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.

Brian Adams - 2007 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year

Autographed 2007 Somerset Patriots Multi-Ad Team Set #1 (Pitch/YR Card)

Arguably the greatest left-handed pitcher in Atlantic League history, Brian Adams is inarguably the greatest starting pitcher ever to toe the rubber for the Somerset Patriots.

Pitching as a reliever in the Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers’ farm systems, Adams joined the Pat’s in 2007, and made an explosive transition into a starting pitcher role and the rotation by putting up a 15-2 season (incorporating a perfect 11-0 home record) with 117 K’s while seizing the Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year Award for that season.

Adams would follow up his 2007 campaign with two more back-to-back double-digit wins seasons for Somerset with records of 11-7 in 2008 and 13-8 in 2009. In these 3 seasons, Adams had close to a .700 winning percentage.

In his four-year tenure with Somerset, the Clemson alumnus was instrumental in leading Somerset to post-season berths in each year and a major contributor to two Atlantic League Championships for the franchise (2008/2009).

Adams finished his career as the Patriots all-time career win leader with 43 wins which also places him in 8th place on the Atlantic League all-time career wins list, but in first place for all-time career wins in the league by a southpaw.

Adams was voted the 6^rd greatest Patriot of all time in a 2012 polling of fans, players, coaches and team officials and was also so honored on the poll by having the highest ranking of any Somerset pitcher in their history.

Bill Madlock - 4X NL Batting Champ & Newark Bears Manager

Autographed 2004 Newark Bears Choice Team Set #27
Autographed Atlantic League Baseball Inscribed "Newark Bears MGR 2003-04"

With a major league career batting average of .305 and four National League Batting Championships (1975,1976, 1981 and 1983) to his name, Bill Madlock became the 3rd manager of the Atlantic League’s Newark Bears taking the helm for the 2003 and 2004 seasons.

Nicknamed “Mad Dog” for his ability to get riled up with umpires, Madlock’s two-year managerial tenure saw some of the most recognizable MLB names in Atlantic League history on his rosters including Jamie Navarro, Jose Lima and the 44-year-old All-Time Stolen Base King Rickey Henderson.

Madlock quibbed about having the elite base stealer on his Bear’s teams, ”I had the greatest base stealer in the world those years, and if you don’t believe me you can ask him yourself and he will tell you the same thing…”

Corey Thurman - Atlantic League and York All-Time Great

Autographed 2008 York Revolution Choice Team Set #19
Autographed 2011 York Revolution Pizza Hut Choice Team Set

Achieving a professional pitching career that spanned two decades including two seasons (2003/04) at the major league level with the Toronto Blue Jays, Corey Thurman is one of the greatest, all-time pitchers in Atlantic League history.

On the roster for eight seasons (2008-15) with the York Revolution, Thurman established his number-one-starter reputation on the mound in the Atlantic League as he four times achieved both double-digit-win seasons and over one-hundred strikeouts in the same year.

Included in these seasons, the 6’2” right-hander put together back-to-back .800 winning percentage seasons together in 2011 & 2012 with records of 13-3 and 14-3 respectively.  In addition, Thurman was an integral part and a clubhouse leader for the 2010/2011 back-to-back York Revolution Atlantic League Championships.

In 2015, Thurman finished his Atlantic League career in second place on the all-time career pitching leader boards with 66 wins, 667 strikeouts and 980.1 innings pitched finishing only behind Tim Cain (Newark/Bridgeport) in each category who pitched 170 innings more than Thurman in his career.

Thurman’s presence in the York community equalled his presence on the mound as he established himself as a beloved face of the franchise, serving as player representative for the Rev’s Healthy Kids Club while working with youth baseball.  He remains a very popular resident of the York community.

The Revolution announced prior to the 2016 season that Thurman's number 35 will be retired by the franchise. He will be the first player in York history to be so honored.

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.

Welington Dotel - 2015 Atlantic League Player of the Year

Autographed 2015 Bridgeport Bluefish Dot Generation Team Set (MVP Card) 

Sometimes sabbaticals are much needed and provide enhanced performance upon the return. After taking the whole 2014 season off from professional baseball, Welington Dotel came back well rested and with a fury in his first year in the Atlantic League.

The former Seattle Mariner farm prospect took the outfield for the Bridgeport Bluefish in the 2015 season and led the league in hits (180), triples (13), extra base hits (52) and total bases (261). He also became the first player in the history of the Atlantic League to lead the league in both stolen bases (45) and slugging percentage (.492) the same year. He was the unanimous choice for 2015 Atlantic League Player of the Year.

In addition, the Dominican Republic-native was electric on the bases with a better than 80% stolen-base-attempt success rate.

As Dotel’s offensive reputation grew throughout the league during the year his defensive reputation kept pace while patrolling right field at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard. Dotel’s explosive speed would allow him to spear hard line drives hit into the right-center field gap as well as to make shoestring, sliding catches on balls hit weakly in front of him denying opposing teams scoring opportunities. Dotel was selected by Atlantic League managers and executives to the inaugural 2015 Red, White and Blue All-Defensive team at season's end recognizing the best defensive player at each position.

Dotel would have also had the batting championship on his resume for the 2015 season, but his .3396 batting average missed league lead by .0007 to Long Island Ducks’ designated hitter, and former Bluefish teammate,  Sean Burroughs.

Jimmy Hurst - 2002 Atlantic League Player of the Year

(L) Autographed 2001 Nashua Price WMUR9 Team Set
(R) 2002 Newark Bears Choice Team Set (MVP Card)

Out of Butch Hobson’s hometown of Tuscaloosa, AL, Jimmy Hurst was drafted in the 12^th round of the 1990 Amateur Draft by the Chicago White Sox.

With a professional baseball career that spanned seventeen seasons reaching the Triple-A level with four different organizations and the major leagues in 1997 with the Detroit Tigers, the 6’6” power-hitting outfielder landed in the Atlantic League with Hobson’s Nashua Pride in 2001, but it would be his second year in the league with Newark that would be his season for the record books.

2002 could not have been a more perfect season for Hurst or more of a monster year. Hurst led the league in hits (150), home runs (35), RBI’s (100), total bases (288), batting average (.341) and slugging percentage (.655) while playing in only 113 games on his way to becoming the Atlantic League’s first ever Triple Crown winner.  Hurst’s slugging average mark that year still stands as the Atlantic League single-season record. It was only a formality that Hurst was to be named the 2002 Atlantic League Player of the Year.

In the post season that year, Hurst continued his perfect season, leading his Newark Bears to their first league Championship ever sweeping the Bridgeport Bluefish and being named the championship series MVP as well. 

2005 Somerset Patriots' "Future Stars"

Autographed Jeff Nettles 2005 Somerset Patriots Multi-Ad Team Set #21
Autographed Ray Navarrete 2011 Long Island Ducks Choice Team Set #16
Autographed Jeremy Owens 2005 Somerset Patriots Multi-Ad Team Set #23
Joe Gannon 2008 Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Updated Choice Team Set #2

Along with winning their third Atlantic League Championship in franchise history, the 2005 season marked a very special Somerset Patriots’ roster which was loaded with “Future Stars’ that would collectively have a significant impact on the history of the Atlantic League.

Jeff Nettles was entering his third season with the team and would go on to have the greatest career the Atlantic League has even seen eventually setting the career marks within the league for Games (1,006), At Bats (3,715), H’s (1,052) and RBI’s (667) and earning two championship series MVP’s.

Although not featured in the 2005 team card set, a Seton Hall Alumnus was entering his first year in the Atlantic League, the only season he would play for Somerset, and he would go on to become the league’s career leader in runs scored (635) and doubles (243). The Somerset rookie was Ray Navarrete who went on to have the greatest Long Island Duck career on record.

To date, both Nettles and Navarrete remain the only players to enter the Atlantic League’s 1,000-Hit Club.

Also in his first year with both the Atlantic League and Somerset that year was outfielder Jeremy Owens who would lead the team with at bats (525) in 2005. Owens would eventually go on to become the premiere franchise player for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs setting the club’s career marks in games played (734); runs scored (422); hits (601);  home runs (105); stolen bases (96); walks (318) and RBI’s( 337).

To underscore the historic significance of this team’s roster and the future impact these players would have on the League, these three aforementioned players own three out of the top four slots on the Atlantic League career home runs list. Imagine a lineup that would have featured Navarrete batting second, Nettles third and Owens fourth for close to the next decade if this Somerset team had stayed intact.

Position players were not the only significant consideration for “Future Stars” on this roster. A right-handed knuckleballer out of Buffalo was also in his first year with the Pat’s and started in two games. Joe Gannon, also not in this card set, would go on to pitch a no hitter (8/17/04) for the Newark Bears and currently stands 3^rd in all-time innings pitched (853.2), fourth in all-time wins (47) and fourth in all time strikeouts (479) in Atlantic League history.

Glenn Murray - 1999 Atlantic League Player of the Year & All-Time Home Run King

Autographed 2003 Atlantic League All-Star Game Team Set
2000 Nashua Pride WMUR Team Set 

Out of Manning, SC, outfielder and 1989 second-round draft pick Glenn Murray reached the major leagues with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1996, after spending time in the Expos’, Red Sox and Phillies’ farm systems.

Three years later, in 1999, Glenn Murray would enter the Atlantic League with an explosion as a member of the Nashua Pride belting 29 home runs, 102 RBI’s and a .528 slugging percentage that season claiming the Atlantic League Player of the Year Award in his first year.

In the following year, 2000, the fan-favorite Murray led Nashua to their only Atlantic League Championship with a .559 slugging average for the season.

During his seven seasons with the Pride, Murray would average 23 home runs and 75 RBI’s a year and a .512 slugging average marking his power legacy and consistency.

Nashua ended its affiliation with the Atlantic League and Murray in 2005, leaving Murray as the Atlantic League All-Time Home Run King with 158 round trippers. Murray also places favorably on the current all-time Atlantic League career leader boards as well with RBI’s (529; third) and runs (484; seventh).

In a 2008 Bob Wirz interview, Bridgeport Bluefish manager Willie Upshaw cited Glenn Murray as the best ballplayer that he had seen in the first decade of Atlantic League play.

On August 27, 2006, the Nashua Pride retired Glenn Murray’s uniform number 34 hanging it on the press box mezzanine in Holman Stadium.

Jeff Nettles - Atlantic League and Somerset All-Time Great

Autographed Atlantic League Baseball
(r.) Autographed 2004 Somerset Patriots Multi-Ad Team Set #9
(l.) 2012 Somerset Patriots Choice Team Set #21 (Unsigned)

A few days before Christmas in 2002, a concerned father called a former teammate and friend to inquire whether he had a roster slot open for his son to allow his son to continue his professional career after being abruptly released from affiliated ball. Manager Sparky Lyle told Graig Nettles his son was welcomed at Somerset.

As history would unfold, it was actually Graig Nettles who did the favor for an old friend that winter day.

Jeff Nettles went on to become, as the Wall Street Journal titled him, “…the most recognizable fixture in the Atlantic League” and accomplished the greatest career the Atlantic League has ever seen accumulating more at bats (3.715), hits (1,052) and RBI’s (667) than any other player in history at the time of his retirement while finishing in second place all-time for career home runs, runs and doubles as well.

Nettles’ ability to compile career stats was also met with his ability to elevate his play when it counted. Nettles remains the only player in Atlantic League history to be recognized with league championship MVP awards in two different years.

During his first year with Somerset, the great defensive third baseman hit .450 with a home run and five RBI’s while scoring four runs in the 2003 postseason to bring the Patriots their second league title; defeating Nashua in a five game series in the championship series.

In the 2009 Atlantic League Championship Series, Jeff Nettles hit .375, while hitting three home runs and driving in six runs in four games to bring Somerset their fifth title defeating Southern Maryland.

In all, Jeff Nettles led Somerset to three championship titles while on their roster (2003/05/09).

To quantify Jeff Nettles’ consistency and prominence at the plate during his days with Somerset, if you break out his career stats to average 125 games a year played, his average offensive year would calculate to 131 H’s, 27 DB’s, 19 HR’s and 83 RBI’s per season.

In 2012, Nettles was voted the greatest Patriot in franchise history when polling fans, players, coaches and team officials.

Jim Magrane -2009 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year

Autographed 2009 Somerset Patriots Multi-Ad Team Set #26 (Pitcher of the Year Card)

As a 6’2” right-hander out of the University of Iowa. Jim Magrane became the first Atlantic League pitcher to win pitching’s Triple Crown leading the league in wins (15-4) strikeouts (134) and ERA (2.70) in the 2009 season. This incredible performance secured Magrane the 2009 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year and the honor of being named First Team Pitcher in Baseball America’s All-Independent Team Awards the same year.

Magrane followed up his Atlantic League success by being named the 2010 Taiwan Series Championship MVP (CPBL) pitching for the Brother Elephants and allowing only 2 runs in 16 2/3 innings pitched in the championship series.

Magrane added another international MVP to his trophy case in 2013, by pitching game one (1ER /7IP), game three (1ER/7IP) and game five on one day’s rest (0ER/7IP) in the Italian Series leading San Marino to a championship as well.

Seemingly low ERA’s are in Jim Magrane’s pedigree as his uncle, Joe Magrane, led the National League in ERA in 1998 on the mound for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Jim Magrane was voted the 12^th greatest Patriot of all time in a 2012 polling of fans, players, coaches and team officials; finishing his Patriot career with a record of 27-16 (.627 winning percentage), a 3.58 ERA and 270 strikeouts in 381.1 innings while contributing to two league championships (2008,2009) for Somerset during his tenure.

Ozzie Canseco - 2000 Atlantic League Player of the Year

Autographed 2000 Newark Bears Team Set (MVP Card)

Drafted as pitcher by the New York Yankees in the second round of the 1983 MLB Amateur Draft, Ozzie Canseco transitioned into an outfielder in the minors after a rotator cuff injury and eventually reached the Major Leagues with both the Oakland Athletics (1990) and St. Louis Cardinals (1992/93).

In the millennium year of 2000, Canseco christened the first full season of the new home of the Newark Bears, Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium, with one of the best offensive years the Atlantic League has ever seen.

Canseco hit 48 home runs and drove in 129 runs establishing the single-season record for the Atlantic League -- a season mark that still stands in the league today. Incredibly, Canseco averaged one home run for every 9.4 (under/10) at bats.

The power clinic that the Newark first baseman put on in 2000 --framed by leading the league with a .644 slugging and 1069 OPS average -- resulted in the Atlantic League naming Canseco the Player of the Year.

Canseco’s twin brother and 1998 American League MVP, Jose, joined him for the 2001 season on the Newark Bears and appeared on the same roster together the first time since the 1990 Oakland A’s.

Atlantic League Career Pitching Leaders

Here are the Atlantic League Career Pitching Leaders in Innings Pitched, Wins and Strikeouts based on my individual research:

Since this posting, the Atlantic League put up the official career leaders on their site. Please click here.

Atlantic League Career Offensive Leaders/Records:

Here are the Atlantic League Career Offensive Leaders based on At Bats, Hits, Home Runs, Runs Batted In and Runs based on my individual research:

Since this posting, the Atlantic League put up the official career leaders on their site. Please click here.

Justin Jensen - 1999 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year

Autographed 2004 Somerset Patriot Multi-Ad Team Set #15

Voted the greatest lefthander starting pitcher in Somerset history in their 10^th season anniversary poll, Justin Jensen was the most impactful pitcher in the first 10 years of the franchise.

The Cabrillo College alumnus, and product of the Detroit Tiger farm system, first took the mound for Somerset in the 1999 season and finished the year leading the league in ERA (2.76) compiling a 12-3 record with 111 strikeouts. This effort was rewarded by Jensen being named the 1999 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year.

Jensen’s championship with the Patriots would come in 2003, when after helping Somerset get to the postseason with a 9-3 regular-season record, he paired with fellow mound mate Brett Jodie pitching back-to-back shutouts sweeping the Riversharks in the divisional playoffs. Somerset would eventually go on to defeat Nashua that year 3 games to 2 in the championship series for their second league title.

Jensen is Somerset’s career leader in innings pitched (527) and second in franchise history in wins (35-24) and strikeouts (385); yielding a 3.62 ERA for his tenure at Somerset.

Jensen was voted the 14th greatest Patriot of all time in a 2012 polling of fans, players, coaches and team officials.

Billy Hall - All-Time Atlantic League Stolen Base King

Autographed 2001 Somerset Patriots Multi-Ad Team Set #13

Out of Wichita State University, and having played at the Triple-A level for San Diego, Colorado and Cincinnati, Billy Hall exploded onto the scene of the Atlantic League in 2000 with the Somerset Patriots.

Hall disrupted the basepaths of the league that year like no player has done before or since stealing 104 bases for the season (still the single-season record for the league) and establishing a professional baseball record for 66 consecutive, base-stealing attempts without being caught.

Hall’s manager, Sparky Lyle has commented, “If that pitcher threw over to first one time, Billy had a read on him [to steal]; it was the most incredible thing I have ever seen anybody do.”

In 2001, the second baseman followed up his dynamic 2000, by leading the league in hits (148), runs (113) and stolen bases (72) and leading the Patriots to their first-ever league championship. His runs scored in 2001 are still the single-season record for Somerset.

In 2005, the switch hitter established a consecutive-hit-streak record for the Atlantic League of 27 consecutive games (Aug. 11th- Sept.10th).

Hall retired in 2005, with four seasons total with Somerset (2000/’01/’02/’05) leading the league in stolen bases in each of these seasons and being the catalyst of a Patriots’ team which brought home two League Championships (2001/’05) for the franchise during his tenure.

Hall retired the Atlantic League All-Time Stolen Base King (290 stolen bases) and was voted the 3^rd greatest Patriot of all time (only surpassed by Jeff Nettles and Josh Pressley) in a 2012 polling of fans, players, coaches and team officials.

Luis Lopez - Bridgeport Bluefish and Atlantic League Great

Autographed 2007 Bridgeport Bluefish Team Set
Autographed 2013 Bridgeport Bluefish Printech Team Set
Autographed 2013 Bridgeport Bluefish Dot Generation Team Set 

Despite having a NCAA career at Coastal Carolina (1991-93) that would eventually land him in the Big South Conference Hall of Fame, Luis Lopez went undrafted in the 1994 MLB amateur draft. Lopez took increased determination with his professional baseball career from this snub by hitting .357 in Indy Ball for the Ogden Raptors (1995), and gained the attention of the Toronto Blue Jays organization, where in 1997 Lopez was awarded the South Atlantic League Most Valuable Player while playing for their Class A team in Hagerstown (.358/11/99).

Eventually achieving his goal of playing at the Major League level with both the Blue Jays (2001) and Expos (2004), Lopez entered the Atlantic League in 2006, as a member of the Riversharks, but found his home with the Bridgeport Bluefish in 2008.

The Brooklyn-born infielder spent the next 7 seasons at the center of the Bluefish lineup marking his tenure by reliability and productivity. Lopez would average over this span of these years 127 games played and 129 hits per season.

This consistency and compiling resulted in Lopez leading the Bluefish in nearly every career offensive category by the time he was done: AB’s (3,338); H’s (905); DB’s (149); Extra Base Hits (208), and RBI’s (460).

Lopez in one of five Atlantic Leaguers to compile more than 900 hits within the league (928); joining Jeff Nettles (1,052), Ray Navarrete (1,031), fellow-Bluefish Rolo Avila (933) and Bryant Nelson (active).

The Bluefish announced that Sept. 19^th, 2015, will be “Luis Lopez Day” at the Ball Park at Harbor Yard where his number 19 will be retired becoming only the second Bluefish player to be so honored (Espada).

Ben Simon - 2003 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year

Autographed 2003 Camden Riversharks Choice Team Set #24 (Pitcher of the Year Card)

As a minor-league free agent, after attaining the AAA level with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ben Simon spotted a ballpark while driving to Philadelphia at the base of the Ben Franklin Bridge. Simon followed up with a visit to Campbell Field and a meeting with the Camden General Manager, John Brandt, and soon after had signed a contract to pitch the 2003 season for the Riversharks.

With this new contract, the Eastern-Michigan U-alumnus developed a more-biting slider within the season -- complementing his spot fastball -- which resulted in Simon being named the 2003 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year.

That year, the right-hander led the league in wins (15-6; 2.38 ERA); four of which were complete games -- three of which were shutouts. His season-shutout record still stands this day (shared w/ Sontag (2000); Stevens (2007) and Reichert (2009)). Even more impressive, two of these three shutouts were in back-to-back outings on the mound (7/25&7/31/03). 

Kevin Henthorne - 2004 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year

Autographed 2004 Bridgeport Bluefish Subway Team Set #13 (Pitcher of Year Card)

La Crosse, WI-native and Yankee-prospect Kevin Henthorne entered the Atlantic League in 2003 and took one year to distinguish himself as the Atlantic Year Pitcher of the Year.

Having one of the best Bridgeport Bluefish pitching seasons ever in 2004, the right-hander was undefeated through his first 13 starts leading to a 12-3 final record for the season. The Bridgeport hurler also lead the Atlantic League that year with a 2.69 ERA accomplished by stellar control underscored by a better than 5-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

In addition to the dominating the Atlantic League in 2004, Henthorne likewise dominated the Chinese Professional Baseball League securing the 1998 wins title and 1999 ERA crown for the China Trust Whales.

Henthorne could be seen on his off days resting his arm and sharpening his skills in photography by taking action shots from the dugout of the ongoing game.

Henthorne finished his eleven-year professional pitching career with a stunning .710 winning percentage; never having a losing season in his career and underscoring he won everywhere he took the mound. 

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. 

Dan Reichert - 2010 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year

Autographed 2010 Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Choice Team Set #20 (Pitcher of Year Card)

In 1997, The Kansas City Royals used their first round pick (seventh overall) to select the 1997 Big West Pitcher of the Year and First Team All-American starting pitcher Dan Reichert.

After being named the starting pitcher of the 1999 Triple-A All-Star Game, Reichert was called up to the big leagues and went on to establish a major league career spanning 5 years (1999-2003) with Kansas City and Toronto.

After pitching abbreviated stints with Atlantic City (2005), Southern Maryland (2008) and Bridgeport (2009), Dan Reichert pitched a complete season in the Atlantic League for Southern Maryland in 2010 and had a season for the record books. The right-hander set a single-season league record for wins with 18 games (since shared with Dwayne Pollok) and earned the 2010 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year.

Reichert leveraged this powerful season to be signed by the Taiwan-based Uni-President Lions of the Chinese League (CPBL) in 2011 and won his first championship there.

Reichert’s accomplishments are more inspiring due to his Type-1 diabetes diagnosis in 1998.

Jeremy Owens - All-Time Southern Maryland Blue Crab Great

Autographed 2011 Southern Maryland Blue Crabs DAV Team Set #304

Reaching the AAA Level with three different organizations (San Diego, Boston and Tampa), Jeremy Owens began his Southern Maryland career with the team’s inception year of 2008, and went on to become the greatest position player in Blue Crab history.

Becoming Crustacean Nation’s face of the franchise by wearing the Columbia and navy blue for eight consecutive seasons (2009-14), Owens  went on to set the career Blue Crab franchise records across the offensive categories for: games played (734); runs scored (422); hits (601);  home runs (105); stolen bases (96); walks (318) and RBI’s( 337).

In 2009, the center fielder from Tennessee known for his hustle was distinguished by being named by Butch Hobson the first team captain in Blue Crab history.

Owens followed this honor by having his best year in Waldorf the following year (2010) where he led the Atlantic League in home runs with 28.

Owens finished his career with 129 home runs and 414 RBI’s which earns him fourth and eighth place in Atlantic League history respectively.

Tim Cain - Atlantic League All-Time Career Wins and Strikeout Leader

2000 Newark Bears Citation Graphics Team Set #11 (Unsigned)
Autographed 2004 Bridgeport Bluefish Subway Team Set #8

Achieving the level of Triple-A in both the Red Sox and Blue Jays organizations, Tim Cain entered the Atlantic League in its 1998 inaugural year and went on to become the League’s all-time career leader in innings pitched (1150 2/3), wins (74) and strikeouts (737).

With a career that spanned 10 seasons in the Atlantic League, the former UCONN Huskie, had double-digit-win seasons a total of five times toeing the rubber for Newark(’98-’01), Bridgeport (’02-’05),  Long Island (’06-’07)) and Camden (’07) during his tenure. The Springfield, MA native is the only Atlantic League pitcher to win 10 games in each of his first four seasons.

Cain’s Atlantic League signature season came with the Bridgeport Bluefish in 2004, finishing the season 12-3 with a 3.12 ERA and averaging 7.8 hits and less than one home run per nine-inning game.

Rickey Henderson - All-Time Stolen Base and Runs-Scored King

Autographed Baseball & 2003 Newark Bears Team Set Card # 5 (Unsigned)

Through his 24-year MLB career, Rickey Henderson cemented his legend as the greatest lead-off hitter that the game of baseball has ever known.

Henderson gained this distinction by establishing the MLB career marks for runs scored (2,295-surpassing Ty Cobb); and Steals (1,406-surpassing Lou Brock with 50% more stolen bases).

In 2009, the 3,000-Hit-Club member received 94.8% of votes on the BBWAA ballots and was enshrined in Cooperstown in his first year of eligibility.

In 2003, “The Man of Steal” became a member of the Newark Bears and played for two seasons in the Atlantic League; thrilling fans with 37 stolen bases in 2004. Commenting on his tenure in the League, Henderson said: “I had a great time. To tell you the truth, I probably had a better time than I did in the major leagues,”… “In the major leagues, we always worry about how well we’re doing. When I got a chance to play in independent ball, it wasn’t about how well you do but how much fun you’re having, and I had a great time.”

Chris Widger - 10-Year MLB Veteran and Chicago White Sox World Champion

Autographed 2013 Camden Rivershark Choice Team Set #29

Selected by the Seattle Mariners in the third round of the 1992 amateur draft, Chris Widger went on to launch a MLB career spanning 10 seasons and six teams. The Pennsville, NJ native solidified himself as a Major Leaguer by becoming the everyday catcher for the Montreal Expos by 1998, and is a prime example of the second chance the Atlantic League can offer ballplayers.

With no contracts for affiliated ball in 2004, Widger was signed by the Camden Riversharks and suited up for 55 games that year in an effort to continue his career and the hopes of signing with affiliated ball. Within one year, Chris Widger would be a member of the 2005 World Championship White Sox team.

Widger returned to his hometown area in 2012, becoming the pitching coach for the Camden Riversharks; eventually being named the Camden manager for the 2015 season. 

Butch Hobson - Boston Red Sox Third Baseman & Winningest Atlantic League Manager

Autographed 2000 Nashua Pride WMUR9 Team Set;
Autographed 2014 Lancaster Barnstormers Choice Team Set # 27
(Championship Managerial Cards)

Being a Crimson Tide baseball standout at Alabama, as well as in the football program under Bear Bryant, Butch Hobson was signed in the 8th round of the 1973 amateur draft by the Boston Red Sox. By 1976, Hobson was the starting third baseman for the Boston Red Sox.  The Tuscaloosa-native’s MLB career went on to span eight years with additional stops at the California Angels and New York Yankees and featured a stand-out year in 1977 where Hobson put up 30 home runs and 112 RBI’s.

After managing the Boston Red Sox (1992-94), Hobson launched his Atlantic League managerial career with the Nashua Pride in 2000, and lead them to the league championship.  

For the next 15 years, Hobson would be at the helm of Atlantic League teams (Nashua 2000-2007; Southern Maryland 2008-10; Lancaster 2011-15) on his way to becoming the most prolific manager in league history with over 1,031 wins and two League Championships.  (Nashua 2000/Lancaster 2014).

Hobson has been named the Atlantic League Manager of the Year four times

Gary Gaetti - 4X Gold Glove Award Winner and 1987 ALCS MVP

Autographed 2012 Sugar Land Skeeters Choice Team Set #3

Signed by the Minnesota Twins in 1979, Gary Gaetti was instrumental in helping the Twins win their first-ever World Championship in 1987, by his play in the American League Championship Series upsetting the Detroit Tigers. For his efforts, Gaetti was named the 1987 ALCS MVP with 2 home runs, 5 RBI’s and a .650 slugging percentage in the 5-game series.

The 4-time, consecutive Gold Glove third baseman (1986-1989), and two-time All Star (1988/89), was inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame in 2007.

Gaetti was named the Sugar Land Skeeters manager in their inaugural season in 2012, and went on to lead his team to 95 wins and a .679 winning percentage in 2013 – an Atlantic League Record.

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.