Shunta Nakatsuka (中塚 駿太) - 2017-18 Melbourne Aces

Nakatsuka was a Japanese import who played with the Melbourne Aces during the 2017-18 ABL season. Nakatsuka had made his NPB debut in 2017 with the Saitama Seibu Lions, playing a single game during the season. In 2018 he added another 2 NPB games with the Lions to his tally.

2017-18 Melbourne Aces Shunta Nakatsuka card front - ©2018 Adam East

Julian Paramonov - 2017-18 Canberra Cavalry

Paramonov was a Canberran youngster brought in as a developmental player with the Canberra Cavalry during the 2017-18 ABL season. Unfortunately for Julian he didn't make his ABL debut during that season. In 2018-19 he is studying at the Dakota Wesleyan University in the USA.

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

2017-18 Canberra Cavalry Julian Paramonov alternate card front - ©2018 Adam East

Dermot Fritsch - 2017-18 Brisbane Bandits

Brisbane youngster Fritsch made his ABL debut with the Brisbane Bandits during the 2017-18 ABL season. In 2018 he commenced study and playing with the Western Nebraska Community College in the USA.

2017-18 Brisbane Bandits Dermot Fritsch card front - ©2018 Adam East

Sung-Gu Han (한성구) - 2018-19 Geelong-Korea

Merry Christmas for 2018! I only managed to get to my first ABL game of the 2018-19 ABL season last Thursday, the opening game of the series between the Canberra Cavalry and the new Geelong-Korea expansion team. Because of a lot of overseas and interstate traveling I hadn't done any concept designs for my 2018-19 cards yet. So. I was in the position where I had some 2018-19 photos but no design templates to put them into.

I started mucking around with some concepts over the weekend and after several iterations came up with the following. The vector used in the card design was designed by Jasim Jawahir from Pngtree. There's probably some more tweaking to be done in the design - I may try and work in the player number and position into the design, and may look at changing the font and spacing, but it'll probably just be small changes. Also unsure as to whether I'll keep the hangul in the design or not for the Korean players.

The player featured is Sung-Gu Han (한성구), who, like all of the 2018-19 Geelong-Korea players, is Korean (I'm going to assume South Korean :) ). Han spent a season in the KBO, playing with the Kia Tigers in 2012.

2018-19 Geelong-Korea Sung-Gu Han card front - ©2018 Adam East

Karl Hoschke - 2017-18 Adelaide Bite

Sydney born Hoschke returned for his third season with the Adelaide Bite and fourth in the ABL during the 2017-18 ABL season.

2017-18 Adelaide Bite Karl Hoschke card front - ©2018 Adam East

Trent D'Antonio - 2017-18 Sydney Blue Sox

D'antonio is now a true veteran of the Sydney Blue Sox with the 2017-18 ABL season being his eighth in the league. I'm pretty sure he is one of only 4 Blue Sox players to have played in every season since the league's inauguration. (The others being Craig Anderson, Vaughan Harris, Luke Wilkins and Jacob Younis.) Happy to be corrected if I'm wrong though.

2017-18 Sydney Blue Sox Trent D'Antonio card front - ©2018 Adam East

Scott Mitchinson - 2017-18 Perth Heat

Mitchinson returned for his sixth ABL season with the Perth Heat during the 2017-18 ABL season.

2017-18 Perth Heat Scott Mitchinson card front - ©2018 Adam East

Liam Bedford - 2017-18 Melbourne Aces

Local player Bedford returned for his fifth ABL season with the Melbourne Aces during the 2017-18 ABL season.  I'm unsure whether it's a permanent career change but I note that Bedford isn't on the 2018-19 Aces roster, but is listed as being a part of the 2018-19 Golf team at Northwest Christian University in Eugene, Oregon.

2017-18 Melbourne Aces Liam Bedford card front - ©2018 Adam East

Liam Doolan - 2017-18 Canberra Cavalry

Doolan is a Sydney youngster who made his ABL debut with the Canberra Cavalry during the 2017-18 ABL season. In 2018 he committed to playing for the Lamar Community College in Colorado.

It's not the best photo of him however he only played in two games during his debut season, with this shot coming in his second game.

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

Update 28/12/18: Although it's not an action shot I found this photo which at least gives us a better look at Mr Doolan.

2017-18 Canberra Cavalry Liam Doolan alternate card front - ©2018 Adam East

Rhys Niit - 2017-18 Brisbane Bandits

Stalwart Aussie reliever Niit returned for his sixth ABL season with the Brisbane Bandits during the 2017-18 ABL season.

2017-18 Brisbane Bandits Rhys Niit card front - ©2018 Adam East

Loek van Mil - 2017-18 Adelaide Bite

The world's tallest (former) professional baseball player, Dutchman Loek Van Mil returned for his third season with the Adelaide Bite during the 2017-18 ABL season.

Update: I scheduled several weeks ago for this post to go up today. News has come through this morning that Loek was injured in Canberra on Saturday whilst there for the Bisbane vs Canberra series. Loek transferred from Adelaide to Brisbane for the 2018-19 season. He is reported as being in hospital with head injuries. It's coincidence that this posted the same day as the news of his accident was made public.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Loek and his family at this time.

Update 12th Dec: My previous update about the head injury being from a car accident was incorrect. I'm not sure where I'd heard that, but it was obviously wrong, so I've updated the post. Media today is saying that he was actually hiking solo in the outskirts of Canberra and ended up falling and hitting his head badly. He apparently lay unconscious for around 24 hours before being discovered by another hiker. In positive news Doctors have said that brain surgery isn't required and he will potentially be released from hospital in 10 days or so depending on how he recovers.

2017-18 Adelaide Bite Loek van Mil card front - ©2018 Adam East

Mitch Edwards - 2017-18 Sydney Blue Sox

After having played his debut season the previous year with the Canberra Cavalry, Canberran youngster Edwards made the move to the Sydney Blue Sox for the 2017-18 ABL season. In 2018 he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies organisation.

2017-18 Sydney Blue Sox Mitch Edwards card front - ©2018 Adam East

Jake Turnbull - 2017-18 Perth Heat

Perth youngster Turnbull returned for his third season in the ABL with the Perth Heat during the 2017-18 ABL season. He had missed the entire 2016-17 ABL season andspent 2017 playing with the Cincinnati Reds rookie level team in the Pioneer League, the Billings Mustangs.

2017-18 Perth Heat Jake Turnbull card front - ©2018 Adam East

Ryan Dale - 2017-18 Melbourne Aces

Local player Dale returned for his sixth season with the Melbourne Aces during the 2017-18 ABL season. In 2017 he spent his fifth season in the Kansas City Royals playing for the Burlington Royals in the Rookie level Appalachian League. Unfortunately for Dale, he would be released by the Roals after the end of the 2017-18 ABL season. He went on to play for Quick Amersfoort in the Dutch Hoofdklasse during 2018.

2017-18 Melbourne Aces Ryan Dale card front - ©2018 Adam East

Sean Guinard - 2017-18 Canberra Cavalry

American turned Aussie Guinard played his third season with the Canberra Cavalry during the 2017-18 ABL season. Just to emphasize his love for his adopted country after marrying a Canberran girl, Guinard even took up playing Australian Rules Football in the AFL Canberra.

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

Ryan Bollinger - 2017-18 Brisbane Bandits

Bollinger is an American import who played with the Brisbane Bandits during the 2017-18 ABL season. Bollinger had originally spent three seasons in the Chicago White Sox farm system between 2011 and 2013 before being released and playing independent ball. In 2015 and 2016 he played with the Trois-Rivieres Aigles in the Canadian-American Association.

In 2017 he was playing in Germany and following discussions with the New York Yankees played in the ABL before joining the New York Yankees farm system in 2018, playing for both their Double and Triple A  affiliates.

2017-18 Brisbane Bandits Ryan Bollinger card front - ©2018 Adam East

Jackson Brebner-Russ - 2017-18 Adelaide Bite

Brebner-Russ returned for his third season with the Adelaide Bite during the 2017-18 ABL season.

2017-18 Adelaide Bite Jackson Brebner-Russ card front - ©2018 Adam East

Alex Howe - 2017-18 Sydney Blue Sox

Howe returned for his fourth season with the Sydney Blue Sox and the ABL during the 2017-18 ABL season.

2017-18 Sydney Blue Sox Alex Howe card front - ©2018 Adam East

Jett Wright - 2017-18 Perth Heat

Wright is a 17 year old Aussie rookie who made his ABL debut with the Perth Heat during the 2017-18 ABL season.

2017-18 Perth Heat Jett Wright card front - ©2018 Adam East

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

Tim Atherton - 2017-18 Brisbane Bandits

Nomadic Aussie pitcher Atherton moved from the Canberra Cavalry to the Brisbane Bandits for the 2017-18 ABL season. That was Atherton's third move, having Started with Canberra, transferred to Sydney, then back to Canberra, before the move to Brisbane.

2017-18 Brisbane Bandits Tim Atherton card front - ©2018 Adam East

Greg Mosel - 2017-18 Adelaide Bite

Adelaide born Mosel returned for his second season with the Adelaide Bite during the 2017-18 ABL season. He made the switch from the bullpen in his first year to the starting rotation in 2017-18. In 2017 he spent time playing for Nada Split, a Croatian baseball team.

2017-18 Adelaide Bite Greg Mosel card front - ©2018 Adam East

Jin De Jhang - 2017-18 Sydney Blue Sox

Jhang is a Taiwanese import from the Pittsburgh Pirates organisation who played with the Sydney Blue Sox during the 2017-18 ABL season. In 2017 and 2018 he has played for the Pirates' double A affiliate, the Altoona Curve. Some online sites have his romanicised surname spelled as Jang rather than Jhang.

2017-18 Sydney Blue Sox Jin De Jhang card front - ©2018 Adam East

Garrett Whitley - 2017-18 Perth Heat

Whitely was an American import from the Tampa Bay Rays organisation who played with the Perth Heat during the 2017-18 ABL season. He spent 2017 playing for the Hudson Valley Renegades and the Bowling Green Hot Rods, the Rays’ low and single A affiliates. Unfortunately for Whitley he required surgery in his shoulder before the start of the northern 2018 season and so missed the entire season.

2017-18 Perth Heat Garrett Whitley card front - ©2018 Adam East

2017-18 Perth Heat Garrett Whitley alternate card front - ©2018 Adam East

Josh Tols - 2017-18 Melbourne Aces

The switch from Adelaide to the Melbourne Aces during the previous season obviously worked out well for Tols. The 2017-18 ABL season was his fifth ABL season and second with the Aces and resulted in him being signed by the Philadelphia Phillies in February. He has spent the majority of 2018 playing for the Phillies double A affiliate, the Reading Fightin' Phils.

He got into the swing of things when I was taking photos. If you missed my previous post, he was a member of the Aces bullpen I called, The Three Amigos.

2017-18 Melbourne Aces Josh Tols card front - ©2018 Adam East

Delmon Young - 2018-19 [ABL Graphic] Melbourne Aces

Another in the series of resized ABL social media images to make it look card like. This image is of former MLB player and American import Delmon Young. Delmon played with the Aces last season and has resigned with the Melbourne Aces for the 2018-19 ABL season.

Delmon Young image from the Australian Baseball League Facebook page turned into a virtual card

David Kandilas - 2018-19 [ABL Graphic] Canberra Cavalry

Another in the series of resized ABL social media images to make it look card like. This image is of Aussie player David Kandilas announcing that he has resigned with the Canberra Cavalry for the 2018-19 ABL season.

David Kandilas image from the Australian Baseball League Facebook page turned into a virtual card