Marcus Bradley - 2013-14 Brisbane Bandits

Bradley is an American import who played with the Brisbane Bandits during the 2013-14 ABL season. He had previously spent three years in the minors with the Cleveland Indians organisation between 2010 - 2012, reaching High-A in 2012. I can't find any mention of what he was doing during 2013, so I'm presuming he had been released by the Indians by then and that his time with Brisbane was an attempt to get back into the spotlight during the American winter.

2013-14 Brisbane Bandits Marcus Bradley card front - © 2013

Blake Holovach - 2013-14 Adelaide Bite

Holovach is a prospect for the Seattle Mariners who was sent down to the ABL as an import for the Adelaide Bite for the 2013-14 ABL season. Holovach spent 2013 playing for the Clinton Lumberkings in the Single A Midwest League.

2013-14 Adelaide Bite Blake Holovach card front - © 2014 Adam East

Boss Moanaroa - 2013-14 Sydney Blue Sox

Moanaroa spent 2013 playing for the Red Sox' Single A affiliate , the Greenville Drive, but a poor season resulted in him being released by Boston after 5 years in the minors. He was originally slated to be on the Blue Sox roster at the start of the season, but only ended up joining Sydney for the last 2 series of the season and the playoffs, making 2013-14 his fourth year in the ABL.

2013-14 Sydney Blue Sox Boss Moanaroa card front - © 2014 Adam East

Joey Wong - 2013-14 Perth Heat

Wong was an American import from the Colorado Rockies organisation who played with the Perth Heat during the 2013-14 ABL season. Wong spent 2013 playing for the Double-A level Tulsa Drillers in the Texas League.

Wong certainly seemed to enjoy his time Down Under, as well as winning the ABL Championship with his fellow Heat team mates, he was crowned both the MVP of the 2013-14 ABL All Star game and the MVP of the 2013-14 ABL Championship Series.

2013-14 Perth Heat Joey Wong card front - © 2014 Adam East

Justin Erasmus - 2013-14 Melbourne Aces

Erasmus spent the 2013 off-season playing for the Joliet Slammers and then the Gateway Grizzlies in the independent Frontier League in the USA before returning to Australia. He made a move from the Brisbane Bandits to the Melbourne Aces for the 2013-14 ABL season, his fourth ABL season in total.

2013-14 Melbourne Aces Justin Erasmus card front - © 2013 Adam East

Chris Motta - 2013-14 Canberra Cavalry

Motta debuted as an American import with the Canberra Cavalry in the 2012-13 ABl season, He did well enough to be signed by the Philadelphia Phillies, resulting in him playing with the GCL Phillies in 2013 before being released. He returned to the Cavalry for a second season in 2013-14.

This photo may not seem like much, but it's one I'm quite pleased with - it was one of the first semi-decent night shots I got with my new camera. I'm still having a a few issues with correcting the color in post processing, but this is 100% better than what I would get in a similar night shot with my previous camera.

2013-14 Canberra Cavalry Chris Motta card front - © 2014 Adam East

Casey Barnes - 2013-14 Brisbane Bandits

Barnes was an American import who played with the Brisbane Bandits during the 2013-14 ABL season. Barnes had spent 2011 in the Philadelphia Phillies organisation, playing Rookie and A level ball before being released.

In 2013 he played with the River City Rascals of the independent Frontier League.

2013-14 Brisbane Bandits Casey barnes card front - © 2013 Adam east

Dingo 2013-14 Sydney Blue Sox - Series Three Checklist

Here is the checklist for series three of the 2013-14 Sydney Blue Sox cards released by Dingo Cards on the 1st January 2014.

Dingo 2013-14 Sydney Blue Sox Series Three Header/Checklist Card - front

Dingo 2013-14 Sydney Blue Sox Series Three Header/Checklist Card - back

Here are the ten cards that make up Dingo's 2013-14 Sydney Blue Sox Series Three set of cards:

Card Number: Player: (Nationality, current or past MLB affiliation)
169 David Kandilas (Australia, played 2013 with the Colorado Rockies organisation.)
170 Joshua Dean (Australia, played 2 seasons with the Minnesota Twins organisation between 2005-06)
171 Guy Edmonds (Australia, played 3 seasons with the Texas Rangers organisation between 2010-12)
172 Michael Lysaught (Australia, played 3 seasons with the Minnesota Twins organisation between 2004-06)
173 Luke Wilkins (Australia)
174 Josh Guyer (Australia, played 2013 with the Minnesota Twins organisation.)
175 Vaughan Harris (Australia)
176 Trent Schmutter (Australia)
unnumbered - Header / Checklist Card
unnumbered -  Dingo advert on front / Release Schedule for Sydney Blue Sox card sets on back

Josh Cakebread - 2013-14 Adelaide Bite

Cakebread returned for his fourth season with the Adelaide Bite during the 2013-14 ABL season.

2013-14 Adelaide Bite Josh cakebread card front - © 2013 Adam East

Dingo 2013-14 Perth Heat - Series Three Checklist

Here is the checklist for series three of the 2013-14 Perth Heat cards released by Dingo Cards on the 1st January 2014.

Dingo 2013-14 Perth Heat Series Three Header/Checklist Card - front

Dingo 2013-14 Perth Heat Series Three Header/Checklist Card - back

Here are the ten cards that make up Dingo's 2013-14 Perth Heat Series Three set of cards:

Card Number: Player: (Nationality, current or past MLB affiliation)
161 Matt Kennelly (Australia, played 2013 with the Cincinnati Reds organisation.)
162 Josh Silvi (Australia)
163 Adam Millson (Australia)
164 Scott Mitchinson (Australia, played 6 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and Oakland Athletics organisations between 2004-09)
165 Kevin Grendell (USA, played 2013 with the Baltimore Orioles organisation.)
166 Jack Frawley (USA, played 2 seasons with the Houston Astros organisation between 2009-2010)
167 Jesse Barron (Australia*)
168 Zachary Staniewicz (USA, played 2013 with the Baltimore Orioles.)
unnumbered - Header / Checklist Card
unnumbered -  Dingo advert on front / Release Schedule for Perth Heat card sets on back

*There appears to be an uncorrected error on card 167. Jesse Barron was born in Port Hedland, Western Australia, Australia, but is listed on the card as being born in Port Hedland, Washington, USA. Somebody seems to have got their WAs mixed up :)

Trent Oeltjen - 2013-14 Sydney Blue Sox

Former Australian MLB player Oeltjen made a a cameo appearance for the Blue Sox during the 2013-14 ABL season, playing 13 games following his release by the Anaheim Angels. This was actually his second appearance in the ABL, having played 2 games for Sydney in the inaugural 2010-11 ABL season.

Oeltjen played 99 games of MLB baseball between 2009 and 2011 with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers and has 13 years of experience playing in the minors. In 2013 he played for the Salt Lake Bees, the Anaheim Angels' Triple A affiliate before being released.

His two cameos in the ABL couldn't have been more different. In 2010-11 he failed to get a hit in either of his two games. In 2013-14 he batted .465 in his 13 game stint.

2013-14 Sydney Blue Sox Trent Oeltjen card front - © 2014 Adam East

George Barber - 2013-14 Perth Heat

Barber is an American import who played with the Perth Heat during the 2013-14 ABL season. Barber was originally drafted by the Anaheim Angels in 2010, spending a year playing Rookie ball before being released. He went back to studying Nursing, before being given a call by the Baltimore Orioles in 2013. The Orioles shuffled him between Double A, Single A and Low A teams in 2013 before releasing him. He obviously came across to Perth to try and enhance his chances of being resigned. Making it as a member of the World All-Star team during the season certainly wouldn't have hurt his chances.

2013-14 Perth Heat George Barber card front - © 2013 Adam East

Dingo 2013-14 Melbourne Aces - Series Three Checklist

Here is the checklist for series three of the 2013-14 Melbourne Aces cards released by Dingo Cards on the 1st January 2014.

Dingo 2013-14 Melbourne Aces Series Three Header/Checklist Card - front

Dingo 2013-14 Melbourne Aces Series Three Header/Checklist Card - back

Here are the ten cards that make up Dingo's 2013-14 Melbourne Aces Series Three set of cards:

Card Number: Player: (Nationality, current or past MLB affiliation)
153 Joe Burns (USA, played 2013 with the Texas Rangers.)
154 Corey Kimes (USA, played 2 seasons with the Minnesota Twins organisation between 2011-12)
155 Sam Gibbons (Australia, played 2013 with the Minnesota Twins organisation.)
156 Travis Blackley (Australia, former MLB Player)
157 Justin Erasmus (Australia, played 4 seasons with the Boston Red Sox organisation between 2009-2012)
158 Bubbie Buzachero (USA, played 9 seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Indians and Houston Astros organisations between 2002-2010)
159 Trevor Holder (USA, played 2013 with the San Diego Padres.)
160 Ben Leslie (Australia, played 2013 with the San Francisco Giants.)
unnumbered - Header / Checklist Card
unnumbered -  Dingo advert on front / Release Schedule for Melbourne Aces card sets on back

Darryl George - 2013-14 Melbourne Aces

Aussie youngster George finally moved up out of the Tampa Bay Rays' rookie leagues in 2013, playing for the Hudson Valley Renegades in the low A level New York-Pennsylvania League. He returned to the Melbourne ACes for the 2013-14 ABL season, his third in the ABL.

Again, another bat staring contest photo. :)

2013-14 Melbourne Aces Darryl George card front - © 2013 Adam East

Dingo 2013-14 Canberra Cavalry - Series Three Checklist

Here is the checklist for series three of the 2013-14 Canberra Cavalry cards released by Dingo Cards on the 1st January 2014.

Dingo 2013-14 Canberra Cavalry Series Three Header/Checklist Card - front

Dingo 2013-14 Canberra Cavalry Series Three Header/Checklist Card - back

Here are the ten cards that make up Dingo's 2013-14 Canberra Cavalry Series Three set of cards:

Card Number: Player: (Nationality, current or past MLB affiliation)
177 Kyle Perkins (Australia, played 1 season with the New York Yankees in 2011.)
178 Jeff Lyman (USA, played 7 seasons with the Atlanta Braves, Oakland Athletics and St Louis Cardinals organisations between 2005-11)
179 Ethan Cole (USA, played 2 seasons with the St Louis Cardinals organisation between 2011-12.)
180 Keith Ward (Australia)
181 Sam Thornton (Australia)
182 Nick Pugliese (USA, played 4 seasons with the Los Angeles Angels organisation between 2008-11)
183 Michael Morgan (USA)
184 Hayden Beard (Australia, played 1 season with the New York Mets organisation in 2006 and 3 years with the San Diego Padres between 2010-12)
unnumbered - Header / Checklist Card
unnumbered -  Dingo advert on front / Release Schedule for Canberra Cavalry card sets on back

Michael Wells - 2013-14 Canberra Cavalry

I had though that Wellsy would retire following the Cavalry's championship last season, but the 41 year old veteran returned to the Cavalry in 2013-14 for his fourth season in the new ABL. His Australian baseball game tally now stands at 361 games - 220 in the "old" ABL, 20 in the Claxton Shield and 121 in the "new" ABL (so far) ... with maybe another game tonight in the ABL Championship Series starting this evening.

2013-14 Canberra Cavalry Michael Wells card front - © 2013 Adam East

Dingo 2013-14 Brisbane Bandits - Series Three Checklist

Here is the checklist for series three of the 2013-14 Brisbane Bandits cards released by Dingo Cards on the 1st January 2014.

Dingo 2013-14 Brisbane Bandits Series Three Header/Checklist Card - front

Dingo 2013-14 Brisbane Bandits Series Three Header/Checklist Card - back

Here are the ten cards that make up Dingo's 2013-14 Brisbane Bandits Series Three set of cards:

Card Number: Player: (Nationality, current or past MLB affiliation)
145 Casey Barnes (USA, played 1 season with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2011.)
146 Andrew Aizenstadt (USA, played 3 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies organisation between 2011-13)
147 Mickey Jannis (USA, played 2 seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays organisation between 2010-11.)
148 Patrick Leonard (USA)
149 Tristan Crawford (Australia, played 10 seasons with the Minnesota Twins, Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies organisations between 2000-09)
150 Craig Goodman (USA)
151 Steven Greer (Australia)
152 Mitch Evans (Australia, played 3 seasons with the New York Yankees organisation between 1999-2001)
unnumbered - Header / Checklist Card
unnumbered -  Dingo advert on front / Release Schedule for Brisbane Bandits card sets on back

Logan Wade - 2013-14 Brisbane Bandits

Wade spent 2013 playing for the Elizabethton Twins, a Rookie level affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. He returned to the Brisbane Bandits for the 2013-14 ABL season, his second season in the ABL.

2013-14 Brisbane Bandits Logan Wade card front - © 2013 Adam East

Dingo 2013-14 Adelaide Bite - Series Three Checklist

After 2 weeks and a follow up email, my "Express Shipment" of the Series Three sets of Dingo team sets finally arrived last Friday. So without further ado, here is the checklist for series three of the 2013-14 Adelaide Bite cards released by Dingo Cards on the 1st January 2014.

Dingo 2013-14 Adelaide Bite Series Three Header/Checklist Card - front

Dingo 2013-14 Adelaide Bite Series Three Header/Checklist Card - back

Here are the ten cards that make up Dingo's 2013-14 Adelaide Bite Series Three set of cards:

Card Number: Player: (Nationality, current or past MLB affiliation)
137 Wilson Lee  (Australia, played 2 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates organisation between 2011-12.)
138 Min-Seh Chen (Taiwan, played in Seattle Mariners organisation in 2013)
139 Kyle Brueggemann (USA)
140 Elliott Smith (USA)
141 Dylan Child (Australia, played 3 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates organisation between 2010-12)
142 Fu-Te Ni (Taiwan, played 4 seasons with the Detroit Tigers organisation between 2009-12)
143 Reed Brown (USA)
144 Brandon Kuter (Argentina, played 1 season with the Texas Rangers organisation in 2012)
unnumbered - Header / Checklist Card
unnumbered -  Dingo advert on front / Release Schedule for Adelaide Bite card sets on back

Stefan Welch - 2013-14 Adelaide Bite

Adelaide born Welch started 2013 with the Double-A level Altoona Curve in the Pittsburgh Pirates organisation, before being traded in June 2013 to the Boston Red Sox, starting in their High A Salem Red Sox affiliate. Following his time Stateside, Welch returned for his fourth ABL season with the Adelaide Bite in 2013-14

2013-14 Adelaide Bite Stefan Welch card front - © 2014 Adam East