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).

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. 

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.

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