Greg Jelks - 2012-13 Perth Heat

Greg Jelks was one of the first American players with MLB experience to play in the original incarnation of the Australian Baseball League. He played 10 games for the Philadelphia Phillies back in 1987, before eventually coming across to the Perth Heat in 1993 and subsequent years.

Jelks liked Perth so much, he ended up staying and taking out dual citizenship. This resulted in him both playing for and managing the Australian National Team for a number of years, including at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Last year he returned to the Perth Heat as an Assistant Coach for the 2012-13 ABL season, following coaching stints with a number of US independent league teams.

As a teenager I got to see Jelks, one of the star players for the Heat at the time, play a number of games, so it was exciting for me as an adult to see him again, even if it was now as a coach.

2012-13 Perth Heat Greg Jelks card front - © 2013 Adam East