Jump to content

Jersey Shore BlueClaws

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Silvercoindinerman (talk | contribs) at 19:54, 29 September 2012. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Lakewood BlueClaws
File:LakewoodBlueClaws.PNG File:BlueClaws.PNG
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassSingle-A (1987-Present)
LeagueSouth Atlantic League
DivisionNorthern Division
Major league affiliations
TeamPhiladelphia Phillies (2001-Present)
Previous teamsMontreal Expos (1997-2000)
Minor league titles
League titles 3 (2006, 2009, 2010)
Division titles 4 (1999/2nd half, 2006, 2009, 2010)
Team data
NameLakewood BlueClaws (2001-Present)
BallparkFirstEnergy Park (2001-Present)
Previous parks
J. P. Riddle Stadium (1987-2000)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
American Baseball Company, LLC
General managerGeoff Brown
ManagerChris Truby

The Lakewood BlueClaws are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the South Atlantic League, a Class Single-A baseball league. The team plays their home games at FirstEnergy Park located in Lakewood Township, New Jersey.The Lakewood BlueClaws are the Class A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.

The BlueClaws were established in 1987 in Fayetteville, North Carolina as the Fayetteville Generals and in the team's second season in Fayetteville which was in 1988, the franchise starred in the romantic comedy sports film Bull Durham. The team was renamed Cape Fear Crocs in 1997. The team has been playing in it's current location in Lakewood Township since 2001.

While based in Fayetteville, the team was owned by Greg Padgett.[1] He owned the team as Fayetteville Baseball Club, Inc. [2] The team is currently owned by American Baseball Company, LLC. which is headed by New Jersey born Joe Plumeri who is the Chairman & CEO of Willis Group Holdings and by Joseph Finley.[3] Plumeri is one of the co-owners of the Trenton Thunder while Finley is also one of the co-owners of the Trenton Thunder as well. Finley is also a co-owner of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.[4][5][6]

The BlueClaws offer post-game fireworks show after every Friday home game, and at the ballpark, and seniors eat free every Tuesday night. Thursday nights are "Thirsty Thursdays," with discounted beverages and live music all night. The team even promotes Bruce Springsteen Night at the stadium and use an alternate promotional name which is "Lakewood BruceClaws" for that promotion only.

History

Playing in Fayetteville (1987-2000)

J. P. Riddle Stadium, the team's former stadium located in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

The Lakewood BlueClaws were founded in 1987 as the Fayetteville Generals. The team played as the Fayetteville Generals from 1987–1996 and were affiliated with the Detroit Tigers for those ten seasons as the Generals. While known as the Fayetteville Generals, the team starred in the romantic comedy baseball film Bull Durham which starred Kevin Costner, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon and the Durham Bulls baseball club in 1988 which was the team's second season. The league featured in the film was the Carolina League instead of the South Atlantic League.

The team was later renamed the Cape Fear Crocs for the 1997 season and switched affiliations with the Montreal Expos. The team played as the Crocs from 1997 to 2000 and were with the Expos for those three seasons as the Crocs. The team mascot in Fayetteville was, fittingly, the Cape Fear Croc.[7]

While known as both the Generals and the Crocs, the team played their home games at J. P. Riddle Stadium located in Fayetteville, North Carolina from 1987-2000. Despite the team being a perennial playoff team while known as the Cape Fear Crocs, the team was purchased by a group a called American Baseball Company, LLC. which is headed by both Joseph Finley and by New Jersey born, Chairman & CEO of Willis Group Holdings Joe Plumeri who both relocated the team anyway to Lakewood Township, New Jersey to become the Lakewood BlueClaws.[8] The reason for the relocation was due to poor attendance figures which proved to be too much for the team to bear. After the relocation, the team switch affiliations from the Expos to the Phillies.

The Philadelphia Phillies' previous Single-A South Atlantic League affiliate was the Kannapolis, North Carolina based Piedmont Boll Weevils from 1995 to 2000. Today, the Boll Weevils are now known as the Kannapolis Intimidators and are currently affiliated with the Chicago White Sox.

Playing in Lakewood (2001-Present)

FirstEnergy Park, the team's current stadium located in Lakewood Township, New Jersey.
File:FirstEnergy Park.PNG
FirstEnergy Park logo
Ryan Howard

Since the team's arrival in New Jersey from Fayetteville, the BlueClaws have been a success at the gate. In each of their first five seasons, they have averaged over 6,500 fans per game. On August 26, 2002, in a game against the Hickory Crawdads which the BlueClaws won 3-0, attendance was a South Atlantic League record 13,003. The BlueClaws have led the South Atlantic League in either average or total attendance every year, and became the fastest team in South Atlantic League history to reach the 2 and 3 million fan attendance mark.

On September 1, 2004, Ryan Howard became the first former BlueClaw to play in the major leagues, playing first base for the Phillies in a 7-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. He played for the BlueClaws in the 2002 season. In 2005, he was named the National League Rookie of the Year, and in 2006 he was named the National League Most Valuable Player. In May 2007, while on 15-day disabled list, Ryan Howard played two rehab games with the BlueClaws after suffering a hamstring injury. Each game drew over 8,000 fans and helped push the BlueClaws to a new team attendance record for the month of May.

The 2008 World Champion Philadelphia Phillies featured several former BlueClaws on their roster. Former NL MVP Ryan Howard was with the BlueClaws in 2002. World Series MVP Cole Hamels was with Lakewood in 2003, and starting catcher Carlos Ruiz was a member of the original Lakewood BlueClaws roster, in 2001. One key member of the 2008 Phillies was Joe Blanton, acquired through a trade with the Oakland Athletics. In exchange the Phillies sent over three minor leaguers, including two former BlueClaws in Adrian Cardenas (2007) and Josh Outman (2006).

Recently, the BlueClaws announced via their blog (blog.blueclaws.com) that Darryl Strawberry would be appearing at FirstEnergy Park to sign autographs on August 1.

On August 24, 2009, Phillies pitcher Brett Myers threw a scoreless inning in a rehab assignment on the same day a seven year old from Toms River, New Jersey became the 4 millionth fan in team history. This box office success comes in the absence of great success on the field. In their first five seasons, the BlueClaws failed to qualify for the playoffs. Their overall record topped the .500 mark for the first time in 2004.

All told, in their first eight seasons, the BlueClaws have topped 10,000 fans at a game twice, including 10,027 on August 29, 2008. They have gone over 9,000 fans 13 different times, and have exceeded the 8,000 mark 81 times.

Each season a group of fans choose one person on the BlueClaws to cheer for, and in 2008, these fans chose third baseman Travis "Moose" Mattair. These fans, who called themselves "Mooseketeers" in reference to Mattair's childhood nickname, cheered loudly for both Mattair and the team in general. They are known for displaying homemade signs and jerseys, and their novelty moose hats were a regular fixture at FirstEnergy Park throughout the 2008 season.

On February 17, 2009, the Lakewood BlueClaws announced that instead of doing just Monday Kids Eat Free presented by ShopRite, they will be doing Kids Eat Free every game of the 2009 season. All children under the age of 12 will be presented with a voucher for a free hot dog, bag of chips, and fountain drink as they enter the gates. During the 2009 season, the Blueclaws announced that the team would adopt a new logo, color scheme, and uniforms. These changes were made for the 2010 season.

It was announced that the Phillies had extended their affiliation agreement through 2014.

Alumni

Gabe Kapler played for the team while the team was known as the Fayetteville Generals.
Brandon Phillips played for the team while the team was known as the Cape Fear Crocs.
Cole Hamels
Kyle Kendrick
Shane Victorino
Carlos Ruiz
See also: Category:Fayetteville Generals players and Category:Lakewood BlueClaws players

Fayetteville Generals

Cape Fear Crocs

Lakewood BlueClaws

Season By Season Records

Season By Season Records in Fayetteville

Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs
1987 65–74 9th Johnny Lipon
1988 62–73 10th Leon Roberts
1989 70–69 6th Gene Roof
1990 82–61 2nd (t) Gene Roof Lost in 1st round
1991 58–79 13th Gerry Groninger
1992 74–67 5th Gerry Groninger
1993 75–66 5th Mark Wagner Lost in 1st round
1994 62–75 10th Dwight Lowry
1995 86–55 1st Dwight Lowry
1996 76–63 5th Dwight Lowry Lost in 1st round
1997 66-74 9th Phil Stephenson Lost in South Atlantic League Quarterfinals
to the Charleston Alley Cats, 2-0
1998 80-61 4th Luis Dorante Lost in South Atlantic League Quarterfinals
to the Greensboro Bats, 2-0
1999 75-65 5th Frank Kremblas Won South Atlantic League Quarterfinals
over the Hagerstown Suns, 2-0
Won South Atlantic League Semifinals
over the Capital City Bombers, 2-1
Lost in South Atlantic League Finals
to the Augusta Greenjackets, 2-1
2000 64-74 10th Bill Masse

Season By Season Records in Lakewood

Regular Season

Season Affiliation Manager First Half Record Second Half Record
2001 Phillies Greg Legg 28-42, 7th place North 32-37, 5th place North
2002 Phillies Jeff Manto 33-36, 6th place North 36-34, 5th place North
2003 Phillies Buddy Biancalana 22-47, 8th place North 35-34, 3rd place North
2004 Phillies P.J. Forbes 31-36, 7th place North 39-30, 3rd place North
2005 Phillies P.J. Forbes 25-45, 6th place North 31-38, 7th place North
2006 Phillies Dave Huppert 37-32, 4th place North 47-23, 1st place North
2007 Phillies Steve Roadcap 33-32, 3rd place North 36-33, 2nd place North
2008 Phillies Steve Roadcap 38-32, 3rd place North 42-28, 2nd place North
2009 Phillies Dusty Wathan 42-26, 1st place North 36-32, 4th place North
2010 Phillies Mark Parent 42-28, 1st place North 42-27, 1st place North
2011 Phillies Chris Truby 00-00, place North 00-00, place North
2012 Phillies Micky Morandini 26-43, 6th place North 00-00, TBD

Post-Season

The BlueClaws won the 2006 South Atlantic League Championship on September 15, first defeating the Lexington Legends in the Northern division final, two games to none, then defeating the Augusta GreenJackets in a dramatic 5-0 victory, winning the championship series three games to one.

In 2009, the BlueClaws won the South Atlantic League Championship by first defeating the Kannapolis Intimidators 9-0 and winning the series by two games to none in the Northern Division final . In the championship round, the Blue Claws defeated the Greenville Drive 5-1 in game four and then taking the series three games to one.

In 2010, the BlueClaws won both halves of the season. They became the first team to do so and win the championship, defeating Hickory 2 games to 1 in the Northern Division Final and the Greenville Drive 3 games to 1 in a rematch series.

Roster

Jersey Shore BlueClaws roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 24 Chase Antle
  • 40 Carlos Betancourt
  • 20 Malik Binns
  • 45 Jon Duplantier #
  • 21 Jordan Fowler
  • 35 Carlos Francisco
  • 22 Alex Garbrick
  • 36 Tristan Garnett
  • 32 Sam Jacobsak
  •  8 Orion Kerkering
  • 43 Rafael Marcano
  • 31 Jordi Martinez
  • 34 Gunner Mayer
  • 55 Tommy McCollum
  •  7 Mitch Neunborn
  • 17 Matt Osterberg
  • 33 Jason Ruffcorn
  • 16 Matt Russell
  •  9 Rodolfo Sanchez
  • 25 Cam Wynne

Catchers

  • 14 Arturo De Freitas
  • 23 Andrick Nava
  • 27 Anthony Quirion
  • 37 Caleb Ricketts

Infielders

Outfielders

  • 10 Jared Carr
  •  6 Marcus Lee Sang
  • 41 Leandro Pineda

Manager

  • 11 Greg Brodzinski

Coaches

  • -- Brad Bergesen (pitching)
  • -- Matt Ellmyer (pitching)
  • -- Beth Greenwood (development)
  • -- Adam Lind (hitting)
  • -- Orlando Munoz (coach)

60-day injured list

  • 24 Erubiel Armenta
  • -- Christian McGowan
  • 65 Jhordany Mezquita
  • -- Dominic Pipkin

7-day injured list
* On Philadelphia Phillies 40-man roster
~ Development list
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporarily inactive list
Roster updated February 12, 2024
 Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • South Atlantic League
 → Philadelphia Phillies minor league players

See also

Bull Durham

References

  1. ^ http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/145356/
  2. ^ http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4007:khms56.3.1
  3. ^ http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4007:khms56.5.1
  4. ^ "Board of Directors". willis.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  5. ^ Dave Fairbank (March 21, 2009). "Plumeri warmly reflects on decade". Daily Press. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  6. ^ Gregory J. Volpe (July 24, 2000). "In Lakewood, They're Coming Before its Built". The Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
  7. ^ http://www.co.cumberland.nc.us/public_info/news_releases/2000/March/Easter%20Fun%20for%20Free__032900.html
  8. ^ http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/145356/

External links

Template:Lakewood BlueClaws

Template:MLB Phillies franchise

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jersey_Shore_BlueClaws&oldid=515200180"