Roger Clemens - Bridgeport Bluefish Guest Manager

Autographed 2016 Bridgeport Bluefish Dot Generation Team Set

On August 5^th, 2016, seven-time Cy Young Award winner and 350-game-plus game winner Roger Clemens returned to the Atlantic League and served as guest manager for the Bridgeport Bluefish in a Friday night game against the Long Island Ducks.

The event gained national media attention from MLB.com, Yahoo Sports, CBS sports and other newspapers and newsroom across the nation as Clemens joined the list of previous high-profile sports names to serve as guest managers for the ‘Fish including Pete Rose, Paul O’Neill  and Jennie Finch.

It was Clemens second year being listed on an Atlantic League roster as he pitched two games for the 2012 Sugar Land Skeeters; being able to form a battery with his son Cody who was on the Skeeter roster as a catcher the that year.

On the evening of Clemens’ guest managerial appearance, the Long Island Ducks defeated the Bluefish 6-2.

Jeremy Barfield 2016 Atlantic League Player of the Year

Autographed 2016 Sugar Land Skeeters Memorial Hermann Team Set

Attaining the AAA level with both the Oakland and Colorado organizations, Jeremy Barfield joined the Sugar Land Skeeters in 2016 and was instrumental in leading the franchise to their first Atlantic League Championship.

Son of former major leaguer Jesse Barfield, and brother of former major leaguer and Atlantic League veteran Josh Barfield, the younger Barfield hit .306 with a league-leading 27 home runs and 85 RBi’s in his 2016 Skeeter campaign.

In the Atlantic League Divisional and Championship Series, Barfield hit .308 contributing 1 HR and 6 runs scored helping the Skeeters sweep both postseason series (vs. York and Long Island) to earn the league championship.

For his season, Barfield was named the 2016 Atlantic League Player of the Year; the first Sugar Land player in history to be so honored.

2016 Atlantic League Champions Sugar Land Skeeters

2016 Sugar Land Skeeter Memorial Hermann Team Set

After making a late-August playoff run to secure the Freedom Division’s second-half title, the Sugar Land Skeeters swept through the York Revolution in three games punching their ticket to the 2016 Atlantic League Championship Series. A 10th-inning rally in game three against York’s premier closer Mike DeMark, who posted an ERA of 0.76 during the regular season, earned the Skeeters the Freedom Division title.

The Skeeter’s continued their perfect post season campaign by likewise sweeping the Long Island Ducks in three games by holding the Flock to only three earned runs in the series to claim their first-ever Atlantic League Championship in their five-year history.

9th-slot hitter, third baseman and September-roster addition, Juan Martinez, was chosen the MVP for the postseason compiling a .333 BA, 2 HR’s and 5 RBI’s. Sugar Land’s closer Derrick Loop earned 4 saves in the postseason and six different Sugar Land pitchers earned postseason wins showing the breadth of team contributions.

Roger Clemens - All-Time Baseball Great - Seven Cy Young Awards

Autographed 2012 Sugar Land Skeeters Scorecard Lineup Insert

Considered one of the most dominant pitchers in Major League history, Roger Clemens established a legendary 24-year career from the mound with 354 wins, 4,672 strikeouts and more Cy Young Awards than any other pitcher in MLB history - seven.

In 2012, the ‘Rocket” came out of retirement and donned the imperial blue uniform of the Sugar Land Skeeters after not pitching professionally for five years.

Clemens thrilled 7,724 Constellation Field fans by taking the mound on August 25, 2012, and pitching 3.1 scoreless innings against Bridgeport while striking out two Bluefish batters. 

On September 7, Clemens faced the Long Island Ducks also not allowing a run in 4.2 innings while registering a strikeout in front of 8,597 fans -- which established a home attendance record for the franchise.

On this September date, Clemens also formed a sentimental, father-son battery with his son Koby, who was signed as a catcher with Sugar Land and would play with them through the 2014 season.

Gary Gaetti - 4X Gold Glove Award Winner and 1987 ALCS MVP

Autographed 2012 Sugar Land Skeeters Choice Team Set #3

Signed by the Minnesota Twins in 1979, Gary Gaetti was instrumental in helping the Twins win their first-ever World Championship in 1987, by his play in the American League Championship Series upsetting the Detroit Tigers. For his efforts, Gaetti was named the 1987 ALCS MVP with 2 home runs, 5 RBI’s and a .650 slugging percentage in the 5-game series.

The 4-time, consecutive Gold Glove third baseman (1986-1989), and two-time All Star (1988/89), was inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame in 2007.

Gaetti was named the Sugar Land Skeeters manager in their inaugural season in 2012, and went on to lead his team to 95 wins and a .679 winning percentage in 2013 – an Atlantic League Record.

Josh Pressley - 2008 Atlantic League Player of the Year

Autographed 2010 Somerset Patriots MultiAd Sports Team Set # 22 - Isa 40:31

Autographed 2008 Somerset Patriots MultiAd Sports Team Set # 22 - Isa 40:31 (MVP Card )

Having reached the Triple-A level with the Tampa Bay Rays, New York Mets and Boston Red Sox, Josh Pressley found a home and success in joining the Somerset Patriots in 2007.

Through the next five years, Pressley served as one of the team leaders that led Somerset to four consecutive years of post season appearances and to back-to-back Atlantic League Championships in 2008 and 2009.

In 2008, the first baseman had one of the best offensive seasons in Atlantic League history batting .354, and slugging .605, all while establishing a Patriot single-season homerun record with 30 round trippers. For his efforts, Pressley was chosen the 2008 Atlantic League Player of the Year.  

Pressley left Somerset in 2011 and gained the distinction of being the first roster selection for the Sugar Land Skeeters in the 2012 Atlantic League Expansion Draft.

In 2014, upon his retirement, the Patriots organization in gratitude for all that Pressley meant to the franchise signed him to a one-game contract on August 9^th, to allow him to retire in a Somerset Patriot uniform.

Pressley was selected the second greatest Somerset Patriot of all time in a 2012 polling of fans, players, coaches and team officials.