Camden Riversharks
| Camden Riversharks | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
| League | Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (Liberty Division) | ||||
| Location | Camden, New Jersey | ||||
| Ballpark | Campbell's Field | ||||
| Year founded | 2001 | ||||
| Year folded | 2015 | ||||
| Nickname(s) |
The Sharks, South Jersey's Home Team | ||||
| League championships | (0) | ||||
| Colors |
Navy blue, Columbia blue, white | ||||
| Retired numbers | 16, 42 | ||||
| Ownership | Opening Day Partners | ||||
| Manager | Chris Widger | ||||
| General Manager | Lindsay Rosenberg | ||||
| Media | Camden Courier-Post, meridix.com (Internet Radio Broadcast) | ||||
| Website |
www | ||||
The Camden Riversharks were an American professional baseball team based in Camden, New Jersey. They were a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. From the 2001 season to 2015, the Riversharks played their home games at Campbell's Field, which is situated at the base of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Due to its location on the Delaware River, the ballpark offers a clear view of the Philadelphia skyline. The "Riversharks" name refers to the location of Camden on the Delaware River, as the primary logo incorporates the Benjamin Franklin Bridge that links Camden to Philadelphia.
On October 21, 2015, the Camden Riversharks announced they would cease operations immediately due to the inability to reach an agreement on lease terms with the owner of Campbell's Field, the Camden County Improvement Authority.[1][2] The team became the New Britain Bees for the 2016 season.[3]
History of Camden baseball
The Riversharks were not the first baseball team to call Camden, New Jersey home. The Camden Merritt, named for former state senator Albert Merritt,[4] of the Interstate Association played there in 1883, but disbanded the same year.[5] Another team from the Tri-State League played in Camden in 1904, but they too disbanded, during the season. The inception of the Riversharks in 2001 was the first professional baseball team in Camden, New Jersey since the 1904 season.
Logos and uniforms
The team colors of the Camden Riversharks were navy blue, Columbia blue, and white. The Riversharks' last logo, introduced in 2005 with a new ownership group, consisted of a shark biting a baseball bat superimposed over a stylized depiction of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. The Riversharks' former logo, used from 2001 to 2005, consisted of a navy blue ring with a shark centered above the wordmark superimposed over it.
The Riversharks' primary caps were navy blue with a Columbia blue visor and the "shark-fin" cap logo centered on the front. The home jerseys were white with navy blue piping and feature the "Sharks" wordmark across the front in white with navy blue and Columbia blue outline. The away jerseys were gray with the "Camden" wordmark centered across the jersey in navy blue with Columbia blue outline.
Season-by-season records
| Camden Riversharks - 2001 to 2015[6] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | W - L Record | Winning Percentage | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2001 | 49-77 | .389 | 3rd in South Division | Did not qualify for the playoffs |
| 2002 | 71-54 | .568 | 2nd in South Division | 1-2 (lost division final) |
| 2003 | 78-48 | .619 | 1st in South Division | 0-2 (lost division final) |
| 2004 | 76-49 | .608 | 1st in South Division | 0-3 (lost league championship) |
| 2005 | 80-60 | .571 | 1st in South Division | Did not qualify for the playoffs |
| 2006 | 61-65 | .484 | 4th in South Division | Did not qualify for the playoffs |
| 2007 | 67-59 | .532 | 2nd in South Division | 1-2 (lost division final) |
| 2008 | 67-73 | .479 | 3rd in Liberty Division | 1-3 (lost league championship) |
| 2009 | 62-78 | .443 | 4th in Liberty Division | Did not qualify for the playoffs |
| 2010 | 62-77 | .446 | 4th in Liberty Division | Did not qualify for the playoffs |
| 2011 | 57-67 | .460 | 4th in Liberty Division | Did not qualify for the playoffs |
| 2012 | 62-77 | .446 | 4th in Liberty Division | Did not qualify for the playoffs |
| 2013 | 54-86 | .386 | 4th in Liberty Division | Did not qualify for the playoffs |
| 2014 | 43-80 | .350 | 3rd in Liberty Division | Did not qualify for the playoffs |
| 2015 | 56-83 | .403 | Tied for 3rd with Bridgeport | Did not qualify for the playoffs |
| Totals (2001–2015) | 945-1033 | .477 | - | 7-12 |
Final roster
| Camden Riversharks roster | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active (25-man) roster | Coaches/Other | ||||||||
|
Pitchers
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Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
|
Manager
Coaches
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Retired numbers
- 42 (Jackie Robinson)
- Second baseman, Retired throughout professional baseball on April 15, 1997
Notable alumni
- Danny Bautista
- Alberto Castillo
- Mike Costanzo
- Stephen Drew
- Pedro Feliz
- Brian Lawrence
- José Lima
- Blaine Neal
- Valentino Pascucci
- René Rivera
- Félix Rodríguez
- Josh Towers
- Jered Weaver
- Wilson Valdez
- Delwyn Young
References
- ↑ "Farewell Fans". September 21, 2015.
- ↑ "Atlantic League Of Professional Baseball". September 21, 2015.
- ↑ Don Stacom (October 22, 2015). "Atlantic League Baseball: Camden Is Out, New Britain Is In". Hartford Courant. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
- ↑ "Camden Merritt after Albert Merritt". State of New Jersey. Archived from the original on 2006-05-15. Retrieved May 27, 2006.
- ↑ "Camden Merritt". Titans 101. Retrieved May 27, 2006.
- ↑ Atlantic League information
- ↑ "Camden Drops Final Home Game", Camden Riversharks, September 13, 2007. Accessed September 28, 2008. "The team retired the No. 16 worn by second baseman Brad Strauss, a former star at Haddon Township High in Camden County."
- ↑ Brad Strauss stats, The Baseball Cube, September 13, 2007. Accessed September 28, 2008. "Brad Strauss stats."
External links
Official websites
| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Newark Bears North Division 2007 |
Liberty Division Champions Camden Riversharks 2008 |
Succeeded by Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 2009 |
| Preceded by Somerset Patriots 2003 |
South Division Champions Camden Riversharks 2004 |
Succeeded by Somerset Patriots 2005 |
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