Adelaide Bite Use One of My Photos :)

Jut so happened to see the following image on Facebook advertising 47 days to go til the Bite's opening home game of the 2013-14 season. Some of you may recognise this as my photo of Ji-Man Choi from last season that I used in a blog piece about the approachability of Adelaide players.

I also used it as my card design for him as well. It's nice to have one of the team's using a photo of mine, even if they have butchered using what looks like an Instagram filter ;)

2012-13 Adelaide Bite Ji-Man Choi card front - © 2012 Adam East

Inaugural COMC Motherload Part 7 - The Pitchers

This is part seven of my attempt to document my initial large load of cards ordered from COMC. This batch includes 11 cards of Australian pitchers who have all recently appeared in the Majors at some point over the last couple of seasons. These include current Texas Ranger Travis Blackley, current LA Dodger Peter Moylan, Josh Spence, who made his MLB debut for the Padres in 2011, and former Aussie MLB pitchers Shane Lindsay, Ryan Rowland-Smith and Phil Stockman.

The Card of the Buy™ goes to the Hyphen - the Ryan Rowland-Smith 2007 Upper Deck Future Stars card for being an autographed rookie card of one of the Aussie pitchers I particularly like.

Josh Spence 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition 167 #d/699

Peter Moylan 2006 Topps 52 Chrome 18  #d/1952

Peter Moylan 2011 Topps Update US45

Peter Moylan 2011 Topps Update Cognac Diamond Anniversary US45

Ryan Rowland-Smith 2007 Upper Deck Future Stars 141 (RC)

Shane Lindsay 2006 Waikiki Beachboys Team Issue 16

Shane Lindsay 2007 Waikiki Beachboys Team Issue 39

Phil Stockman 2004 Leaf certified Materials Mirror White 298 #d/100

Phil Stockman 2004 Upper Deck 587 (RC)

Phil Stockman 2006 SP Authentic WBC Future Watch 7  #d/999

Travis Blackley 2004 Topps Pristine 110 (RC)

Aaron Bonomi - "Blocks" Concept Card

I thought I'd take a different tack with my concept cards for the 2013-14 card design. I thought I'd try moving away from the "metal" concept and go a bit more abstract. I call this design "blocks" and have tried several different versions.

The design it meant to make it look "pixelated" at the bottom before fading into normal photo clarity. I started out with larger block sizes, but have been reducing them down to a level I think I'm happy with. I'm still kind of torn between the medium and small "block" sizes, but think I'll go with the smallest size.

And yes - you'll notice that Mr Bonomi is getting all the star billing in my concept card designs. I try and use the same player image for each concept card so that when I'm comparing them , I'm focusing purely on the design differences, hence the reuse of the same photo for the concepts.

Any feedback on which you think looks better is welcome :)

Aaron Bonomi "Blocks" Concept card - version Large - © 2013 Adam East

Aaron Bonomi "Blocks" Concept card - version Medium - © 2013 Adam East

Aaron Bonomi "Blocks" Concept card - version Small - © 2013 Adam East

Rosters for the 2013-14 ABL Season Start taking Shape

Still being a minor sport, we don't get saturation coverage of ABL roster moves down here in Australia., but it's interesting to note that with only 6 weeks to go til the start of the season, rosters are starting to take shape, even if trying to find out who those players are is like pulling hen's teeth.

The ABL has advised that 12 MLB clubs are sending prospects down to the ABL for the coming season - that's in addition to any Australian players already playing in the minors. In the past there have also been affiliations between NPB and KBO teams. I have yet to hear about any Japanese or Korean imports for this coming season, but would expect Canberra to have some at a minimum.

Here are some of the roster moves we've heard so far:

Adelaide Bite / Sydney Blue Sox

• ABLBuzz Article:  Star Sydney Blue Sox closer Matthew Williams will be relocating to the Bite following his acceptance to a new job in South Australia.

2011-12 Sydney Blue Sox Matthew Williams card front - © 2012 Adam East

Canberra Cavalry

• Canberra Times article: Most local players and many of the independent American imports from the 2012-13 Championship winning team are set to return to the Cavalry for this season. This is a big change to revolving door roster of previous years. Toronto Blue Jays will be sending down 4 or 5 yet to be named players, possibly including Jack Murphy (member of the Cavalry in 2012-13) - who has advanced to AAA this year. 

2012-13 Canberra Cavalry Jack Murphy card front - © 2013 Adam East

Melbourne Aces

• ABL article: Two named players from the Kansas City Royals confirmed on the roster.
• ABL article: Two named players from the Colorado Rockies confirmed on the roster.
• Australian players John Hussey and Darry George have re-signed.

2012-13 Melbourne Aces Darryl George card front - © 2013 Adam East

2013 ABL Supplementary Draft - All Teams

ABL article: The big news last Thursday by the Australian Baseball League was the same day occurence of the previously unaanounced 2013 ABL Supplementary Draft. This appears to be the new way for non-affiliated imports and out-of-state Aussies to be selected by ABL teams. Unfortunately details have been sketchy, but ABLBuzz reports that only Sydney and Melbourne were active at the draft, selecting nine players between them. This also tells us that the other four teams must believe that they have their rosters reasonably settled already, even if they haven't been announced.

The Talk Like a Pirate Version of My Last Entry

Note: I be forgettin' 'twas International Speak Like A Pirate Day! Here be t' translated version for ye scurvy seadogs t' understand.

T'is part six o' me attempt t' document me initial booty o' cards ordered from COMC. This batch be havin' four cards o' three ole school Australian players - Mark Hutton, Dave Nilsson an' Glenn Williams.

Mark Hutton pitched 5 seasons in t' Majors between 1993 and 1998. He was totalin' 84 games 'tween t' Yankees, Marlins, Rockies an' Reds. Glenn Williams, well, he be signed as a 16 year ole by t' Braves aft in 1993, but tookst until 2005 before makin' his MLB debut.  His debut be wit' t' Twins. He be managin' 13 games before injury robbed 'im o' t' rest o' his season and future MLB games. T' injury be a shame as Williams debuted quite nicely, hittin' .425. He was being a maker o' history - makin' a hit in every MLB game he played. T' final Aussie he be needin' no introduction - former MLB All Star David Nilsson.

T' Card o' t' Buy™ she be a tough choice. T' Nilsson Startin' Lineup card - a card nigh impossible t' get in Australia in it's day, or perhaps she bein' t' Hutton or Williams Autos? In t' end, it goes t' t' Glenn Williams 1994 Signature Rookies Auto. I b'lieve this may ben t' first ere American baseball card featurin' t' autograph o' an Aussie.

Dave Nilsson 1995 Kenner Starting Line Up 43

Mark Hutton 1994 Pinnacle Museum Collection 412

Mark Hutton 1996 Leaf Signature Autographs Silver 114

Glenn Williams 1994 Signature Rookies Bonus Signatures Draft Picks P5 #d/1562

Inaugural COM Motherload - Part 6 - Old School Aussies

This is part six of my attempt to document my initial large load of cards ordered from COMC. This batch includes four cards of three old school Australian players - Mark Hutton, Dave Nilsson and Glenn Williams.

Mark Hutton pitched 5 seasons in the Majors between 1993 and 1998, totaling 84 games between the Yankees, Marlins, Rockies and Reds. Glenn Williams was signed as a 16 year old by the Braves back in 1993, but took until 2005 before making his MLB debut. His debut was with the Twins, and he managed 13 games before injury robbed him of the rest of his season and future MLB games. The injury was a shame as Williams debuted  quite nicely, hitting .425 and a history of making a hit in every MLB game he played. The final Aussie needs no introduction - former MLB All Star David Nilsson.

The Card of the Buy™ is a tough choice. The Nilsson Starting Lineup card - a card nigh impossible to get in Australia in it's hey day, or either the Hutton or Williams Autos? In the end, it goes to the Glenn Williams 1994 Signature Rookies Auto, as I believe this may have been the first ever American baseball card featuring the autograph of an Aussie.

Dave Nilsson 1995 Kenner Starting Line Up 43

Mark Hutton 1994 Pinnacle Museum Collection 412

Mark Hutton 1996 Leaf Signature Autographs Silver 114

Glenn Williams 1994 Signature Rookies Bonus Signatures Draft Picks P5 #d/1562

Slowing Things Down A Bit

I'm going to reduce the number of blog posts for the next 6 - 8 weeks for several reasons:

• I'm way behind in doing the card backs for my 2012-13 set of ABL cards. It's a lot of work doing all the stats and biographical info. I'd like to get my cards printed up, but need to get these backs done first.
• My backlog of my own card images has been used up. Most of the posts over the next month or two will feature images of commercial cards that I've acquired through purchase to trade.
• I need to finalise my card design for the 2013-14 set of cards. I think I've got it about 60% completed, but it still needs a lot of fiddling around the edges (figuratively speaking) before I'll have a final design I'm happy with. Yes, I'm planning on using a metal theme I mentioned previously.

So, the upshot is, I'll probably only be doing one or two posts a week for the next month or two. Once the ABL season starts up again in late Oct/early November, expect things to ramp up again.

Inaugural COMC Motherload - Part 5 - Oeltjen & Huber

This is part five of my attempt to document my initial large load of cards ordered from COMC. This batch includes two Australian  players - Trent Oeltjen and Justin Huber. Huber played 72 MLB games between 2005 and 2009 with the Royals, Padres and Twins. Oeltjen played 99 MLB games with the Diamondbacks and the Dodgers between 2009 and 2011.

Three patch cards in this lot. My Card of the Buy™ goes to the Oeltjen 2006 Bowman Draft Future's Game Prospect card - I like the simple green & black design, and the fact it's a memorabilia card as well. I do quite like the design of the Huber Upper Dck Star Attractions card as well, although it's screaming out to have a patch where the Royals logo is.

Trent Oeltjen 2006 Bowman Draft Future's Game Prospects Relics 20

Trent Oeltjen 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft BDP5

Trent Oeltjen 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft blue Refractor BDP5 #d/99

Justin Huber 2002 Bowman Chrome Draft 152

Justin Huber 2003 Bowman Draft Fabric of the Future Jersey relics 139

Justin Huber 2005 Bowman Chrome Draft Refractor 156

Justin Huber 2006 Bazooka Rewind Relics JH

Justin Huber 2006 Upper Deck Star Attractions JU

Which ABL Team Should I Follow? - Sydney Blue Sox

If you like baseball and want to follow some games during the northern winter, why not check out the Australian Baseball League. This is the sixth and final in a series of articles about the teams of the ABL, and a lighthearted view about which team is right for you to support. Links to previous parts are below:

• An Introduction to the ABL
• Which ABL Team Should I Follow? - Adelaide Bite
• Which ABL Team Should I Follow? - Brisbane Bandits
• Which ABL Team Should I Follow? - Canberra Cavalry
• Which ABL Team Should I Follow? - Melbourne Aces
• Which ABL Team Should I Follow? - Perth Heat

The Sydney Blue Sox

Uniform Design / Colour Scheme: Carolina Blue, Black and White, with Carolina Blue being the dominant colour
Mascot/Logo: Syd ... the Blue "thing"? Maybe he's an anthropomorphic sock?
Home City Characteristics: Ask anybody not from Australia to name a city in Australia, and they'll probably answer Sydney. Sydney is Australia's international city. With a population of nearly 4.7 million people, Sydney is Australia's oldest city, and the capital of the state of New South Wales. Sydney is big, loud and cosmopolitan. Because it's the biggest city in Australia, Sydneysiders often assume it's the best at everything in Australia too .It's a beautiful place to visit situated on the Harbour, but it is also sometimes criticized as being a congested, superficial and fickle place as large cities can often become.
End of Regular Season Standings: 

• 2010-11: 1st (24-15)
• 2011-12: 4th (20-25)
• 2012-13: 2nd (26-19)

Postseason Results: 

• 2010-11: Eliminated in Preliminary Final Series
• 2011-12: Eliminated in Preliminary Final Series
• 2012-13: Eliminated in Preliminary Final Series

2012-13 Had Import Players from: Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, St Louis Cardinals
2012-13 Had Australian Players affiliated with: Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers
Past Players You Might Know:

• Chris Oxspring - Oxspring is an Aussie who pitched 5 games in the Majors for the San Diego Padres back in 2005. Oxspring has also played for the Hanshin Tigers in the NPB in 2006, the LG Twins in the KBO between 2007-2009 and in 2013, the Lotte Giants, also in the KBO. Oxspring has been a playing coach for all three ABL seasons with the Blue Sox.

2011-12 Sydney Blue Sox Chris Oxspring card front - © 2012 Adam East

• Dae-Sung Koo - A Korean picher who has also spent time in MLB, the NPB and the KBO. Koo pitched in 33 games for the New York Mets in 2005 either side of stints with the Hanwha Eagles and Orix BlueWave. Koo "retired" to live in Sydney has been playing for the Blue Sox across all three ABL seasons to date.

2010-11 Sydney blue Sox Dae-Sung Koo card front - © 2011 Adam East

• Brad Thomas - is a local Sydneysider who had two stints in the Majors. Between 2001 and 2004, Thomas pitched in 11 games for the Minnesota Twins, and then returned to the Majors in 2010 and 2011 with Detroit, pitching an additional 61 games in the Majors. Like most other Blue Sox professionals, Thomas has had stints in the NPB and KBO with the Nippon Ham Fighters and Hanwha Eagles respectively. In Australia, Thomas has played with Sydney during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 ABL seasons.

2012-13 Sydney Blue Sox Brad Thomas card front - © 2013 Adam East

• Chris Snelling - the Seattle Mariner's prospect who continually got injured managed 59 MLB games with them between 2002 and 2006. He was then transferred around in 2007 and 2008, managing a further 34 MLB games split between the Phillies, the A's and Washington. Snelling returned to his hometown and played with the Blue Sox during the 2012-13 ABL season.

2012-13 Sydney Blue Sox Chris Snelling card front - © 2013 Adam East

• Rich Thompson - pitched in 81 MLB games for the LA Angels between 2007 and 2012, and a single game with Oakland in 2012. Thompson played three games for his hometown team of Sydney in the inaugural 2010-11 ABL season.

Rick Thompson 2011 Topps Update Cognac Diamond Anniversary 286

• Trent Oeltjen - Between 2009 and 2011, Oeltjen played 99 MLB games with the Diamondbacks and the Dodgers. Oeltjen returned to Australia to and played in two games for the Sydney Blue Sox during the inaugural 2010-11 ABL season

Trent Oeltjen 2006 Bowman Draft Future's Game Prospect Relic 20

Reasons to follow this team:

• If you're from a "big city"
• If you support a "Sox" team of some other colour
• If you like big money teams with big name players
• If you're a fan of the colour Carolina Blue ... or maybe even from Carolina
• If you think socks are scary
• If you empathise with, follow or feel sorry for a team that chokes in playoff games. (Sydney have reached and then been eliminated in the Preliminary Finals Series of every ABL season to date.)
• If you want to maximise your chance of seeing former MLB, NPB or KBO import players.
• If you like abusing fans of other teams. (The only times I've been abused at ABL games has been by Sydney Blue Sox fans.) OK - probably not fair, but why is it that there only seems to be trouble when Sydney fans are about?

Which ABL Team Should I Follow? - Perth Heat

If you like baseball and want to follow some games during the northern winter, why not check out the Australian Baseball League. This is the fifth in a series of articles about the teams of the ABL, and a lighthearted view about which team is right for you to support. Links to previous parts are below:

• An Introduction to the ABL
• Which ABL Team Should I Follow? - Adelaide Bite
• Which ABL Team Should I Follow? - Brisbane Bandits
• Which ABL Team Should I Follow? - Canberra Cavalry
• Which ABL Team Should I Follow? - Melbourne Aces

The Perth Heat

Uniform Design / Colour Scheme: Red, Black and White, with Red being the dominant colour.
Mascot/Logo: Heat Flash (Character with giant baseball shaped head) and Hot Dog
Home City Characteristics: Perth is a booming city of 1.9 million people on the west coast of Australia. It's the capital city of the state of Western Australia, a state so large that if it was its own country, it would be the tenth largest country in the world. Perth's growth is being driven by a mining boom throughout the state, with a large population influx. Perth prides itself as being one of the most isolated cities in the world (over 2100kms / 1300miles to the next city over 100,000 population) and has a secessionist undercurrent that would like to see it become it's own country, which translates into passionate support for its sporting teams. Perth has a reputation for being a hot, outdoor, beach loving city mixed with young cashed up miners.
End of Regular Season Standings: 

• 2010-11: 2nd (24-16)
• 2011-12: 1st (34-11)
• 2012-13: 3rd (25-21)

Postseason Results: 

• 2010-11: Won the 2011 ABL Championship Series
• 2011-12: Won the 2012 ABL Championship Series
• 2012-13: Lost the 2013 ABL Championship Series

2012-13 Had Import Players from: Arizona Diamonbacks, Baltimore Orioles
2012-13 Had Australian Players affiliated with: Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Minnesota Twins, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres
Past Players You Might Know:

• Luke Hughes - Perth local Hughes played 106 games, mainly with the Minnesota Twins between 2010 -2012. Hughes has played with his hometown Heat for each ABL season to date.

2012-13 Perth Heat Luke Hughes card front - © 2013 Adam East

• Liam Hendriks - Perth born Hendriks played with the Heat during the inaugural ABL season in 2010-11, and has been on their expanded roster but not yet appeared for them in subsequent seasons. Since 2011 he's been fluctuating between AAA and MLB with the Minnesota Twins, who have kept faith in him despite an atrocious 2-12 win-loss record in the majors.

• Virgil Vasquez - is an American import who played with the Heat for both the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons. Vasquez had previously pitched at MLB level, pitching 5 games for Detroit in 2007, and 14 games for Pittsburgh in 2009. He left the Heat midway during the 2012-13 ABL season after being signed by the Minnesota Twins.

2011-12 Perth Heat Virgil Vasquez card front - © 2012 Adam East

Reasons to follow this team:

• If you like living in a hot place
• If you like  the colour red
• If you liked the Houston Astros home jerseys of the 1980s as this was the original design of the Heat's uniforms in the competitions prior to the current incarnation of the ABL.
• If you like backing winners. Of the three ABL seasons to date, Perth has competed in all three of the ABL Championship Series, and won the ABL Championship twice.
• If you're from the west coast.
• If you come from a place associated with mining.
• If you're a beach lover.
• If you live somewhere that wants to secede from the country it's currently a part of.

Which ABL Team Should I Follow? - Melbourne Aces

If you like baseball and want to follow some games during the northern winter, why not check out the Australian Baseball League. This is the fourth in a series of articles about the teams of the ABL, and a lighthearted view about which team is right for you to support. Links to previous parts are below:

• An Introduction to the ABL
• Which ABL Team Should I Follow? - Adelaide Bite
• Which ABL Team Should I Follow? - Brisbane Bandits
• Which ABL Team Should I Follow? - Canberra Cavalry

The Melbourne Aces

Uniform Design / Colour Scheme: Red, Midnight Blue and White, with Red being the dominant colour ... which I reckon is rubbish. I've been closely following the ABL since it's inception, and to me it's never been red, it's always been more of a brown. I've never realised it was meant to be red 'til I was preparing this article. How about we compromise and call it Muddy Red.
Mascot/Logo: Maverick the Pilot
Home City Characteristics: Melbourne is Australia's second largest city with a population of 4.2 million, and the capital city of the state of Victoria. Melbourne is known as Australia's sporting capital, and is renowned for attending sporting events in large numbers (although this has yet to eventuate for the Aces). Melbourne is also known as being a very cosmopolitan city, with good shopping, a wide variety of foods and many ethnic groups. It is claimed to have the city with the second largest Greek population in the world, only behind Athens, as well as large pockets of Italians and many other cultural groups.
End of Regular Season Standings: 

• 2010-11: 4th (18-21)
• 2011-12: 2nd (21-24) 
• 2012-13: 6th (15-31)

Postseason Results: 

• 2010-11: Eliminated in Semi-Finals Series
• 2011-12: Lost the 2012 ABL Championship Series
• 2012-13: Did not play in postseason

2012-13 Had Import Players from: Seibu Lions, Kansas City Royals
2012-13 Had Australian Players affiliated with: Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays
Past Players You Might Know:

• Travis Blackley - recent Texas Rangers pitching acquisition Blackley hails from Melbourne and has played all three ABL seasons to date with the Aces. Since 2004, Blackley has played 81 MLB games between 5 different teams (Mariners, Giants, As, Astros and Rangers). His younger brother Adam also plays with the Aces.

Travis Blackley 2004 Topp's Finest 120

• Justin Huber - Aussie outfielder who played 72 MLB games between 2005 and 2009 with the Royals, Padres and Twins. Huber has played all three ABL seasons with the Aces.

"Flashback" concept card by Adam East

• Brad Harman.- Aussie infielder who played 6 MLB games with Philadelphia in 2008. Harman has been a member of the Aces since the 2011-12 ABL season.

2011-12 Melbourne Aces Brad Harman card front - © 2012 Adam East

• Shane Lindsay - Aussie pitcher who has played with the Aces for the three ABL seasons to date. Lindsay has been a bit of a journeyman, having been a part of six different MLB organisations. He made his MLB debut in 2011 with the Chicago White Sox, but only managed 4 games and has yet to make it back for a second stint.

Reasons to follow this team:

• If you're a fan of fighter planes or pilots
• If you're a fan of the colour Muddy Red or the "Red, White and Blue" colour combination.
• If you're of Greek or Italian heritage. 
• If you're a fan of the Seibu Lions or Yomiuri Giants from the NPB, who have both sent players to the Aces..
• If you're a fan of the Kansas City Royals
• If you like teams with a number of ex-MLB players on it.