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.  

Scott Grimes - 2010 Atlantic League Player of the Year

Autographed 2010  York Revolution Pizza Hut Team Set #15 (MVP Card)

Scott Grimes is arguably the greatest leadoff man the Atlantic League has ever known. He is without an argument the greatest position player in the history of the York Revolution.

After entering the Atlantic League in 2010, the 2008 Can-Am Association Player of the Year who set a single-season Cam-Am record for runs scored (87), continued his scoring ways and for the next few years put on a clinic on how to score runs in the Atlantic League.

In 2010,  Grimes scored 138 runs in 132 games; averaging more than one run per game for the entire season. His 138 runs scored that year lead all professional baseball (major and minor leagues). For his efforts, the center fielder shared the Atlantic League Player of the Year award (Aaron Herr/Lancaster) and was selected to Baseball America’s All-Independent Team.

2011 brought another Atlantic League runs-scoring title for the Kennett Square-PA native as he crossed the plate 97 times.

The contributions of these years cannot be understated in regard to Revs baseball. Grimes was a major, core contributor to the Revolution winning back-to-back Atlantic League Championships in 2010 and 2011. True to form, Grimes scored the championship clinching run in the 10th inning of Game 3 of the Atlantic League Championship in 2010 against the Bridgeport Bluefish to bring York their first-ever League Championship.

Grimes retired from the Revolution after only three years of play in 2012 as the career, franchise leader in: games played (357), runs scored (298), at-bats (1,350), hits (374), extra-base hits (128), triples (13), total bases (605), stolen bases (69), and walks (205).

Chris Schwinden - 2014 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year

Autographed 2014 Lancaster Barnstormers Choice Team Set #21 (Pitcher of Year Card)

Having reached the Major League level with the New York Mets in 2011, and their starting rotation in 2012, right-handed pitcher Chris Schwinden pitched only one year in the Atlantic League but made it count.

Serving as the anchor to the Lancaster Barnstormers’ pitching staff in 2014, the Visalia, California native finished the regular season 14-5 with a 2.56 ERA.

Schwinden’s impressive season carried over well into the Atlantic League postseason. After earning the win in the opening game of the Playoff Series, he additionally allowed only 1 earned run in 9 innings of work in the decisive 5^th game against a very strong Somerset Patriots team earning his second win of the playoffs and propelling Lancaster into the Championship Series.

Schwinden followed up his playoff performance by pitching 7 innings against Sugar Land in the Championship Series capping off a sweep for Lancaster -- 3 games to none. His combined stats in the 2014 postseason finished at a 2-0 record and an 1.90 ERA with more strikeouts registered (21) than hits allowed (20).

Upon season conclusion, Chris Schwinden was named the Atlantic League Pitcher of the year for his 2014 efforts.

Sparky Lyle - 1977 American League Cy Young & 5x Championship Manager

Autographed Atlantic League Baseball (Center)
Autographed 2004 Somerset Patriots Multi-Ad Team Set # 28 (Top)
Autographed 2015 Somerset Patriots Choice Team Set #32 (Right)
Autographed 2013 Somerset Patriots Choice Team Set #30 (Bottom)
Autographed 2012 Somerset Patriots Choice Team Set #1 (Left)
2015 Somerset Patriot Yearbook

As a 15-year Major League Veteran, Sparky Lyle fired his nasty slider in high-pressure situations at wincing American League hitters to become the premier relief closer of the 1970’s.

The two-time, back-to-back New York Yankee World Champion (1977,78), two-time American League Save Leader (1972, 76) and three-time All-Star ( 1973,76,77) won the 1977 American League Cy Young Award – becoming the first relief pitcher to win the award in the junior circuit.

Lyle’s signature moment came in the Game 4 of the 1977 ALCS where, with the Yankees facing elimination, Lyle stretched his pitch count out over 5 1/3 shutout innings in long relief allowing the Kansas City Royals only 2 hits.

Sparky’s success transitioned well into the Atlantic League.  As the very first employee of the Somerset Patriots (1997), Lyle’s personality and recognition was instrumental in establishing a successful franchise for Somerset.  With no prior professional managerial experience, Lyle went on to lead the Patriots to 5 Atlantic League Championship (2001,03,05,08,09) in 15 years at the helm and retired the winningest manager in Atlantic League history overseeing 1,025 victories.

Lyle transitioned into Somerset's Manager Emeritus in 2012, allowing him still to promote the team; eventually having his number “28” retired with the Patriots in 2014.

Dwayne Pollok - 2012 & 2013 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year

Autographed 2012 Lancaster Barnstormers SGA Promo Card  #09 (Pitcher of Year Card)

Autographed 2013 Lancaster Barnstormers Choice Team Set #28 (Pitcher of Year Card)

Having Reached the AAA Level with the Dodger and White Sox organizations, Dwayne Pollok landed in the Atlantic League in 2012, with the Lancaster Barnstormers and opposing batters immediately fell victim to his spot-fast ball and commanding breaking ball.

The former Texas A&M Aggie put together two of the most dominant back-to-back pitching seasons the league has even seen carrying home both the 2012 & 2013 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year Awards.

In 2012, Pollok went 14-4 with a 2.30 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 34 appearances.  He followed through in 2013, with arguable a better year, finishing with an 18-3 record, 2.92 ERA and 124 strikeouts in 27 appearances.

Pollok equaled his two Atlantic League distinctions by being named the back-to-back Pitcher of the Year (2011/12 & 2012/13) in the Venezuelan Winter League as well.

The greatest compliment of Pollok’s talent was from his Barnstormer pitching peer, Ross Peeples, whom told Lancaster Online, "You sit in the bullpen with guys who have spent years in the big leagues, and they say that Pollok could be a No. 4 or 5 starter in the big leagues right now.’

Pollok walked off the mound into retirement in 2013, at the top of his game with an .820 AL winning percentage, to the relief of Atlantic League hitters.

Josh Pressley - 2008 Atlantic League Player of the Year

Autographed 2010 Somerset Patriots MultiAd Sports Team Set # 22 - Isa 40:31

Autographed 2008 Somerset Patriots MultiAd Sports Team Set # 22 - Isa 40:31 (MVP Card )

Having reached the Triple-A level with the Tampa Bay Rays, New York Mets and Boston Red Sox, Josh Pressley found a home and success in joining the Somerset Patriots in 2007.

Through the next five years, Pressley served as one of the team leaders that led Somerset to four consecutive years of post season appearances and to back-to-back Atlantic League Championships in 2008 and 2009.

In 2008, the first baseman had one of the best offensive seasons in Atlantic League history batting .354, and slugging .605, all while establishing a Patriot single-season homerun record with 30 round trippers. For his efforts, Pressley was chosen the 2008 Atlantic League Player of the Year.  

Pressley left Somerset in 2011 and gained the distinction of being the first roster selection for the Sugar Land Skeeters in the 2012 Atlantic League Expansion Draft.

In 2014, upon his retirement, the Patriots organization in gratitude for all that Pressley meant to the franchise signed him to a one-game contract on August 9^th, to allow him to retire in a Somerset Patriot uniform.

Pressley was selected the second greatest Somerset Patriot of all time in a 2012 polling of fans, players, coaches and team officials.