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).

Ross Peeples - "The Mayor" and Atlantic League Career Appearance Leader

Autographed 2006 Lancaster Barnstormers Choice Team Set #4
Autographed 2009 Lancaster Barnstormers Choice Team Set #15
Autographed 2011 Lancaster Barnstormers Choice Team Set #15

Leading the Brooklyn Cyclones to a 2001 New York-Penn League co-championship with a league leading 1.34 ERA and Cyclone-franchise record of 9 wins, Georgia-native Ross Peoples was awarded the Doubleday Award as Brooklyn’s Most Valuable Player.

Peeples was signed as an inaugural member of the 2005 Barnstormers team (at the recommendation of Lancaster-executive Vince Bulik who knew Peeples from his time with the Cyclones) and Peeples stayed a while.

For the next 10 years (2005-14), the left-hander was a staple on the mound for the 'Stormers eventually setting the Atlantic League record for career pitching appearances (374) and Lancaster team records for innings pitched (602 2/3) and strikeouts (325). Peeples was a member of the 2006 and 2014 Championship Teams.

Nicknamed “The Mayor” for his tenure, popularity, service and entrenchment in the Lancaster community, Peeples stayed in the community upon his retirement in 2014, with a front office job with the team. 

2000 Aberdeen Arsenal Program and Tickets

Here is a nice piece of memorabilia from the early days of the Atlantic League. It is a 2000 program for the Aberdeen Arsenal, roster and general admission/youth tickets.

Playing for just the 2000 season in the Atlantic League, the Aberdeen Arsenal, based in Bel Air, MD, would play their home games at Thomas Run Park at Hartford Community College.  Aberdeen featured former DET/SF/ATL MLB All-Star Darrell Evans as its manager, no-hit MLB pitcher Rick Wise as pitching coach and Billy Ripken as its Director of Baseball Operations.

Ripken with his Hall of Fame brother would soon establish the short-season-A Aberdeen Ironbirds (2002) as a minor league team of the Baltimore Orioles. (…you're my…brother, and I love you. But don't ever take sides with anyone against the Family) Hopes for the Arsenal to have their own home stadium dissipated when potential stadium funding for the area went to the Ripkens and the Arsenal was disbanded.

Playing against Aberdeen that day, were the Lehigh Valley Black Diamonds (2000-01). The Black Diamonds were originally established as a founding team of the Atlantic League (the Newburgh (NY) Black Diamonds) prior to 2000, and then morphed into the Pennsylvania Road Warriors post 2001 – a ball club that would play exclusively on the road to balance out the number of teams in the Atlantic League.  Lehigh Valley would play their home games in Memorial Park in Quakertown, PA.

Wayne Krenchicki and Steve “Fookie” Foucault were on the field staff of Lehigh Valley. Each would go on to have extended careers within the Atlantic League.

Somerset Coaches: John "The Count" Montefusco & Shane Spencer

(l.) Autographed 2005 Somerset Patriots Choice SGA Strip # 02
(r.) Autographed 2015 Somerset Patriots Choice Team Set #02

Along with Sparky Lyle, the Somerset Patriots have a strong affiliation with the New York Yankees historically with their coaching staff selections:

1975 National League Rookie of the Year, No-hit pitcher (9/29/76) for the San Francisco Giants and 13-year MLB veteran, John “The Count” Montefusco would coach under Sparky Lyle for the Somerset Patriots for 6 years (2000-05). Montefusco finished his career with the New York Yankees from 1983-1986. He is an answer to a favorite trick trivia question as he joined Wally Moon as the only Rookie of the Year winner to hit a home run at his first at bat.

Breaking into the major leagues at age 26 with the storied 1998 New York Yankees team (114 wins), Shane Spencer would go on to set the rookie record for grand slams in a season (3) and be a part of three New York Yankee World Championship teams. Spencer originated Derek Jeter’s famous “flip play” against the Oakland A’s in the 2001 ALDS as it was his throw from right field that Jeter flipped to Jorge Posada to tag Jeremy Giambi out at home plate. Spencer served at Somerset’s hitting/3B coach for 3 years (2013-15).

Chris Eddy - 1998 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year

Autographed 1998 Atlantic City Surf Team Set #17 (Pitch/YR Card)

Out of Duncanville, TX, pitcher Chris Eddy was drafted in the third round of the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft by the Kansas City Royals; eventually reaching the majors with Oakland in 1995 at the age 25.

The southpaw claimed the Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year award in the league’s inaugural season of 1998, pitching as a closer for the Atlantic City Surf. As a closer, Eddy was automatic notching 26 saves while winning six games without a loss for AC. Eddy’s ERA was stellar that year at 0.70 as was his WHIP; .88 in 38 games.

Eddy domination carried over to the post season as he earned the championship MVP honors leading his team to their first and only championship defeating Bridgeport in 4 games.

In three seasons with the Surf (1998-2000), Eddy was one of the premier closers in the early days of Atlantic League earning 52 saves. 

Jake Fox - 2013 Atlantic League Player of the Year

Autographed 2013 Somerset Patriots Choice Team Set #10 (MVP Card)

Drafted in the third round by the Chicago Cubs of the 2003 MLB Draft out of Michigan, Jake Fox experienced playing time in the majors in 2007 and 2009 (Cubs), 2010 (Oakland and Baltimore) and in 2011 (Baltimore) hitting a total of 20 home runs and 73 RBI’s with a .425 career slugging percentage.

The corner infielder and catcher would enter the Atlantic League in 2012 batting .388 with Somerset and claim the 2013 Atlantic League Player of the Year Award a year later. That year Fox would hit .310 with 25 home runs and 82 RBI’s despite playing in only 96 games. With 23 doubles as well, Fox’s slugging percentage would reach .572.

With this 2013 MVP season, Fox would draw interest and be signed by the Diamondbacks. In 2014, Fox would be signed with the Phillies and by 2015, after a brief stop with Toronto, Fox would sign a lucrative deal to play the season in Korea.

The Camden Riversharks Golden Years

Autographed 2003 Camden Riversharks Choice Team Set

With the announcement that the Camden Riversharks have ceased operations, I would like to reflect back to a time when they were one of the class teams of the Atlantic League. From 2002 to 2004 the Riversharks had close to a .600 winning percentage; reaching the post season three times consecutively.  Their roster was a Who’s Who of Atlantic League greats including:

Lincoln Mikkelsen: Arguable the greatest pitcher in Atlantic League History. Twice named the Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year (2002, 2006), once the Atlantic League Player of the Year (2006) and a deliver a no hitter on June 16^th, 2006. Third place on Atlantic League career list in Innings Pitched (866.1), Wins (62) and Strikeouts (577).

Ben Simon: The Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year in 2003. Pitched three complete-game shutouts that year a season record that still stands.

Ryan Schurman: One of the best pitchers in Atlantic League history. In the 5^th position all time in career Innings Pitched (710.0), Wins (45) and Strikeouts (473).

Francisco Morales: Arguably the greatest catcher in Atlantic League history. 73 home runs and 312 RBI’s in four Atlantic League seasons.

Brad Strauss: On many top-ten career offensive lists for the Atlantic League.

Dwight Maness: Arguably the best combination of power and speed the Atlantic League has even seen. In the Atlantic League top-ten career lists for many offensive categories.

Kevin Jordan: Seven-year Major League Veteran with Philadelphia Phillies. Played with Riversharks for parts of three seasons (2003-05).

Wayne Krenchicki: Manager of Camden; eight-year Major League Veternan with Orioles, Tigers, Reds and Expos.