Dae-Sung Koo (구대성) - 2018-19 Geelong-Korea

..... aaaand, we're back!

To kickstart our hopeful return to regular posting, let's crack out one of the big names. Veteran Korean and Sydney Blue Sox player Dae-Sung Koo returned for the 2018-19 ABL season as the Manager of the expansion Geelong-Korea team. With the troubles that his inexperienced players sometimes got themselves into, he even ended up taking the mound for a single inning against the Brisbane Bandits late in the season. This was his first game as a player, three years after his last ABL game. Add to that a number of controversial threats to remove his team from the field because of umpiring disagreements and Koo was back in the ABL spotlight.

2018-19 Geelong-Korea Dae-Sung Koo card front ©2019 Adam East

Dae-Sung Koo (구대성) - 2014-15 Sydney Blue Sox

Old man Koo continues to rack up the years in baseball, marking his fifth season with the Sydney Blue Sox during the 2014-15 ABL season. He'll be turning 46 in August, so it'll be interesting to see if he saddles up again in 2015-16.

2014-15 Dae-Sung Koo card front - ©2015 Adam East

Dae-Sung Koo (구대성) - 2013-14 Sydney Blue Sox

Despite his age, 44 year old Koo is still an important member of the Sydney Blue Sox ABL team. With the off-season move of Matt Williams from the Blue Sox to the Bite, Koo returned to the Closer position in 2013-14 which Williams had taken over in 2012-13, but which Koo had held in the previous two ABL seasons.

Koo's transition from Korean baseballing legend to adopted Aussie seems almost complete, noting that as well as living permanently in suburbia in Sydney, Koo played as a member the Australian national team that competed against the Arizona Diamondbacks and LA Dodgers at the SCG that preceded the MLB 2014 Opening Series.

2013-14 Sydney Blue Sox Dae-Sung Koo card front - © 2014 Adam East

Dae-Sung Koo - 2012-13 Sydney Blue Sox

Korean baseballing legend and former MLB player Koo continued his ABL career with his adopted retirement home of Sydney, playing for the Blue Sox for the 2012-13 ABL season, his third with the club.

Koo also made a surprise appearance for the Perth Heat, being added to their roster for the 2012 Asia Series in Busan, Korea.

I was unable to get a photo of Koo playing this season, so had to make do with this uninspiring shot of him wearing a Blue Sox hoodie over his uniform.

2012-13 Sydney Blue Sox Dae-Sung Koo card front - © 2013 Adam East

Checklist - 2012 Sydney Blue Sox Select

The official 2012 Sydney Blue Sox baseball card set created by Select features cards of the following players:

2012 Sydney Blue Sox Logo card by Select

• 61 Sydney BlueSox Logo
• 62 Craig Anderson
• 63 Trent D'Antonio
• 64 Mitch Dening
• 65 David Kandilas
• 66 Dae-Sung Koo
• 67 Boss Moanaroa
• 68 Chris Oxspring
• 69 Trent Schmutter
• 70 Brad Thomas
• 71 Jacob Younis
• 72 Mascot "Syd"

The Sydney Blue Sox team set of 12 cards can be ordered from the ABL Online Store for $AU9.99.

Dae-Sung Koo (구대성) - 2011-12 Sydney Blue Sox

I cheated on this card ... I reused a photo of Koo from the 2010-11 season, but then again, I did that for several Sydney and Brisbane players. You can compare the 2010-11 card design for Koo here. I didn't have any decent photos of him from the 2011-12 season, and did think that this wasn't a bad photo.

2011-12 Sydney Blue Sox Dae-Sung Koo card front - © 2012 Adam East

Dae-sung Koo (구대성) - 2010-11 Sydney Blue Sox

Dae-Sung Koo is a bit of a Korean baseballing legend. Having played 13 years in the KBO, 4 years in the NPB and played Major League with the New York Mets, he has longevity and experience. His decision to settle in Sydney and pitch for the Blue Sox was an added bonus for them. He has competed for them in both years of the ABL to date, winning the Reliver of the Year award for the inaugural ABL season, and providing a role for them as a solid closer.

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