Dwight Maness - All-Time Atlantic League & Camden Rivershark Great

Autographed 2007 Camden Riversharks DAV Team Set #261
Autographed 2004 Camden Riversharks Choice Team Set #15

Out of New Castle, DE, Dwight Maness was selected in the third-round of the 1992 Amateur Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers.  After reaching the level of Triple-A with the New York Mets, and winning the 2000 Eastern League Championship with the New Haven Ravens (SEA-AA), Maness put on a Camden Rivershark uniform in 2001, and wore it for the next seven years.

The right-hand hitting centerfielder would go on to have one of the most successful offensive careers in Atlantic League history. From 2001 through 2007, “Dewey” as his team mates called him, averaged 74 runs, 114 hits, 23 doubles, 15 home runs, 66 RBI’s and 27 stolen bases in what was at that time a 126-game season.

A strong case can be made that Maness was the most prolific combination of speed and power that the Atlantic League has ever seen. Upon his retirement in 2007, Maness placed in the second slot in league history in the power rankings of home runs and RBI’s (behind Nashua’s Glenn Murray); and first in doubles, second in triples and third in stolen bases in the speed categories. Seven years after his retirement, Maness’ career statistics still hold up very well as his name is still widespread throughout the top of the career offensive leader boards in the Atlantic League.

Kinnis Pledger - 1998 Atlantic League Player of the Year

Autographed 1998 Bridgeport Bluefish Multi-Ad Team Set #23 (MVP Card);
Autographed 2000 Bridgeport Bluefish Multi-Ad Team Set #2

Selected by the Chicago White Sox in the third round of the 1987 Amateur Draft, Kinnis Pledger went on to reach the Triple-A level with both the White Sox (1990) and Chicago Cubs’ organizations (1994/95) prior to arriving in the Atlantic League.

The power-hitting, Arkansas native was the inaugural 1st baseman for the Bridgeport Bluefish when the franchise was established upon the formation of the Atlantic League in 1998. 

In that inaugural year of 1998, Pledger lit up the league batting .331 and slugging an incredible.625 with 26 home runs and 89 RBI’s. Pledger had such a dominant year that he finished in either first or second place in league batting for runs, hits, RBI's, total bases, OBP, OPS and slugging average.

This earned him selection as the first Atlantic League Player of the Year Award  – an honor he shared with Felix Jose of the Nashua Pride.

The award and his level of play in the Atlantic League drew the attention of the Seattle Mariners in 1999. During the Atlantic League All Star Game that year, Pledger was scratched from the Home Run Derby when the Seattle Mariners offered him a Triple-A contract.

Pledger retired in 2001, after 15 years in professional ball and to the appreciation of Bluefish fans who saw him play for four seasons.