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).

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).