Ryan Searle - 2011-12 Brisbane Bandits

Ryan has played the last five years with the Chicago Cubs organisation, reaching the AAA level Iowa Cubs in the Pacific Coast League during 2012.  He has played for his hometown Brisbane Bandits during both ABL seasons to date and is ready to pitch in the upcoming 2012-13 season as well.

2011-12 Brisbane Badnits Ryan Searle card front - © 2012 Adam East

Tristan Crawford - 2011-12 Canberra Cavalry

Originally born in Alaska in the USA, Tristan is the older of the Crawford brothers to play with the Cavalry. Despite being born in the US, he and his brother Nathan are Aussies who grew up in Brisbane. Tristan played for Australian in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, as well as playing 10 seasons in the minor leagues (2000-2009). He spent most of his time with the Minnesota Twins organisation, reaching AAA level with them,  but also did stints with Washington and Philadelphia.

He pitched in 2 games for the Canberra Cavalry during the 2011-12 season.

2011-12 Canberra Cavalry Tristan Crawford card front - © 2012 Adam East

2011-12 Brisbane Bandits Team Released Set - Series II

Earlier in the year, the Brisbane Bandits released their own set of baseball cards, separate from those made by Select and released by the ABL. Unfortunately, I was unable to get a hold of a set (if anybody has one and is willing to part with it for a reasonable price, let me know :)). I believe that they were mainly available as giveaways and as a part of their Kids SubClub promotional packs.

Saw on Facebook on Friday that they're about to release series II of their team set. Checklist details are in the images below. I've yet to get a checklist for the first thirty cards released by them earlier in the year.

2011-12 Brisbane Bandits team released card (Series II) - Kenta Imamiya

2011-12 Brisbane Bandits team released card (Series II) -  Checklist front

2011-12 Brisbane Bandits team released card (Series II) -  Checklist front

Mitch Graham - 2011-12 Perth Heat

Hmmmm - I may ahve messed up the bio on this card. I had Graham down as being a Perth native, but I've since read that he was actually born in Tamworth, NSW. Either way, he's been a staple of the Perth Heat roster, playing 82 games across the first two ABL seasons. Played one year of Rookie level ball with the Philadelphia Phillies back in 2004

2011-12 Perth Heat Mitch Graham card front - © 2012 Adam East

Jarrett Commane - 2010-11 Canberra Cavalry

Commane is a New South Welshman who has made several brief cameo appearances for the Cavalry during the first two ABL seasons. Has played 3 games as the a starting pitcher, and appeared twice in relief during those two years. Nicknamed Chewy. Commane was the 2010-11 Sydney Major League Pitcher of the Year.

2010-11 Canberra Cavalry Jarrett Commane card front - © 2011 Adam East

Moko Moanaroa - 2011-12 Sydney Blue Sox

The older of the Moanaroa brothers, born in Newcastle, NSW, but true to his Maori heriatge, will be representing New Zealand at the 2012 World Baseball Classic. Moko has been a member of the Blue Sox for both ABL seasons. Spent four years in the Boston Red Sox minors system, reaching low A level before being released in 2011.

2011-12 Sydney Blue Sox Moko Moanaroa card front - © 2012 Adam East

Mike McGuire - 2011-12 Canberra Cavalry

American pitcher who reached high A level with both the Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies organisations, before being released in 2011. He spent 2011 and 2012 at the Camden Riverhsarks in the independent Atlantic League. Sandwiched between those seasons he played for the Cavalry in the 2011-12 ABL season.

McGuire lead the ABL in strikeouts with 63 over the season, including a record 14 in a single game against the Adelaide Bite during his time Down Under.

Was disappointed that I didn't get a decent shot of McGuire - I just didn't ever seem to be at any of the games he was pitching.

2011-12 Canberra Cavalry Mike McGuire card front - © 2012 Adam East

David Sutherland - 2011-12 Brisbane Bandits

This is my 2011-12 card for Bandits first baseman David Sutherland. Sutherland looks set to return to the Bandits for the coming 2012-13 ABL season.

2011-12 Brisbane Bandits David Sutherland card front - © 2012 Adam East

Michael Collins - 2011-12 Canberra Cavalry

At the age of 28, Collins is a Canberra baseball veteran. He started playing in the Rookie level leagues for the Anaheim Angels at age 16, and followed that with 11 seasons in the minors with both the Angels and the Padres, eventually reaching AAA level. He also played the first two ABL seasons with Canberra.

In 2012, Collins transitioned from playing to managing, looking after the Padres team in the Dominican Summer League. His experience at managing for the Padres lead to him being appointed as the Manager for the Canberra Cavalry for the 2012-13 ABL season following previous manager Steve Schrenk's inability to return for a third year.

2011-12 Canberra Cavalry Michael Collins card front - © 2012 Adam East

Daniel Schmidt - 2011-12 Perth Heat

Daniel Schmit was born in Cairns in Queensland, took up playing baseball whilst living in Singleton NSW, and ended up playing in the W State League. He made it onto the inaugural roster for the Perth Heat, and has not looked back since, considered the number one pitcher for the Heat. In 20 starts across the first 2 seasons, he has managed 12 wins.

Was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies at the 2006 National Championships, but had a series of three surgeries that prevented him from playing in the Minors before being released.

2011-12 Perth Heat Daniel Schmidt card front - © 2012 Adam East

Kyle Perkins 2011-12 Canberra Cavalry

The 2011-12 card for Perkins of the Cavalry. Kyle will be joined by his younger brother Robbie on the Canberra roster for the 21012-13 season.

2011-12 Canberra Cavalry Kyle Perkins - © 2012 Adam East

Craig Anderson - 2011-12 Sydney Blue Sox

Again, another  card I kind of cheated on. The photo of Anderson is actually from the 2010-11 season, that I used in a card I designed but didn't end up getting printed, so I reused the photo for the following season.

Born in Gosford NSW, Anderson played nine seasons of minor league baseball, reaching AAA level with both the Mariners and Orioles organisations. He has pitched in both ABL seasons with the Sydney Blue Sox, starting a combined 18 games during that time.

2011-12 Sydney Blue Sox Craig Anderson card front © 2012 Adam East

Brian Burgamy - 2011-12 Canberra Cavalry

Burgamy was an American import who played for the Cavalry during the 2011-12 season. Played in the Minors between 2002 and 2008, for the Padres, Phillies and Mets, reaching AA level. Since then he has been playing for the Camden Riversharks in the independent Atlantic League.  Burgamy was a batting sensation in the ABL, hitting .409, 12 homers and playing in every game. His feats earnt him two ABL Player of the Week awards, All-Star selection for the World Team as well as narrowly missing out on the ABL's MVP award.

Rumor has it that Burgamy will be returning to Canberra for the 2012-13 season.

2011-12 Canberra Cavalry Brian Burgamy card front © 2012  Adam East

Review: Select ABL 2012 cards

I've been away on holidays for the last two weeks, and have only just gotten my grubby little hands onto the official Select 2012 ABL cards.

I've updated the checklists in my previous posts of the Select team sets with the actual card numbers. Even though the cards are being sold as team sets, the cards are numbered from 1 through 72 across the 6 teams. The breakdown is Adelaide has cards numbered 1 through 12, Brisbane 13-24, Canberra 25-36, Melbourne 37-48, Perth 49-60 and Sydney 61 to 72.

The back of the players cards feature

• a head shot of the player, 
• stats for each season of ABL play, 
• a personal bio,
• logo for the ABL, Select, Subway and WhoDat. 

I'm presuming that the Subway and WhoDat advertising is due to some type of sponsorship of the cards. Subway - international fast food chain. WhoDat - small collectibles store in suburban Perth that I'd never heard of before ... and I'm originally from Perth :) Good on 'em!

The back of the team's logo card features the 2012-13 game schedule for the respective team.
The back of the mascot cards contain the checklist for the cards for the respective team set.

The official Select 2012 ABL card team sets. 

From what I've seen so far, they've mainly used action shots for the players, and they're a bit hit and miss - some are good and clear, others are grainy, unclear, or the players face is obscured. I'd have been happy to let them use some of my photos of these players :)

Each team set comes in their own resealable polybag. I noticed that one of my cards had a scratch on the front, whilst a colleague advised that several of her team sets came damaged in the mail, presumably during the shipping process. Hopefully these are isolated issues and not a quality control issue with the shipping process or at the manufacturing stage.

Otherwise, fairly happy with these - great to see official cards. The collectability of the various team sets depends on different factors. Melbourne have 4 current and former MLB players in their set, whilst Sydney have three. Canberra has included a number of American and Japanese imports in their set, whilst all teams feature a number of first ever cards of Aussie players. I'm happy to have them all :)

Joshua Roberts - 2011-12 Brisbane Bandits

Roberts is from Ipswich in Queensland and has been on the Bandits roster for both ABL seasons to date. Started playing in the Cleveland Indians minors organisation as a 17 year old, spending 3 years with the organisation, before being released. Had a busy 2011 with an unsuccessfully trial for Japan's Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in 2011, as well as playing Rugby League for the Ipswich Jets.

2011-12 Brisbane Bandits Joshua Roberts card front - © 2011 Adam East

Tim Atherton - 2011-12 Canberra Cavalry

Originally from Kempsey in New South Wales, Atherton has played in both ABL seasons with the Cavalry. He is a member of the Minnesota Twins organisation and spent 2012 playing for the Beloit Snappers in the A level Midwest League.

2011-12 Canberra Cavalry Tim Atherton card front - © 2012 Adam East

Cameron Lamb - 2011-12 Perth Heat

Like much of the Heat roster, Lamb is a native West Australian, who has been a member of the Perth bullpen over the first two ABL seasons. Lamb has been playing in the monors fro the San Francisco Giants since 2007, playing 2012 for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes in the low A level Northwest League.

2011-12 Perth Heat Cameron Lamb card front - © 2012 Adam East 

Ty Morrison - 2011-12 Canberra Cavalry

American import from the Tampa Bay Rays organisation who played with the Canberra Cavalry during the 2011-12 ABL season. Morrison was promoted by the Rays to the Montgomery Biscuits of the AA level Southern League during 2012.

2011-12 Canberra Cavalry Ty Morrison card front - © 2012 Adam East

Checklist - 2012 Adelaide Bite Select

The official 2012 Adelaide Bite baseball card set created by Select features cards of the following players:

2012 Adelaide Bite Logo card by Select

• 1 Adelaide Bite Logo
• 2 Tom Brice
• 3 Josh Cakebread
• 4 Jeremy Cresswell
• 5 Darren Fidge
• 6 Scott Gladstone
• 7 Wilson Lee
• 8 Paul Mildren
• 9 Dushan Ruzic
• 10 Stefan Welch
• 11 Ben Wigmore
• 12 Mascot "Chomper"

The Adelaide Bite team set of 12 cards can be ordered from the ABL Online Store for $AU9.99.

Checklist - 2012 Brisbane Bandits Select

The official 2012 Brisbane Bandits baseball card set created by Select features cards of the following players:

2012 Brisbane Bandits Logo card by Select

• 13 Brisbane Bandits Logo
• 14 Ryan Battaglia
• 15 Andrew Campbell
• 16 Brad Dutton
• 17 Wade Dutton
• 18 Justin Erasmus
• 19 Chris Mowday
• 20 Rory Rhodes
• 21 Josh Roberts
• 22 Ryan Searle
• 23 David Sutherland
• 24 Mascot "Buster"

The Brisbane Bandits team set of 12 cards can be ordered from the ABL Online Store for $AU9.99.

Checklist - 2012 Sydney Blue Sox Select

The official 2012 Sydney Blue Sox baseball card set created by Select features cards of the following players:

2012 Sydney Blue Sox Logo card by Select

• 61 Sydney BlueSox Logo
• 62 Craig Anderson
• 63 Trent D'Antonio
• 64 Mitch Dening
• 65 David Kandilas
• 66 Dae-Sung Koo
• 67 Boss Moanaroa
• 68 Chris Oxspring
• 69 Trent Schmutter
• 70 Brad Thomas
• 71 Jacob Younis
• 72 Mascot "Syd"

The Sydney Blue Sox team set of 12 cards can be ordered from the ABL Online Store for $AU9.99.

Checklist - 2012 Melbourne Aces Select

The official 2012 Melbourne Aces baseball card set created by Select features cards of the following players:

2012 Melbourne Aces Logo card by Select

• 37 Melbourne Aces Logo
• 38 Elliot Biddle
• 39 Travis Blackley
• 40 Josh Davies
• 41 Darryl George
• 42 Brad Harman
• 43 Justin Huber
• 44 Shane Lindsay
• 45 Daniel McGrath
• 46 Andrew Russell
• 47 Scott Wearne
• 48 Mascot "Maverick"

The Melbourne Aces team set of 12 cards can be ordered from the ABL Online Store for $AU9.99.

Checklist - 2012 Canberra Cavalry Select

The official 2012 Canberra Cavalry baseball card set created by Select features cards of the following players:

2012 Canberra Cavalry Logo card by Select

• 25 Canberra Cavalry Logo
• 26 Takumi Akiyama
• 27 Tim Atherton
• 28 Hayden Beard
• 29 Brian Burgamy
• 30 Michael Collins
• 31 Kody Hightower
• 32 Steven Kent
• 33 Mike McGuire
• 34 Ty Morrison
• 35 Kyle Perkins
• 36 Mascot "Sarge"

The Canberra Cavalry team set of 12 cards can be ordered from the ABL Online Store for $AU9.99.

Checklist - 2012 Perth Heat Select

The official 2012 Perth Heat baseball card set created by Select features cards of the following players:

2012 Perth Heat Logo card by Select

• 49 Perth Heat Logo
• 50 Aaron Bonomi 
• 51 Allan De San Miguel
• 52 Mitch Graham
• 53 Luke Hughes
• 54 Matt Kennelly
• 55 Tim Kennelly
• 56 Cameron Lamb
• 57 Warwick Saupold
• 58 Daniel Schmidt
• 59 Robert Sorensen
• 60 Mascot "Heat Flash"

The Perth Heat team set of 12 cards can be ordered from the ABL Online Store for $AU9.99.