2007 Atlantic League Champions Newark Bears

2007 Newark Bears Choice Team Set

In 2007, the Newark Bears defeated the Somerset Patriots in the Atlantic League Championship Series three games to one to claim their franchise’s second league championship.

In the final game of the series, Newark exploded for 13 runs, six of them driven in by Jose Herrera. Herrera had a game for the ages as he connected with three homeruns in this final game securing himself the Championship’s Most Valuable Player award.  

Managed by former 8-year MLB veteran Wayne Krenchicki, the 2007 Newark Bears had a formidable offense that carried them into the postseason. Newark had three of the top four leaders in league batting average on their roster (Victor Rodriguez .365, Jose Herrera .357, Ramon Castro .343) who contributed to their team as a whole having over a .300 batting average for the season. From the power side, six position players on their roster finished in double-digit homeruns; Keith Reed and Javier Colina both having more than twenty.

2007-named Atlantic League All-Stars Bobby Brownlie (8-4; 3.41) and Gary Knotts (7-5; 2.65 ERA) brought Newark consistency to the from the mound side throughout the season.

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.