Aaron Herr - 2010 Atlantic League Player of the Year

Autographed 2010 Lancaster Barnstormers Team Set #8 (MVP Card)
2011 Lancaster Barnstormers Choice Team Set # 8

Drafted in the 1^st round of the 2000 June Amateur draft by the Atlanta Braves, Aaron Herr achieved 3 years at the Triple-A level with the Cleveland and mostly Cincinnati organizations, whom the latter released the infielder after a severe groin injury in 2008.

Herr returned to his home town where he attended high school; signing with the Lancaster Barnstormers in 2009. Herr’s St. Louis Cardinal, All Star, second baseman father, Tommy Herr, was serving as the club’s field manager at the time.

Herr dominated the Atlantic League the next year, hitting .321 with 163 hits, and slugging .526 with 103 RBI’s, earning the co-honor of the 2010 Atlantic League Player of the Year with York’s Scott Grimes.  His home run mark of 23 round trippers was good enough to lead the Atlantic League that year; as was his 103 RBI's. Herr came within 18 points in batting average in that year of 2010 to be able to claim an Atlantic League triple crown.

*Atlantic League Pocket Schedules

Assorted Atlantic League Pocket Schedules

Team-Issued pocket schedules have always been a popular source of memorabilia with collectors.

Free for the taking at local ball parks, and available widespread through local, team-supporting merchants, collecting these schedules over the years always serve as a time capsule of team history when reviewing them many years down the road. Generally speaking, teams usually issue 4 versions (different covers) of their pocket schedules each year.

The pocket schedules pictured above are from the inaugural seasons of six Atlantic League Teams. Also included are three “celebrity” schedules featuring Rickey Henderson, Sparky Lyle and Butch Hobson.

Al Sontag - 2000 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year

Autographed 2000 Bridgeport Bluefish Multi-Ad Team Set #38 (Pitch/YR Card)
Autographed 2001 Bridgeport Bluefish Multi-Ad Team Set # 38

Having the distinction of being the first pitcher to toe the mound in Bluefish history, Al Sontag would leave the mound in Bridgeport 5 years later (1998-2003) as the franchise leader in wins (45), innings pitched (677), games started (97) and complete games (15).

The Plainedge High School (Massapequa, Long Island) grad was drafted twice by the Baltimore Orioles in 1983, but began his affiliated career by being successfully drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 1984, eventually reaching as high as AAA ball with Edmonton in the Angels’ organization. In 1985, Sontag would lead the Midwest League in innings pitched (220.1), complete games (15), shutouts (6) and strikeouts (213) which would foreshadow a record-setting 2000 Atlantic League season.

Serving the dual role as both starting pitcher and the Bluefish pitching coach during his tenure in Park City, Sontag had a commitment to strong pitching mechanics that served him well with durability and success during his 'Fish years.

These mechanics allowed Sontag to set the Atlantic League single-season record for innings pitched (207) -- a mark that still stands to this day -- on his way to claiming the 2000 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year Award.  In addition to leading the league in innings pitched that year, Sontag led the league in ERA (2.70), strikeouts (158), shutouts (3) and WHIP (1.01).

Sontag concluded his Atlantic League and baseball career in 2002, after 15 years in professional ball, within the top eight of Atlantic League career leaders in wins (45), innings pitched( 677), and strikeouts (460).