Mike Loree - 2011 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year

Coming out of Gillette, NJ, 6’6” right-hand pitcher Mike Loree was drafted by the San Francisco Giants organization and headed to their Arizona League team in 2007.

After rising as high as Double A ball with Pittsburgh’s affiliate the Altoona Curve, Loree took the mound for the Long Island Ducks in 2011 and delivered one of the greatest Atlantic League pitching seasons ever recorded.

Finishing the 2011 season with a record of 14-5, with 131 strikeouts and an ERA below two (1.98), Mike Loree had no peers in any of these categories that year as he claimed both the 2011 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year award as well as the Atlantic League Pitching Triple Crown  -- becoming only the second pitcher in league history to dominate in such a way (Magrane-Somerset; 2009).

That year, Loree set a Long Island franchise record with 14 strikeouts in a game (since tied by MLB pitcher Rich Hill in 2015 when pitching with the Ducks), while also shining in the post season with a 2-0 record coupled with an 1.10 ERA.

2012 saw the Villanova alumn be signed away from the Ducks by the Lamigo Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League where Loree would become the most dominant in-season and post-season mound star over the next few years.

Loree matched his-triple crown performance on Long Island with a CPBL triple-crown year in 2015 pitching for the EDA Rhinos finishing with a 16-5 record, 3.65 ERA while striking out 144. 

Loree led the CPBL in wins (13) and ERA (3.98) in the 2016 season, and added a second CPBL league pitching triple crown to his resume in 2017 pitching for the Fubon Guardians (16-4, 2.18 ERA, 154K’s).

Mike Loree was named to the 15^th-Anniversary Long Island Duck team in 2014.

Long Island Ducks' 15th-Year Anniversary Team

Autographed 2014 Long Island Ducks 15th-Year Anniversary AARP Team Set

Early in 2014, to mark the 15th anniversary year of the Long Island Ducks playing in the Atlantic League, the franchise asked fans to vote and create a 15th Anniversary Team  -- marking the greatest Ducks in franchise history. The task was to select one player at each position, a manager and final vote selection for a player that may have been overlooked. To commemorate this undertaking, the Ducks released a 15th Anniversary Team baseball card set in May highlighting the final selections.

This is a great keepsake for all Duck fans really highlighting their history! The selections were as follows:

Header Card – Bud Harrelson (Autographed);

Catcher – Francisco Morales (Autographed);

1st Base – Doug Jennings; (Autographed)

2nd Base – Ray Navarrete (Autographed);

Shortstop – Dan Lyons (Autographed);

3rd Base – Bryant Nelson (Autographed);

Outfielder – Justin Davies (Autographed);

Outfielder – Lew Ford (Autographed);

Outfielder – Kimera Bartee (Autographed);

Designated Hitter - Patrick Lennon (Autographed);

Left-hand Starting Pitcher – Randy Leek (Autographed);

Right-hand Starting Pitcher – John Brownell (Autographed);

Reliever – John Valentine (Autographed);

Closer – Bill Simas (Autographed);

Manager – Kevin Baez (Autographed);

Final Vote – Mike Loree (Autographed).

Somerset Patriots Top 20 Anniversary Signed Atlantic League Baseball

During the 2017 baseball season, the Somerset Patriots celebrated their 20th-anniversary by announcing their top 20 Somerset Patriots of all-time. This list was composed by a hybrid method having a panel of experts rate the top 20 players that were voted on by fans.

On August 31st, the Patriots invited 5 retired Top 20 Patriots players back to TD Bank Ballpark, joining 3 current roster Top 20 players, and celebrated this history.

Above is a 20th-anniversary official Atlantic League baseball with Steve Kalafer's director's signature imprinted on the sweet spot (the official baseball for 2017 Patriots) with 9 signatures of the 20 anniversary team members: Adam Donachie, Corey Smith, Casey Cahill, David Vidal, Justin Jensen, Elliott Ayala, Aharon Eggleston, Jon Hunton and Josh Pressley. This is a work in progress. I will post updates as signatures are added.

20th-Year Anniversary Fans' Vote for Atlantic League Hall of Fame

With the 20th anniversary of the Atlantic League coming in 2017, I thought it would be interesting to ask the fans who they think should be an inaugural class of an Atlantic League Hall of Fame Class if it existed. PLEASE VOTE FOR ONLY TEN!

Fans' Vote: Who should be in the inaugural Atlantic League Hall of Fame class for the first 20 years of its history?

Angel Espada BPT IF

Billy Hall SOM IF

Brad Strauss CMD OF

Bryant Nelson LID IF

Corey Thurman YRK P

Dwayne Pollok LAN P

Dwight Maness CMD OF

Francisco Morales LID C

Glenn Murray NSH IF

Jeff Netlles SOM IF

Jeremy Owens SMD OF

Joe Gannon SMD P

Jon Hunton SOM P

Josh Pressley SOM IF

Lew Ford LID OF

Lincoln Mikkelsen CM P

Luis Lopez BPT IF

Ray Navarrete LID IF

Rolo Avila BPT OF

Ross Peeples LAN P

Tim Cain BPT/CMD P

Victor Rodriguez SOM IF

Will Pennyfeather BP OF

Bud Harrelson LID MGR

Butch Hobson LAN MGR

Frank Boulton LID EXE

Joe Klein EXEC

Peter Kirk LAN YRK EX

Sparky Lyle SOM MGR

Steven Kalafer SOM EX

 

pollcode.com free polls

Topps Allen & Ginter Autographed Cards

Assorted Allen & Ginter Autographed Cards

A frequent focus of autograph collectors that attend Atlantic League games is to collect the autographs of players that have reached the Major League level on MLB cards, photos and merchandise.

Although my focus is almost always Atlantic League, I do like to collect autographed Allen & Ginter cards for their attractive artwork and the high-end quality stock that they are produced on.

Here are a couple from recent years featuring former Major Leaguers: Henderson Alvarez, Nolan Reimold, Lew Ford, Brendan Harris, Bill Hall, Jordan Pacheco, Tyler Colvin and John Lannan.

2017 Atlantic League All-Star Game - Bridgewater, New Jersey

The complete, signed set (50 Cards) of the 2017 All Star Choice Card Set

In front of an over-capacity house with an attendance of 8,175, the Somerset Patriots hosted the 2017 Atlantic League All Star Game at TD Bank Ballpark on July 12th, in Bridgewater, New Jersey.

The Honorary Guest Managers of Sparky Lyle and Willie Randolph brought celebrity status to the event and highlighted the 40th anniversary of the 1977 World Championship New York Yankees.

Yankee radio broadcaster John Sterling provided his recognizable voice for the Home Run Derby that was won by Zach Wilson with 12 home runs total in the contest. Wilson, the Southern Maryland Blue Crab First Baseman, also took away the game MVP Award via a 3rd-inning 3-run home run.

With two other Freedom Division Home Runs from Sean Halton and Kevin Ahrens, the Freedom Division took the game by the final score of 10 to 3.

2012 Atlantic League Champions Long Island Ducks

After defeating the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in the deciding Game 5 of the 2012 Atlantic League Divisional Series, courtesy of Brandon Sing's fourth-inning and Bryant Nelson’s go-ahead, eighth-inning home runs, the Long Island Ducks headed for their third championship series in franchise history against the Lancaster Barnstormers.

The season-end acquisition of Indy-career pitcher John Brownell paid dividends for the Flock as the right-hander gave up two earned runs in six innings in game four of the Championship Series forcing the second sudden-death game of the 2012 post season.

The Ducks took Game 5 and the Championship with Kraig Binick and Joash Brodin each contributing three hits to the effort; and Bobby Blevins Jr. pitching 6 innings of two earn-run ball – matching his mound mate Brownell’s performance of the night before.

Series MVP and Duck shortstop Dan Lyons brought home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth with a squeeze bunt to win the championship in dramatic fashion. 

Eric Gagne - 2003 N.L. Cy Young Award Winner & 3X All Star

Autographed Eric Gagne Official Atlantic League Ball and 2017 Long Island Duck Pocket Schedule

Setting a major league record by converting 84 consecutive save opportunities bridging the 2002-2004 seasons; Eric Gagne tied a National League record for saves in 2003 with 55 saves pitching as the closer for the Los Angeles Dodgers.  The performance that year, combined with a 1.20 ERA, was impressive enough to earn the right-hander the 2003 National League Cy Young Award – an award usually reserved for starting pitchers.

On May 5^th, 2017, the 41-year-old, three-time N.L. All-Star Gagne joined the Long Island Ducks as a relief pitcher to try to work on developing a new slider to aid his hopes of returning to the major leagues.

2007 Atlantic League All-Star Game - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Autographed 2007 Atlantic League All Stars Choice Set

During the 10^th-anniversary season of the Atlantic League, Lancaster's Clipper Magazine hosted the 2007 Atlantic League All-Star Game on July 11^th, treating the 7,361 fans in attendance to a slug fest featuring home runs by Javier Colina (NW), Kevin Haverbusch (LI), Jeremy Todd (LA), Dominick Ambrosini (LA), Denny Abreau (CM) and two home runs by game MVP and Bridgeport outfielded Bobby Malek.

The 14-run/21-hit game, featured Long Island’s Ray Navarrete earning the game-winning RBI in the fifth and Newark pitcher Gary Knotts gaining the victory before inclement weather ended the game in the 8^th with the win going to the North Division who was leading 8-6 at that time.

Former Major League, 288-win veteran Tommy John skippered the North Division team while Lancaster Manager Frank Klebe managed the South Division.

A 29-card set was produced commemorating this occasion featuring such Atlantic League greats as Jeff Nettles (who did not play in the game because he was signed a week earlier by the Kansas City Royals), Ray Navarrete, Dwight Maness, and 2007 Pitcher of the Year Brian Adams with 2007 Co-Player of the Year Victor Rodriguez.

Victor Rodriguez - 2004 & 2007 Atlantic League Player of the Year

(L.) Autographed 2004 Somerset Patriot Multi-Ad Team Set (MVP Card)

(C.)Autographed 2007 Somerset Patriots 10th-Anniversary Legacy Choice Promotional Card #14 

(R.) Autographed 2007 Newark Bear Choice Team Set #23 (MVP Card)

Only one Atlantic League player has been able to win two Player of the Year Awards. That player, is Victor Rodriguez.

In 2004, on his way to the Atlantic League Player of the Year, Rodriguez slugged 25 home runs with 111 RBI’s and a .592 league-leading slugging average while playing 3rd base for the Somerset Patriots.  With this, Rodriguez also set the single-season Atlantic League batting average record of .371 that still stands today.

In 2007, while donning a Newark Bear uniform, as 1B/DH Rodriguez once again tore up the league batting .365 with a .550 slugging percentage.  For his efforts, Rodriguez was named Atlantic League co-Player of the Year (Jesse Hoorelbeke/Bridgeport). 

That year, Rodriguez's Newark Bears were Atlantic League Champions beating Somerset bringing the trophy to Newark for their second time in team history (2002).  

Atlantic League fans were fortunate to see Rodriguez play for many of their hometown teams.

From 2004 to 2010, Rodriguez played for five different towns: Somerset (2004), Newark (2006/07/10), Long Island (2009), York (2010) and Bridgeport (2010). 

Rodriguez retired in 2010 leaving the Atlantic League with a .334 lifetime average and a slugging average of .514 to help the League remember his dominance.

Joe Gannon - 2008 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year

(L.) Autographed 2008 Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Updated Choice Team Set #2 (Ptch/YR Card)

(C.) Autographed 2009 Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Choice Team Set #05

(R.) Autographed 2011 Southern Maryland Blue Crabs DAV Team Set #306

Yielding from Buffalo, New York, knuckleball-pitcher Joe Gannon was a fixture in the Atlantic League for 10 seasons (2004-09/2011-14). The Canisius College alumnus spent time with the Newark Bears (2004-06), Nashua Pride (2005/07), Somerset Patriots (2005), Lancaster Barnstormers (2012); eventually retiring from six seasons with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (2008/09-2011/14).

Achieving the Triple-A level with the Baltimore Orioles, the right-hander announced his entrance to the league in 2004, by becoming only the second man in Atlantic League history (Rod Henderson -2001) to throw a no-hitter while on the mound for Newark (August 17, 2004). The no hitter was preserved by future Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson's pair of outstanding catches in the outfield in both the eighth and ninth innings at TD Bank Ballpark against the Somerset Patriots.

In 2008, Gannon had his best Atlantic League season, leading the league in complete games (8) and earned run average (3.17) while securing a personal record of 12-6. His season and efforts were recognized with the Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year Award.

Currently, Joe Gannon ranks fourth across many Atlantic League career pitching records including Innings Pitched (853.2), Wins (47) and strikeouts (479).

2016 Inaugural New Britain Bees Team

Autographed 2016 Inaugural New Britain Team Official Atlantic League Baseball

Having 2016 as their inaugural season, the New Britain Bees played their first regular-season home game at New Britain Stadium on April 21^st, vs. the York Revolution. New Britain joined and rebalanced the Atlantic League following a season where the Camden Riversharks ceased operations in 2015.

Atlantic League-veteran skipper Stan Cliburn served as the Bee’s first manager; making his way north from managing Southern Maryland in 2015 and returning to New Britain where he managed the affiliated Rock Cats from 2001-05.

Cliburn led the Bees to a winning record 71-69 in their first year as the Bees served as a pitching reservoir for affiliated scouts seeking quality pitching. Many former-major-league hurlers on the Bees roster were signed during their opening season including pitchers: Nick Greenwood (Twins), Eric Fornataro (Orioles), Josh Outman (Pirates) and Josh Zeld (Mets). New Britian’s front office eye for pitching talent also paid dividends to the team as RHP Kyle Simon earned the 2016 Atlantic League ERA crown.

The History of Official Atlantic League Baseballs

Here is an overview of the history of Official Atlantic League baseballs based on my individual research (please contact me with any additional knowledge you may have). I have seen autographed baseballs from the famous MLBer's who played in the Atlantic League (especially Rickey Henderson) online at auction sites that with this history now established makes the authenticity of these autographs less likely: (Updated 2017)

History of Atlantic League Baseball Card Sets

Here is an overview of the all the baseball card sets that have been issued by Atlantic League Teams through the years based on my research. Please contact me with any additional knowledge you may have.