Australian Custom Baseball Cards: February 2017

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Simon Morriss - 2016-17 Brisbane Bandits

Brisbane veteran Morriss returned for his sixth season with the Bandits during the 2016-17 ABL season. It was a bit of a resurgence for Morriss, as despite only appearing in a limited number of games he pitched more total innings in 2016-17 than he had in the previous 4 ABL seasons combined.

Monday, February 20, 2017

LeDarious Clark - 2016-17 Adelaide Bite

Clark is an American import from the Texas Rangers organisation who played with the Adelaide Bite during the 2016-17 ABL season. In 2016 he played for both the AZL Rangers and the Hickory Crawdads, the Rangers' Rookie and Single A level teams respectively. Clark caused some controversy in his ABL time, being suspended for two games for colliding with Canberra's first baseman Boss Moanaroa. Clark had challenged the initial ruling which meant that he still hadn't served his suspension by the time the teams re-met later in the season.

Friday, February 17, 2017

Todd Grattan - 2016-17 Sydney Blue Sox

Local boy (can you still call a baseballer a boy at 31?) Grattan returned for his sixth ABL season with the Sydney Blue Sox during the 2016-17 ABL season.

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Mike Walker - 2016-17 Melbourne Aces

Walker is a dual Australian and American citizen who played with the Melbourne Aces during the 2016-17 ABL season, his first in the ABL. Walker was born in America but lived as a toddler in Wagga Wagga in Australia with his Australian mother before returning to the US. Walker played for Australia in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, and spent four years in the Milwaukee Brewers' farm system between 2010 and 2013.

Monday, February 13, 2017

Daichi Takeuchi (竹内大知) - 2016-17 Canberra Cavalry

Takeuchi is a Japanese import who played with the Canberra Cavalry during the 2016-17 ABL season, Takeuchi spent 2016 playing for the Gunma Diamond Pegasus in the independent Baseball Challenge League (BCL) in Japan.

Friday, February 10, 2017

Connor MacDonald - 2016-17 Brisbane Bandits

MacDonald returned for his fifth season with the Bandits during the 2016-17 ABL season. In 2016 he played for the Greeneville Astros, Houston's Rookie level team in the Appalachian League.

I know the second image is the clearest but I just liked it - the colour combinations and the angle.

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Jackson Brebner-Russ - 2016-17 Adelaide Bite

Brebner-Russ is an Australian player who had his second bite of the cherry in 2016-17. He originally played a handful of games with the Adelaide Bite during the 2012-13 ABL season, but was unable to break back into the Adelaide team until the 2016-17 ABL season where he once again made a cameo appearance for the Bite.

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Josh Davies - 2016-17 Melbourne Aces SGA

The Melbourne Aces held a farewell for veteran player Josh Davies on the 21st of January during their home series against the Adelaide Bite. Davies had decided to retire during the season after 235 games with the Aces over 7 years. The Aces distributed a farewell card of Davies at the game. The card design appears to partially utilise the Topps 2016 Baseball design.

2016-17 Melbourne Aces Josh Davies Stadium Giveaway - Front

2016-17 Melbourne Aces Josh Davies Stadium Giveaway - back

Monday, February 6, 2017

Craig Anderson - 2016-17 Sydney Blue Sox

Seeing as last seasons's image of Anderson was of him wandering through the crowd, it's only fitting that the first Sydney Blue Sox card for the 2016-17 ABL season is an action shot of Anderson. This was Anderson's seventh season with the Sydney Blue Sox.

After having seen the other photos I'd taken in previous years and used for Anderson's card, I couldn't help but also do an alternate card image to keep the theme going ... I presume you can see the pattern :)

Friday, February 3, 2017

Allan de San Miguel - 2016-17 Melbourne Aces

Perth Heat veteran de San Miguel made the move from Perth to Melbourne for personal reasons in 2016 and subsequently became a member of the Melbourne Aces team for the 2016-17 ABL season. During 2016, "desan" also spent time in the Kansas City Royals farm system, playing with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals and the Omaha Storm Chasers, the Royals double and triple A affiliates respectively.

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Lee Sosa - 2016-17 Canberra Cavalry

Sosa is an American import who played with the Canberra Cavalry during the 2016-17 ABL season. Sosa spent 4 years in the Oakland Athletics farm system between 2012 and 2015, before spending 2016 playing for the New Jersey Jackals in the independent Canadian-American Association.