Tommy Everidge - 2011 Atlantic League Player of the Year

Autographed 2011 Lancaster Barnstormers Choice Team Set #03 (MVP Card)

Selected in the 10^th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft by Oakland, Sonoma Valley-native Tommy Everidge progressed through the Athletics’ minor league system reaching the majors in June of 2009.

After additional stints within the Seattle and Houston farm systems, the power-hitting first baseman signed with the Lancaster Barnstormers in 2011, and quickly dominated the Atlantic League at the plate.

In that season, Everidge led the league in hits (160), doubles (41), home runs (28), and total bases (285); and ranked second in runs scored (94) and RBI’s (94). All this was accomplished while maintaining an elevated .319 batting average and playing in all 125 games for the Barnstormers.

In August, Everidge flirted with batting .400 for the entire month; falling just shy at .394 leading to Everidge being named the Atlantic League Player of the Month.

For his offensive season -- which also included setting a league extra-base hit record (69) -- Tommy Everidge was awarded the Atlantic League Player of the Year for 2011.

Everidge currently works as a hitting coach in the Oakland organization.

Welington Dotel - 2015 Atlantic League Player of the Year

Autographed 2015 Bridgeport Bluefish Dot Generation Team Set (MVP Card) 

Sometimes sabbaticals are much needed and provide enhanced performance upon the return. After taking the whole 2014 season off from professional baseball, Welington Dotel came back well rested and with a fury in his first year in the Atlantic League.

The former Seattle Mariner farm prospect took the outfield for the Bridgeport Bluefish in the 2015 season and led the league in hits (180), triples (13), extra base hits (52) and total bases (261). He also became the first player in the history of the Atlantic League to lead the league in both stolen bases (45) and slugging percentage (.492) the same year. He was the unanimous choice for 2015 Atlantic League Player of the Year.

In addition, the Dominican Republic-native was electric on the bases with a better than 80% stolen-base-attempt success rate.

As Dotel’s offensive reputation grew throughout the league during the year his defensive reputation kept pace while patrolling right field at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard. Dotel’s explosive speed would allow him to spear hard line drives hit into the right-center field gap as well as to make shoestring, sliding catches on balls hit weakly in front of him denying opposing teams scoring opportunities. Dotel was selected by Atlantic League managers and executives to the inaugural 2015 Red, White and Blue All-Defensive team at season's end recognizing the best defensive player at each position.

Dotel would have also had the batting championship on his resume for the 2015 season, but his .3396 batting average missed league lead by .0007 to Long Island Ducks’ designated hitter, and former Bluefish teammate,  Sean Burroughs.

Chris Widger - 10-Year MLB Veteran and Chicago White Sox World Champion

Autographed 2013 Camden Rivershark Choice Team Set #29

Selected by the Seattle Mariners in the third round of the 1992 amateur draft, Chris Widger went on to launch a MLB career spanning 10 seasons and six teams. The Pennsville, NJ native solidified himself as a Major Leaguer by becoming the everyday catcher for the Montreal Expos by 1998, and is a prime example of the second chance the Atlantic League can offer ballplayers.

With no contracts for affiliated ball in 2004, Widger was signed by the Camden Riversharks and suited up for 55 games that year in an effort to continue his career and the hopes of signing with affiliated ball. Within one year, Chris Widger would be a member of the 2005 World Championship White Sox team.

Widger returned to his hometown area in 2012, becoming the pitching coach for the Camden Riversharks; eventually being named the Camden manager for the 2015 season. 

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.

Kinnis Pledger - 1998 Atlantic League Player of the Year

Autographed 1998 Bridgeport Bluefish Multi-Ad Team Set #23 (MVP Card);
Autographed 2000 Bridgeport Bluefish Multi-Ad Team Set #2

Selected by the Chicago White Sox in the third round of the 1987 Amateur Draft, Kinnis Pledger went on to reach the Triple-A level with both the White Sox (1990) and Chicago Cubs’ organizations (1994/95) prior to arriving in the Atlantic League.

The power-hitting, Arkansas native was the inaugural 1st baseman for the Bridgeport Bluefish when the franchise was established upon the formation of the Atlantic League in 1998. 

In that inaugural year of 1998, Pledger lit up the league batting .331 and slugging an incredible.625 with 26 home runs and 89 RBI’s. Pledger had such a dominant year that he finished in either first or second place in league batting for runs, hits, RBI's, total bases, OBP, OPS and slugging average.

This earned him selection as the first Atlantic League Player of the Year Award  – an honor he shared with Felix Jose of the Nashua Pride.

The award and his level of play in the Atlantic League drew the attention of the Seattle Mariners in 1999. During the Atlantic League All Star Game that year, Pledger was scratched from the Home Run Derby when the Seattle Mariners offered him a Triple-A contract.

Pledger retired in 2001, after 15 years in professional ball and to the appreciation of Bluefish fans who saw him play for four seasons.