Long Island Ducks Retired Jersey Numbers

Autographed Ticket Stubs from Davies, Navarrete and Harrelson Retired Jersey Nights

In the beginning of 2015, the Long Island Ducks announced that they would honor two of their retired, franchise players with jersey retirement ceremonies at Bethpage Ballpark during the season.

On June 19^th of that year, the 2004 Atlantic League Champion Series MVP, Justin Davies, was the first Duck to be so honored having his number 4 retired. Spending a total of six years in the outfield for Long Island (2000-05), Davies retired as the club leader in games played, runs scored, hits and stolen bases.

On August 16th, during the same summer, Long Island retired Ray Navarrete’s number 16. Navarrete played eight years with the organization (2006-13) and retired as the Ducks’ career leader in games played, hits, runs scored (surpassing Davies' mark of these three), home runs, RBIs, and doubles. Navarrete was a member of both the 2012 and 2103 League Championship teams and his late-inning, go-ahead 3-run  home run in game 5 of the 2013 series was instrumental to bringing the championship back to Long Island.

On August 3rd, in 2018, the Ducks memorialized a third jersey number to their left-center field Duckvision scoreboard. Long-time owner and former manager/coach Bud Harrelson had his special night; retiring number 3. Six months earlier, Harrelson publicly-announced that he has been fighting  an official Alzheimer’s diagnosis for more than 2 years which made for a very special night at Bethpage Ballpark.

Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez - All-Time MLB Single-Season Save Leader

Autographed Francisco Rodriguez Official Atlantic League Baseball
Autographed 2018 Francisco Rodriguez Long Island Duck Pocket Schedule

On April 29, 2018, the Long Island Ducks announced that they had signed the all-time, single-season MLB save leader (62) Francisco Rodriguez to minor league deal. Also known as “K-Rod”, Rodriguez is ranked 4^th in all-time Major League career saves with 430 -- trailing only Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman and Lee Smith on the career saves list.

The Venezuelan-born closer, and six-time MLB All Star, lead the American League in saves in three different seasons (2005,06,08); having save conversion percentages of around 90% or higher in each of those seasons.

Long Island Ducks 10th Anniversary Team

2009 10-Anniversary Long Island Ducks Choice Team Set

To celebrate their 10th season, the Long Island Ducks named their 10-year anniversary team and honored them back at Citibank Park on the night of August 8, 2009. To commemorate this anniversary, the organization issued a 21-card commemorative set, featuring  nine former Major League ballplayers along with future retired-uniformed players Justin Davies and Ray Navarrete. The honors were as follows: 

1B: Doug Jennings (MLB)

2B: Carlos Hernandez (MLB)

3B:  Carlos Baerga (MLB)

Shortstop: Edgardo Alfonso (MLB)

Left Field: Justin Davies

Center Field: Kimera Bartee (MLB)

Right Field:  Jason Johnson

Designated Hitter: Patrick Lennon (MLB)

Catcher: Francisco Morales (MLB)

Starting Pitcher: Randy Leek

Reliever: Bill Simas (MLB)

Ultility Player: Ray Navarrete

Owner: Frank Boulton

Coach: Bud Harrelson (MLB)

Mike Loree - 2011 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year

Coming out of Gillette, NJ, 6’6” right-hand pitcher Mike Loree was drafted by the San Francisco Giants organization and headed to their Arizona League team in 2007.

After rising as high as Double A ball with Pittsburgh’s affiliate the Altoona Curve, Loree took the mound for the Long Island Ducks in 2011 and delivered one of the greatest Atlantic League pitching seasons ever recorded.

Finishing the 2011 season with a record of 14-5, with 131 strikeouts and an ERA below two (1.98), Mike Loree had no peers in any of these categories that year as he claimed both the 2011 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year award as well as the Atlantic League Pitching Triple Crown  -- becoming only the second pitcher in league history to dominate in such a way (Magrane-Somerset; 2009).

That year, Loree set a Long Island franchise record with 14 strikeouts in a game (since tied by MLB pitcher Rich Hill in 2015 when pitching with the Ducks), while also shining in the post season with a 2-0 record coupled with an 1.10 ERA.

2012 saw the Villanova alumn be signed away from the Ducks by the Lamigo Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League where Loree would become the most dominant in-season and post-season mound star over the next few years.

Loree matched his-triple crown performance on Long Island with a CPBL triple-crown year in 2015 pitching for the EDA Rhinos finishing with a 16-5 record, 3.65 ERA while striking out 144. 

Loree led the CPBL in wins (13) and ERA (3.98) in the 2016 season, and added a second CPBL league pitching triple crown to his resume in 2017 pitching for the Fubon Guardians (16-4, 2.18 ERA, 154K’s).

Mike Loree was named to the 15^th-Anniversary Long Island Duck team in 2014.

Long Island Ducks' 15th-Year Anniversary Team

Autographed 2014 Long Island Ducks 15th-Year Anniversary AARP Team Set

Early in 2014, to mark the 15th anniversary year of the Long Island Ducks playing in the Atlantic League, the franchise asked fans to vote and create a 15th Anniversary Team  -- marking the greatest Ducks in franchise history. The task was to select one player at each position, a manager and final vote selection for a player that may have been overlooked. To commemorate this undertaking, the Ducks released a 15th Anniversary Team baseball card set in May highlighting the final selections.

This is a great keepsake for all Duck fans really highlighting their history! The selections were as follows:

Header Card – Bud Harrelson (Autographed);

Catcher – Francisco Morales (Autographed);

1st Base – Doug Jennings; (Autographed)

2nd Base – Ray Navarrete (Autographed);

Shortstop – Dan Lyons (Autographed);

3rd Base – Bryant Nelson (Autographed);

Outfielder – Justin Davies (Autographed);

Outfielder – Lew Ford (Autographed);

Outfielder – Kimera Bartee (Autographed);

Designated Hitter - Patrick Lennon (Autographed);

Left-hand Starting Pitcher – Randy Leek (Autographed);

Right-hand Starting Pitcher – John Brownell (Autographed);

Reliever – John Valentine (Autographed);

Closer – Bill Simas (Autographed);

Manager – Kevin Baez (Autographed);

Final Vote – Mike Loree (Autographed).

Topps Allen & Ginter Autographed Cards

Assorted Allen & Ginter Autographed Cards

A frequent focus of autograph collectors that attend Atlantic League games is to collect the autographs of players that have reached the Major League level on MLB cards, photos and merchandise.

Although my focus is almost always Atlantic League, I do like to collect autographed Allen & Ginter cards for their attractive artwork and the high-end quality stock that they are produced on.

Here are a couple from recent years featuring former Major Leaguers: Henderson Alvarez, Nolan Reimold, Lew Ford, Brendan Harris, Bill Hall, Jordan Pacheco, Tyler Colvin and John Lannan.

2012 Atlantic League Champions Long Island Ducks

After defeating the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in the deciding Game 5 of the 2012 Atlantic League Divisional Series, courtesy of Brandon Sing's fourth-inning and Bryant Nelson’s go-ahead, eighth-inning home runs, the Long Island Ducks headed for their third championship series in franchise history against the Lancaster Barnstormers.

The season-end acquisition of Indy-career pitcher John Brownell paid dividends for the Flock as the right-hander gave up two earned runs in six innings in game four of the Championship Series forcing the second sudden-death game of the 2012 post season.

The Ducks took Game 5 and the Championship with Kraig Binick and Joash Brodin each contributing three hits to the effort; and Bobby Blevins Jr. pitching 6 innings of two earn-run ball – matching his mound mate Brownell’s performance of the night before.

Series MVP and Duck shortstop Dan Lyons brought home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth with a squeeze bunt to win the championship in dramatic fashion. 

Eric Gagne - 2003 N.L. Cy Young Award Winner & 3X All Star

Autographed Eric Gagne Official Atlantic League Ball and 2017 Long Island Duck Pocket Schedule

Setting a major league record by converting 84 consecutive save opportunities bridging the 2002-2004 seasons; Eric Gagne tied a National League record for saves in 2003 with 55 saves pitching as the closer for the Los Angeles Dodgers.  The performance that year, combined with a 1.20 ERA, was impressive enough to earn the right-hander the 2003 National League Cy Young Award – an award usually reserved for starting pitchers.

On May 5^th, 2017, the 41-year-old, three-time N.L. All-Star Gagne joined the Long Island Ducks as a relief pitcher to try to work on developing a new slider to aid his hopes of returning to the major leagues.

Victor Rodriguez - 2004 & 2007 Atlantic League Player of the Year

(L.) Autographed 2004 Somerset Patriot Multi-Ad Team Set (MVP Card)

(C.)Autographed 2007 Somerset Patriots 10th-Anniversary Legacy Choice Promotional Card #14 

(R.) Autographed 2007 Newark Bear Choice Team Set #23 (MVP Card)

Only one Atlantic League player has been able to win two Player of the Year Awards. That player, is Victor Rodriguez.

In 2004, on his way to the Atlantic League Player of the Year, Rodriguez slugged 25 home runs with 111 RBI’s and a .592 league-leading slugging average while playing 3rd base for the Somerset Patriots.  With this, Rodriguez also set the single-season Atlantic League batting average record of .371 that still stands today.

In 2007, while donning a Newark Bear uniform, as 1B/DH Rodriguez once again tore up the league batting .365 with a .550 slugging percentage.  For his efforts, Rodriguez was named Atlantic League co-Player of the Year (Jesse Hoorelbeke/Bridgeport). 

That year, Rodriguez's Newark Bears were Atlantic League Champions beating Somerset bringing the trophy to Newark for their second time in team history (2002).  

Atlantic League fans were fortunate to see Rodriguez play for many of their hometown teams.

From 2004 to 2010, Rodriguez played for five different towns: Somerset (2004), Newark (2006/07/10), Long Island (2009), York (2010) and Bridgeport (2010). 

Rodriguez retired in 2010 leaving the Atlantic League with a .334 lifetime average and a slugging average of .514 to help the League remember his dominance.

Bryant Nelson - All-Time Atlantic League Hit King!



Autographed 2012 Long Island Ducks Choice Team Set #10
Autographed 2013 Long Island Ducks Choice Team Set #19

Drafted in the 1993 MLB amateur draft by the Houston Astros, Bryant Nelson would achieve the Major League level with 25 games with the Boston Red Sox in 2002.

Nelson would enter the Atlantic League in 2006, and throughout the next 11 seasons would be a staple of the league with tenures in Bridgeport (2006/15), Long Island (2008/12/13), Lancaster (2010/15), York (2011/14), Camden (2009/14) and Southern Maryland (2015/16).

Far from being just a hired journeyman, the switch-hitting Nelson had instrumental roles with the 2011 York Revolution and back-to-back 2012/13 Long Island Ducks championships earning three Championship rings.

In 2011, Nelson hit a walk-off homerun in the first game of the Freedom Division Series against Lancaster to set the stage for York moving onto the Championship Series and eventually the 2011 Atlantic League Championship trophy.  

Likewise, Nelson was an instrumental player in the 2012 & 2013 Long Island Ducks' championships. The Crossett, Arkansas-native launched a 2-run, eighth-inning home run while the Ducks were trailing Southern Maryland and facing elimination in the 5^th game of the 2012 Liberty Division Championship; propelling the Flock to the Championship Series they would eventually win.

In 2013, Nelson had the game-winning hit in game two, and drove in the championship winning RBI in game five, against the Somerset Patriots to bring the second, consecutive Championship to Long Island in what is arguably the most classic, intense Championship Series in Atlantic League history.

Nelson joined the Atlantic League 1,000-Hit Club on June 2, 2016, joining only Jeff Nettles (7/27/2012) and Ray Navarrete (8/3/2013) to achieve this career league milestone.

On August 3rd, 2016, Bryant Nelson replaced Jeff Nettles as the All-Time Atlantic League Hit King with career league hit 1,053 off of Lancaster pitcher Bryan Evans in Waldorf.

Nelson’s consistency and value to a roster has had him achieved at least 100 career hits with five different Atlantic League teams (Bridgeport, Camden, Lancaster, Long Island and Southern Maryland).

The fan-favorite Nelson was selected by the Long Island Ducks organization as the 3rd baseman for the team's 15^th Anniversary Team in 2014.

Lew Ford - 2014 Atlantic League Player of the Year

(Top) Autographed 2015  Long Island Duck Yearbook Page
(Center) 2015 SGA Bronze "2014 Atlantic League Player of the Year" Statue(
Left Cent) Autographed 2009 Choice Long Island Ducks Team Set Card #23(
Bot Left) Autographed 2011 Choice Long Island Ducks Team Set Card #7 
(Bot Cent) Autographed 2014 Choice Long Island Ducks Team Set Card #8 (MVP Card)
(Bot Right) Autographed 2015 Choice Long Island Ducks Team Set Card #28 

Out of Beaumont, Texas, Lew Ford spent 5 years (2003-07) in the Major Leagues with the Minnesota Twins playing in 3 Divisional Series.  Ford was American League Player of the Week August 21, 2005.

Ford fought his way back to the big league roster again on July 29, 2012, with the Baltimore Orioles, -- after 5-years of not playing in the Majors -- hitting consecutive-game home runs with the Orioles on August 27th & 28th. Ford batted .375 in the 2012 Division Series and drove in the lone RBI for Baltimore against New York Yankee pitcher C.C. Sabathia in game 5.

Ford has spent parts of 6 different seasons with the Long Island Ducks and set an Atlantic League season record with 189 hits -- and 140 games played -- in 2014 securing himself a .347 batting average for the season and the Atlantic League Player of the Year.

Through the 2014 season, Ford is the Flock's career batting average leader with a .340 lifetime Atlantic League regular season average.

Jon Hunton - Atlantic League All-Time Career Save Leader

(Top) Autographed 2013 Somerset Patriots Choice Team Set #14
(BL) Autographed 2014 Somerset Patriots Choice Team Set #20
(BR) Autographed 2015 Somerset Patriots Choice Team Set #19

Drafter in the 11^th round of the 2004 draft by the Chicago Cubs, Jon Hunton would achieve the Triple-A level within the Oakland A’s organization in 2010.

After briefs roster stints with Lancaster (2007), Somerset (2008) and Long Island (2011/12), the Plainfield, NJ native would come home and find a home with the Somerset Patriots in 2013 becoming the premier closer in the Atlantic League with three consecutive, 30-save seasons. In 2014, he established the single-season Atlantic League save record with 49 saves. During this three-year period, Hunton would save an incredible 45% of the Patriots victories.

With this dominance, the 6’9” closer would establish the Atlantic League career saves record on May 10, 2016, eclipsing Southern Maryland's Jim Ed Warden’s career total with 135 saves.

As a significant member of the 2015 Somerset championship team, Hunton claims off-the-field contributions to this banner as well, as Hunton also has been serving in the dual role of the team’s Director of Player Personnel since the 2014 season.

Long Island Ducks SGA Bobbleheads

Long Island Ducks Bobblehead Giveaways

Major and Minor League baseball teams bring SGA Bobbleheads into their promotional schedule to attempt bring more fans through their turnstiles. Bobbleheads, which have become a subsect of collecting, really accomplish this task.  Here are some bobbleheads through the seasons of the Long Island Ducks. (Bottom Left to Right) Carlos Baerga (2002), Bud Harrelson (2002), Doug Jennings (2005), (Top Left ot Right) Gary Carter(2009), Ray Navarrete (2010).

John Brownell - 2015 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year

Autographed 2013 Long Island Ducks Choice Team Set #6
Autographed 2014 Long Island Ducks Choice Team Set #7
Autographed 2015 Long Island Ducks Choice Team Set #4 (Pitch/YR Card)

Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2006 Amateur draft out of the University of Oklahoma, John Brownell has been one of the best pitchers in Independent Baseball over the last decade averaging double-digits wins; 153 innings pitched; and 116 strikeouts since the 2008 season.

Brownell broke on to the Atlantic League scene at the end of the 2012 season and right away became a fan favorite on Long Island by featuring a smooth windup on the front end of his delivery followed by a back-end mastery of changing speeds that perplexed hitters. These physical abilities framed Brownell’s calm demeanor and competitive heart that was custom made for big-game opportunities.

Brownell left his mark on the 2013 Championship Series as he was awarded the series’ MVP by earning win decisions in game one and five of the series while striking out nine against the Somerset Patriots bringing the Championship home to Central Islip.

The 2015 season saw "Brownie" log his 1,000th professional strikeout pitching with the Long Island Ducks and in recognition for his workhorse reliability and performance during the year he was named the 2015 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year.

The award was well earned. He led the Atlantic League in Innings Pitched (175.2) Wins (12-tied), Strikeouts (146) Complete Games (4) and shutouts (2-tied). His six losses could have been easily converted to a few more wins if he had more robust offensive support on those dates. The Ducks’ offensive only averaged 1.5 runs per game when looking at games where he was saddled with losses in 2015.

To underscore Brownell’s success since coming into the Atlantic League, with only three full seasons under his belt-- at the end of the 2015 season -- he is only five victories away from breaking into the league’s top 10 all-time career wins list.

Justin Davies - 2004 ALCS MVP & Long Island Duck Great

Autographed 2014 Long Island Ducks 15th Year Anniversary Team Set #6
2003 Northwestern Mutual Financial Justin Davies Bobblehead
2004 Davis Vision Justin Davies Bobblehead

West Babylon, Long Island-native Justin Davies was a last-minute roster addition for the 2000 Long Island Ducks' inaugural season after Ruben Sierra decided to play baseball in Mexico yielding an open roster slot. Davies made the most of this opportunity and went on to have one of the most storied careers in franchise history.

For the next six seasons (2000-05), the centerfielder’s play and constant community presence would establish him as the face of the franchise. This recognition would apex in the 2004 postseason when Davies’ clutch hitting (including two game-winning hits and a .385 BA) would bring Long Island its first-ever Atlantic League Championship and Davies the series MVP award.

Upon his retirement, Davies left the Duck's career leader in games played (637), hits (615), runs (426) and stolen bases (149); still holding the stolen base mark to this day.

On June 19, 2015.The Long Island Ducks honored Davies by making his number ”4” the first, retired player’s number in their team history. 

Long Island Ducks 2012 & 2013 "Quack-to-Quack" Atlantic League Champions

Autographed Long Island Ducks' Souvenir Ice Cream Cup Helmets (Clockwise from top left: Adam Bailey, Bobby Blevins Jr., Joash Brodin, John Brownell, Lew Ford, Dan Lyons)

The Long Island Ducks achieved “Quack-to-Quack” Atlantic League Championships in 2012 and 2013.

2012 featured their first league championship in eight years defeating the Lancaster Barnstormers 3 games to 2 in a best-of-five -game series. Series MVP and Duck shortstop Dan Lyons brought home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth in the deciding game with a squeeze bunt to win the championship in dramatic fashion.

John Brownell earned MVP honors in the 2013 Championship; winning games 1 & 5 for the Flock (3.38 ERA; 9 strikeouts) against the series-favorite Somerset Patriots. The intense series featured four of the games in the series being decided by one run, and two extra inning games including a Saturday-night game that went 16 innings and over five hours before being decided.

Some notables players on both years rosters that served as the core of these teams where: Kraig Binick, Joash Brodin, Lew Ford, Dan Lyons, Ray Navarrete, Bryant Nelson, Bobby Blevins Jr., John Brownell, Leo Rosales, Eric Niesen, Bob Zimmermann and the Lansford brothers.

Bud Harrelson – 1969 New York “Miracle Mets” Golden Glove Shortstop

Autographed 2000 Long Island Ducks Inaugural Pocket Schedule, Scorecard and First-Game Commemorative Ticket

With the singular distinction of being the only name on both the 1969 and 1986 New York Mets’ World Championship rosters, Bud Harrelson’s major league career spanned 15 years (1965-80) and included multiple All-Star Selections (’70 & ’71) and a Golden Glove Award (’71).

Harrelson’s MLB success has been matched by his role as one of the three owners who brought the professional baseball team of the Long Island Ducks to the Island, opening their gates in the 2000 inaugural season.

Since the team's inception, Harrelson has been lending his New York name recognition and tireless efforts to promote the Ducks and still serves as their owner, Senior VP of Baseball Operations, bench coach and “Foremost Long Island Duck Goodwill Ambassador” today.

Gary Carter - 2003 Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee

Autographed 2009 Long Island Duck Yearbook Page & Game-used Atlantic League Baseball.
2009 Long Island Ducks Choice Team Set Card #29 (Unsigned)

Five-time Silver Slugger Award recipient, three-time-consecutive Gold Glove winner, and two-time All-Star Game MVP (11 appearances); Gary Carter’s baseball achievements were only matched by his enthusiasm on the field for the game of baseball.

The 19-year MLB Veteran, slugged 298 homeruns as a catcher (324 lifetime) and was an early marquee player for the Montreal Expos and one of the final pieces added to a New York Mets team that would win a World Championship for the city of New York in 1986.

The pinnacle of Carter’s Major League career came in 2003 when he was enshrined at Cooperstown.

The Hall of Famer was a member of the Long Island Ducks’ family for their 10^th anniversary season (2009) and as their manager led the team to a .529 winning percentage for the season and a second-half Liberty Division title

Ray Navarrete - 2009 Atlantic League Player of the Year

Autographed 2009 Long Island Ducks Choice Team Set #19 (MVP Card) & Long Island Ducks Souvenir Baseball.
10th Anniversary All-Time Ducks Choice Team Set #11 (Unsigned)

After a six-year run within the Pittsburgh Pirates’ and New York Mets’ organizations, Ray Navarrete entered the Atlantic League in 2005, and went on to have one of the most successful careers the league has ever known.

The Seton Hall alumnus established himself as the franchise face of the Ducks partaking in eight seasons (2006-2013) and two league championships eventually retiring with Long Island’s career offensive records in six categories including: games played (863); hits (963); home runs (137); RBI’s (548); runs scored (599) and doubles (245).

Navarrete’s best season came in 2009 when he was selected the Atlantic League Player of the Year; compiling a .309 batting average with 25 home runs, 96 RBI’s and 106 runs.

Navarrete entered the Atlantic League 1,000 Hit Club “with an exclamation point” on August 3, 2013, with a home run against York becoming only the second Atlantic League player (with Jeff Nettles) in league history to join this elite group.

The end of the 2013 season brought retirement in style as Navarrete hit a 3-run home run in the deciding game 5 of the Championship Series against Somerset putting the Ducks in the lead for good and bringing the Atlantic League Championship Trophy home to Long Island for a second straight year.

Dontrelle Willis - 2003 National League Rookie of the Year

Autographed Long Island Ducks
Souvenir Baseball

2013 Long Island Ducks
Choice Team Set Card #25

Exploding on the Major League scene with his high leg kick in 2003, Dontrelle Willis went 14-6 with the Florida Marlins and claimed the National League Rookie of the Year Award.

In 2005, “The D-Train” was runner up to Chris Carpenter for the National League Cy Young Award; winning 20 games for Florida for the first time in Marlin history.

Having a resume that included 9 big-league seasons spanning 4 MLB teams, Willis joined the Long Island Ducks in 2013 and impressed the California Angels organization enough to earn a contract from their Triple-A team, the Salt Lake Bees, the same year.