take place, to be held in Perth on 21 December 2011.

[18] For the first two ABL seasons, the postseason involved the top four teams in a three-round structure following the Page playoff system.

The winner of the championship series is named the ABL Champion for that season, and is awarded the Claxton Shield; the prize given to the top Australian baseball team since 1934.

[28] The Asia Series is held in November, which would otherwise create a conflict for the ABL champion team as the following season would have already commenced.

These development list players must be 23 years of age or younger, have Australian citizenship or residency and not yet accumulated 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched.

[34] The Adelaide Bite,[35] Brisbane Bandits[36] and Perth Heat[37] provided free audio and video streaming through internet website Ustream.

For the second season, Fox Sports expanded its television coverage of the ABL to include the All-Star Game in addition to the championship series.

[40] In recent years, ABL coverage of its All-Star Game and championship series has expanded to Canada through SportsNet (effectively simulcasting MLB Network in the United States).

[45] In 2022, it was announced that Baseball Australia and Sportradar would be launching a streaming service that would broadcast every ABL game beginning with the 2023–24 season.

[48] Prior to being renamed the Giants, the Adelaide Bite used a name that the South Australia state baseball team has previously used at various times in the Claxton Shield, which in turn refers both to the great white shark common to South Australian waters as well as the geographic feature, the Great Australian Bight.

[47] Likewise, the Melbourne Aces uses the Victoria state baseball team's moniker from Claxton Shield competitions past.

[50] The Canberra Cavalry and the Sydney Blue Sox both use names not previously used in Australian baseball at the national level.

[59] An additional two teams would be similar to the Geelong-Korea concept; a foreign sponsored roster based in an Australian city.

[62] In October 2018, it was announced by Baseball Australia that it was working towards a women's ABL and began a process of crowd funding to help kick start the league with the support of sponsors and partners.

[63] Four teams were confirmed to be a part of the first season with licenses were granted to the Adelaide Giants, Brisbane Bandits, Canberra Cavalry and Baseball Victoria.

Auckland, Geelong, Perth and Sydney opted against submitting a team in the inaugural competition, but expressed interest in joining after the first season.