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.

Bill Madlock - 4X NL Batting Champ & Newark Bears Manager

Autographed 2004 Newark Bears Choice Team Set #27
Autographed Atlantic League Baseball Inscribed "Newark Bears MGR 2003-04"

With a major league career batting average of .305 and four National League Batting Championships (1975,1976, 1981 and 1983) to his name, Bill Madlock became the 3rd manager of the Atlantic League’s Newark Bears taking the helm for the 2003 and 2004 seasons.

Nicknamed “Mad Dog” for his ability to get riled up with umpires, Madlock’s two-year managerial tenure saw some of the most recognizable MLB names in Atlantic League history on his rosters including Jamie Navarro, Jose Lima and the 44-year-old All-Time Stolen Base King Rickey Henderson.

Madlock quibbed about having the elite base stealer on his Bear’s teams, ”I had the greatest base stealer in the world those years, and if you don’t believe me you can ask him yourself and he will tell you the same thing…”

Ben Simon - 2003 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year

Autographed 2003 Camden Riversharks Choice Team Set #24 (Pitcher of the Year Card)

As a minor-league free agent, after attaining the AAA level with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ben Simon spotted a ballpark while driving to Philadelphia at the base of the Ben Franklin Bridge. Simon followed up with a visit to Campbell Field and a meeting with the Camden General Manager, John Brandt, and soon after had signed a contract to pitch the 2003 season for the Riversharks.

With this new contract, the Eastern-Michigan U-alumnus developed a more-biting slider within the season -- complementing his spot fastball -- which resulted in Simon being named the 2003 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year.

That year, the right-hander led the league in wins (15-6; 2.38 ERA); four of which were complete games -- three of which were shutouts. His season-shutout record still stands this day (shared w/ Sontag (2000); Stevens (2007) and Reichert (2009)). Even more impressive, two of these three shutouts were in back-to-back outings on the mound (7/25&7/31/03). 

Dwight Maness - All-Time Atlantic League & Camden Rivershark Great

Autographed 2007 Camden Riversharks DAV Team Set #261
Autographed 2004 Camden Riversharks Choice Team Set #15

Out of New Castle, DE, Dwight Maness was selected in the third-round of the 1992 Amateur Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers.  After reaching the level of Triple-A with the New York Mets, and winning the 2000 Eastern League Championship with the New Haven Ravens (SEA-AA), Maness put on a Camden Rivershark uniform in 2001, and wore it for the next seven years.

The right-hand hitting centerfielder would go on to have one of the most successful offensive careers in Atlantic League history. From 2001 through 2007, “Dewey” as his team mates called him, averaged 74 runs, 114 hits, 23 doubles, 15 home runs, 66 RBI’s and 27 stolen bases in what was at that time a 126-game season.

A strong case can be made that Maness was the most prolific combination of speed and power that the Atlantic League has ever seen. Upon his retirement in 2007, Maness placed in the second slot in league history in the power rankings of home runs and RBI’s (behind Nashua’s Glenn Murray); and first in doubles, second in triples and third in stolen bases in the speed categories. Seven years after his retirement, Maness’ career statistics still hold up very well as his name is still widespread throughout the top of the career offensive leader boards in the Atlantic League.

Dwayne Pollok - 2012 & 2013 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year

Autographed 2012 Lancaster Barnstormers SGA Promo Card  #09 (Pitcher of Year Card)

Autographed 2013 Lancaster Barnstormers Choice Team Set #28 (Pitcher of Year Card)

Having Reached the AAA Level with the Dodger and White Sox organizations, Dwayne Pollok landed in the Atlantic League in 2012, with the Lancaster Barnstormers and opposing batters immediately fell victim to his spot-fast ball and commanding breaking ball.

The former Texas A&M Aggie put together two of the most dominant back-to-back pitching seasons the league has even seen carrying home both the 2012 & 2013 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year Awards.

In 2012, Pollok went 14-4 with a 2.30 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 34 appearances.  He followed through in 2013, with arguable a better year, finishing with an 18-3 record, 2.92 ERA and 124 strikeouts in 27 appearances.

Pollok equaled his two Atlantic League distinctions by being named the back-to-back Pitcher of the Year (2011/12 & 2012/13) in the Venezuelan Winter League as well.

The greatest compliment of Pollok’s talent was from his Barnstormer pitching peer, Ross Peeples, whom told Lancaster Online, "You sit in the bullpen with guys who have spent years in the big leagues, and they say that Pollok could be a No. 4 or 5 starter in the big leagues right now.’

Pollok walked off the mound into retirement in 2013, at the top of his game with an .820 AL winning percentage, to the relief of Atlantic League hitters.

Corey Smith - Back-to-Back Atlantic League First-Team Selections

Autographed 2013 Somerset Patriots Choice Team Card Set #23 

After being named Baseball America’s Top-High-School Hitter in the Country, Corey Smith was drafted in the first round of the 2000 draft by the Cleveland Indians.

Smith went on to reach the Triple-A level with the Indian, Angel and Dodger organizations.

Spending an abbreviated season with the Somerset Patriots in 2012, and two full seasons the following years -- Smith made them count.  

The Piscataway native was named Atlantic League Player of the Month for May and Atlantic League All-Star Game MVP by winning a "Home Run Off" that decided the game in extra innings in 2013.

The third baseman was also voted back-to-back Atlantic League First-Team selections for the 2013 and 2014 seasons.