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).

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.

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

Jim Ed Warden – All-Time Atlantic League Career Save Leader

Autographed 2011 Southern Maryland Blue Crabs DAV Team Card Set #305

Having reached the triple-A level with three different MLB organizations (Indians, Nationals and Mets), Jim Ed Warden went on to pitch six seasons with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (2009-14) and became the most prolific closer the Atlantic League has ever known.

The 6’7”, side-arm closer from Tennessee Tech became the all-time Atlantic League save leader on May 29, 2014, achieving 123 career saves; eventually retiring with 134 saves in 151 opportunities and an ERA of 2.77 for his Atlantic League career.

Ending his career on top with back-to-back All-Star Selections (2013-14), Warden remains a fan favorite to Crustacean Nation and one of the most endeared Blue Crabs of all time.