Camden Riversharks

Camden Riversharks
Team logo Cap insignia
League Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (Liberty Division)
Location Camden, New Jersey
Ballpark Campbell's Field
Year founded 2001
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 Adam Lorber
Media Camden Courier-Post, Red Zone Media
Website www.riversharks.com

The Camden Riversharks is an American professional baseball team based in Camden, New Jersey. They are 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 the present, the Riversharks have 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, Pennsylvania skyline.

Since beginning play in 2001 as an expansion team, the Riversharks have consistently averaged over 4,000 fans per game, with crowds approaching and sometimes exceeding 7,000 on fireworks nights. The Riversharks are a cheaper alternative to the Philadelphia Phillies for area baseball fans. 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.

In June 2008, the Riversharks unveiled a partnership with Wawa Food Markets, based in nearby Wawa, Pennsylvania. The partnership includes a series of giveaway promotions and the addition of Wawa's mascot, Wally Goose, to the entourage of Riversharks mascots.[1]

History of Camden baseball

The Riversharks are not the first baseball team to call Camden, New Jersey home. The Camden Merritt, named for former state senator Albert Merritt,[2] of the Interstate Association played there in 1883, but disbanded the same year.[3] 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 are navy blue, Columbia blue, and white. The Riversharks logo, introduced in 2005 with a new ownership group, consists 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 wear caps produced by Flexfit and uniforms by Majestic Athletic. The primary cap is navy blue with a Columbia blue visor and the "shark-fin" cap logo centered on the front. The home jerseys are white with navy blue piping and feature the "Sharks" wordmark across the front in white with navy blue and Columbia blue outline. The away jersey is gray with the "Camden" wordmark centered across the jersey in navy blue with Columbia blue outline. The socks, belts, and undershirts are navy blue.

Season-by-season records

Camden Riversharks - 2005 to 2014[4]
Season W - L Record Winning Percentage Finish Playoffs
2001 49-77 .389 3rd in South Division Did not qualify for the playoffs
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 3-3 (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
Totals (2005–2014) 889-950 .453 - 7-12

Current roster

Camden Riversharks roster
Active (25-man) roster Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  

Catchers

  • 12 Jose Gil
  •  9 Eduardo Sorondo

Infielders

Outfielders

  • 38 Jeremy Barfield
  • 18 Stephen Bull
  •  3 Carlos Guzman
  

Manager

Coaches

Disabled list
‡ Inactive list
§ Suspended list

Roster updated April 24, 2015
Transactions

Retired numbers

Brad Strauss[5][6] Jackie Robinson
1B / 3B / OF / DH
Retired by the
Camden Riversharks
on August 12, 2007 		2B
Retired throughout
professional baseball
on April 15, 1997

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ Sharks partner with Wawa
  2. ↑ "Camden Merritt after Albert Merritt". State of New Jersey. Archived from the original on 2006-05-15. Retrieved May 27, 2006.
  3. ↑ "Camden Merritt". Titans 101. Retrieved May 27, 2006.
  4. ↑ Atlantic League information
  5. ↑ "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."
  6. ↑ Brad Strauss stats, The Baseball Cube, September 13, 2007. Accessed September 28, 2008. "Brad Strauss stats."

External links

Official websites

Blogs

Media

Articles

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