Jackson Boyd - 2017-18 Melbourne Aces

Boyd is an Aussie youngster who made his ABL debut with the Melbourne Aces during the 2017-18 ABL season. He was also a member of The Three Amigos from the Aces' bullpen.

2017-18 Melbourne aces Jackson Boyd card front - ©2018 Adam East

2017-18 Melbourne Aces Jackson Boyd alternate card front - ©2018 Adam East

Kyle Perkins - 2017-18 Canberra Cavalry

The older of the Perkins brothers returned for his sixth ABL season with the Cavalry during the 2017-18 ABL season.

I have to say that I was quite happy with the emotion I got in this shot.

2017-18 Canberra Cavalry card front- ©2018 Adam East

So Near, Yet So Far - Start of the 2018-19 ABL Season

Tonight marks the start of the 2018-19 ABL season with the 2 new expansion teams - the Auckland Tuatara and Geelong-Korea joining the competition with the 6 traditional Aussie clubs. Unfortunately for me though, the season still seems so far away. Because of renovations to Canberra's home stadium, they play the first 3 weeks away from home. Their home opening series will actually then occur in Week 4 when I'm away interstate visiting family. I won't actually get to see my first ABL game this season until the second Cavalry home series ... in Week 6 of the competition - basically half way through the season. That kind of sucks.

Below are the promos from the ABL Facebook page for the opening series of the season.

Andrew Campbell - 2017-18 Brisbane Bandits

Despite being only 26 years of age, Campbell is a veteran of the Bandits' lineup, returning for his eighth ABL season with  Brisbane during the 2017-18 ABL season.

2017-18 Brisbane Bandits Andrew Campbell card front - ©2018 Adam East

Jordan McArdle - 2017-18 Adelaide Bite

McArdle is a South Australian youngster who returned for his second season with the Adelaide Bite and in the ABL during the 2017-18 ABL season.McArdle has spent both 2017 and 2018 playing Rookie Level ball for the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Arizona League.

2017-18 Adelaide Bite Jordan McArdle card front - ©2018 Adam East

Alex Boshers - 2017-18 Perth Heat

Boshers is an American import who played with the Perth Heat during the 2017-18 ABL season. Boshers had spent the previous three seasons playing for the Wichita Wingnuts in the independent American Association. In 2018 he had a short stint with the the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in the independent Atlantic League before moving back to the American Association albeit now with the Winnipeg Goldeyes.

2017-18 Perth Heat Alex Boshers card front - ©2018 Adam East

Daniel McGrath - 2017-18 Melbourne Aces

Local player McGrath returned for his fifth season with the Melbourne Aces during the 2017-18 ABL season. McGrath has been playing in the Boston Red Sox farm system in the northern summers, spending 2017 with the Advanced A level Salem Red Sox and 2018 with the Double A level Portland Sea Dogs.

2017-18 Melbourne Aces Daniel McGrath card front - ©2018 Adam East

Official 2018-19 Australian Baseball League Cards Are Coming!

Woohoo. Some exciting news. Saw the following posted on the Sydney Blue Sox page on Facebook just now, confirming that there will be an official card release for the 2018-19 ABL season.

Image on Sydney Blue Sox's official Facebook page advertising 2018-19 ABL cards.

This will be the first commercial pack release format for ABL cards since 1996 (there have been 2 seasons of team sets , and one season of stadium giveaways in the current ABL incarnation). Packs to be available at stadiums and by sale online. Will add further information as it comes to hand.

Grant Piccoli - 2017-18 Canberra Cavalry

Piccoli is an Aussie player who made his ABL debut with the Sydney Blue Sox back in 2015-16. He failed to make the roster the following year but returned for the 2017-18 ABL season with the Canberra Cavalry

2017-18 Canberra Cavalry Grant Piccoli card front - ©2018 Adam East

Travis Blackley - 2017-18 Brisbane Bandits

Former Aussie MLBer Blackley last played for the Bandits in 2015-16 before spending time in the Mexican League. He spent both 2016 and 2017 with Pericos de Puebla and chose to play with the Naranjeros de Hermosillo of the Mexican Pacific Winter League instead of returning to the ABL in between. He came back to the Bandits for the 2017-18 ABL season, also spending time with the Pittsburgh Diamonds in the independent Pacific Association in both 2017 and 2018.

2017-18 Brisbane Bandits Travis Blackley card front - ©2018 Adam East

Stephen Lohr - 2017-18 Adelaide Bite

Lohr was an American import from the Texas Rangers organisation who played with the Adelaide Bite during the 2017-18 ABL season. Lohr had spent two seasons with the Rangers organisation, spending 2017 playing for their Arizona League rookie team. Unfortunately for Lohr he was released by the Rangers at the start of the 2018 season and has spent 2018 playing for the Traverse City Beach Bums in the independent Frontier League.

2017-18 Adelaide Bite Stephen Lohr card front - ©2018 Adam East

2017-18 Adelaide Bite Stephen Lohr alternate card front - ©2018 Adam East

Luke Wilkins - 2017-18 Sydney Blue Sox

Veteran local Wilkins played his eight ABL season (and seventh with the Sydney Blue Sox) during the 2017-18 ABL season.

Sydney Blue Sox Luke Wilkins card front - ©2018 Adam East

Alex Hall - 2017-18 Perth Heat

Hall shares a similar story to that of team mate Jess Williams of being a West Australian youngster who debuted with the Perth Heat during 2016-17, was subsequently signed by the Milwaukee Brewers during the 2017-18 ABL season and has debuted with the Brewers’ Arizona League Rookie team in 2018.

2017-18 Perth Heat Alex Hall card front - ©2018 Adam East

2017-18 Perth Heat Alex Hall alternate card front - ©2018 Adam East

Brett Cumberland - 2017-18 Melbourne Aces

Cumberland was an American import from the Atlanta Braves organisation who played with the Melbourne aces during the 2017-18 ABL season. Cumberland spent 2017 split between the single A Roem Frogs and Advanced A level Florida Fire Frogs. In 2018 he started back with the Fire Frogs before moving up to the Double A level Mississippi Braves, then being traded to the Baltimore Orioles where he joined the Bowie Baysox, the Orioles Double A team.

2017-18 Melbourne Aces Brett Cumberland card front - ©2018 Adam East

Jake Amos - 2017-18 Canberra Cavalry

Former Sydney youngster Amos was lured down to Canberra to play with the Cavalry for the 2017-18 ABL season after having made his debut with the Blue Sox the previous season.

2017-18 Canberra Cavalry Jake Amos card front - ©2018 Adam East