Atlantic League
From BR Bullpen
| Atlantic League | |
|---|---|
|
| |
| Founded | 1998 |
| No. of teams | 8 |
| Country |  United States
|
| Current champions | Newark Bears |
| Official website | AtlanticLeague.com |
The current Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, based in Camden, New Jersey, is a professional, independent baseball organization located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either. The Atlantic League requires cities to have the market for a 4,500 to 7,500 seat ballpark and for the facility to be maintained at or to exceed AAA standards.
There have been three Atlantic Leagues in baseball history.
Contents |
[edit] Minor League 1896-1900
The first Atlantic League lasted from 1896-1900 and was the successor of the Pennsylvania State League 1892-1895.
[edit] Cities Represented
- Allentown, PA: Alentown Peanuts 1898-1900
- Elmira, NY: Elmira 1900
- Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg 1900
- Hartford, CT: Hartford Bluebirds 1896-1897; Hartford Cooperatives 1898
- Jersey City, NJ: Jersey City 1900
- Lancaster, PA: Lancaster Maroons 1896-1899
- New Haven, CT: New Haven Texas Steers 1896
- New York, NY: New York Metropolitans 1896
- Newark, NJ: Newark Colts 1896-1900
- Norfolk, VA: Norfolk Jewels 1897-1898
- Paterson, NJ: Paterson Silk Weavers 1896-1898; Paterson Giants 1899
- Philadelphia, PA: Philadelphia Athletics 1896-1897; Philadelphia Athletics 1900
- Reading, PA: Reading Coal Heavers 1897-1900
- Richmond, VA: Richmond Bluebirds 1897-1899
- Scranton, PA: Scranton Miners 1899; Scranton Miners 1900
- Wilkes-Barre, PA: Wilkes-Barre Coal Barons 1899-1900
- Wilmington, DE: Wilmington Peaches 1896
In 1896 New Haven moved to Lancaster July 3, while New York was expelled July 13 and replaced by Philadelphia. In 1899 Paterson disbanded on July 4, and Scranton followed on July 9. In 1900 Philadelphia moved to Harrisburg, and Newark and Jersey City disbanded Jun2. The league disbanded June 12, 1900.
[edit] Minor League, 1914
In 1914 there was a class D league known as the Atlantic League which lasted one year. The league had been known as the New York-New Jersey League a season earlier. The title was won by the Poughkeepsie Honey Bugs. Internal politics and poor financial agreements hindered the league, which made it to the year's end, but folded before it could try another run in 1915.
[edit] Cities Represented
- Bloomfield, NJ & Long Branch, NJ: Bloomfield-Long Branch Cubans
- Danbury, CT: Danbury Hatters
- Middletown, NY: Middletown Middies
- Newark, NJ: Newark
- Newburgh, NY: Newburgh Hillclimbers
- Paterson, NJ: Paterson Silk Citys
- Perth Amboy, NJ: Perth Amboy Pacers
- Poughkeepsie, NY: Poughkeepsie Honey Bugs
Bloomfield-Long Branch moved to Asbury Park July 2. Newark moved to Long Branch July 22.
[edit] Hall of Fame Alumni
- Jack Chesbro, 1897-1899 Richmond Bluebirds
- Honus Wagner, 1896-1897 Paterson Silk Weavers
[edit] Independent League, 1998-present
Since 1998, an independent league named the Atlantic League has been in operation. One of the strongest independent loops, it is based on the east coast (as its name implies) and has featured many ex-big leaguers like Rickey Henderson, Jose Canseco, Ruben Sierra and Tim Raines Sr.. The league has also been home to players who opted for the indies instead of signing right after being drafted - such as Scott Boras clients Stephen Drew and Jered Weaver. The league will add one new team and lose one in 2007; the York Revolution of York, PA join the circuit and the Atlantic City Surf moves to the Canadian-American Association. In 2008, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of Waldorf, MD are expected to begin play as well.
[edit] Current Teams
| North Division | South Division | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | City | Manager | Team | City | Manager | |
| Bridgeport Bluefish | Bridgeport, CT | Tommy John | York Revolution | York, PA | Chris Hoiles | |
| Long Island Ducks | Central Islip, NY | Dave LaPoint | Camden Riversharks | Camden, NJ | Joe Ferguson | |
| Newark Bears | Newark, NJ | Wayne Krenchicki | Lancaster Barnstormers | Lancaster, PA | Von Hayes | |
| Southern Maryland Blue Crabs | Waldorf, MD | Butch Hobson | Somerset Patriots | Bridgewater, NJ | Sparky Lyle | |
[edit] Cities Represented
- Aberdeen, MD: Aberdeen Arsenal 2000
- Atlantic City, NJ: Atlantic City Surf 1998-2006 - moved to the Canadian-American Association
- Bridgeport, CT: Bridgeport Bluefish 1998-present
- Bridgewater, NJ: Somerset Patriots 1998-present
- Camden, NJ: Camden Riversharks 2001-present
- Central Islip, NY: Long Island Ducks 2000-present
- Lancaster, PA: Lancaster Barnstormers 2005-present
- Nashua, NH: Nashua Pride 1998-2005 - moved to the Canadian-American Association
- Newark, NJ: Newark Bears 1998-present
- Newburgh, NY: Newburgh Black Diamonds 1998
- York, PA: York Revolution 2007-present
- Road Teams: Lehigh Valley Black Diamonds 1999-2001; Pennsylvania Road Warriors, 2002-2004; Road Warriors, 2006-2007
[edit] League Champions
- 1998 Atlantic City Surf
- 1999 Bridgeport Bluefish
- 2000 Nashua Pride
- 2001 Somerset Patriots
- 2002 Newark Bears
- 2003 Somerset Patriots
- 2004 Long Island Ducks
- 2005 Somerset Patriots
- 2006 Lancaster Barnstormers
- 2007 Newark Bears
[edit] External Link
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