Monday, June 22, 2015

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. 

Sunday, June 21, 2015

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.

Monday, June 8, 2015

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.