Tommy Everidge - 2011 Atlantic League Player of the Year

Autographed 2011 Lancaster Barnstormers Choice Team Set #03 (MVP Card)

Selected in the 10^th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft by Oakland, Sonoma Valley-native Tommy Everidge progressed through the Athletics’ minor league system reaching the majors in June of 2009.

After additional stints within the Seattle and Houston farm systems, the power-hitting first baseman signed with the Lancaster Barnstormers in 2011, and quickly dominated the Atlantic League at the plate.

In that season, Everidge led the league in hits (160), doubles (41), home runs (28), and total bases (285); and ranked second in runs scored (94) and RBI’s (94). All this was accomplished while maintaining an elevated .319 batting average and playing in all 125 games for the Barnstormers.

In August, Everidge flirted with batting .400 for the entire month; falling just shy at .394 leading to Everidge being named the Atlantic League Player of the Month.

For his offensive season -- which also included setting a league extra-base hit record (69) -- Tommy Everidge was awarded the Atlantic League Player of the Year for 2011.

Everidge currently works as a hitting coach in the Oakland organization.

2003 Atlantic League All-Star Game - Nashua, New Hampshire

2003 Atlantic League All-Star Card Set Selections

To celebrate the 2003 Atlantic League All-Star Game at Holman Stadium, the Nashua Pride put out a 52 card set detailing both the rosters of the North (red borders) and South (blue borders) Division teams. This set, although not high-end production, is a great time capsule of the early days of the Atlantic League.

Some of the players representing their clubs that year in this card set are: Hall of Famer and Stolen-Base King Rickey Henderson; Atlantic League Home Run King Glenn Murray; Somerset greats Jeff Nettles and Michael Warner; Rivershark greats Ben Simon, Brad Strauss , Francisco Morales and Linc Mikkelsen; past and present managers Kevin Baez, Butch Hobson and Wayne Krenchicki; and Long Island’s Justin Davies.

The South Division won the game that year 2-1, with Rickey Henderson driving in the game-winning RBI.

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.

Roger Clemens - All-Time Baseball Great - Seven Cy Young Awards

Autographed 2012 Sugar Land Skeeters Scorecard Lineup Insert

Considered one of the most dominant pitchers in Major League history, Roger Clemens established a legendary 24-year career from the mound with 354 wins, 4,672 strikeouts and more Cy Young Awards than any other pitcher in MLB history - seven.

In 2012, the ‘Rocket” came out of retirement and donned the imperial blue uniform of the Sugar Land Skeeters after not pitching professionally for five years.

Clemens thrilled 7,724 Constellation Field fans by taking the mound on August 25, 2012, and pitching 3.1 scoreless innings against Bridgeport while striking out two Bluefish batters. 

On September 7, Clemens faced the Long Island Ducks also not allowing a run in 4.2 innings while registering a strikeout in front of 8,597 fans -- which established a home attendance record for the franchise.

On this September date, Clemens also formed a sentimental, father-son battery with his son Koby, who was signed as a catcher with Sugar Land and would play with them through the 2014 season.

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).