Jersey Shore BlueClaws

The Jersey Shore BlueClaws (formerly Lakewood BlueClaws) are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. They are located in Lakewood, New Jersey, and are named for their location on the Jersey Shore and blue crabs native to the area.[3] The BlueClaws play their home games at ShoreTown Ballpark.

Jersey Shore BlueClaws
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassHigh-A (2021–present)
Previous classesClass A (2001–2020)
LeagueSouth Atlantic League (2022–present)
DivisionNorth Division
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
TeamPhiladelphia Phillies (2001–present)
Minor league titles
League titles (3)
  • 2006
  • 2009
  • 2010
Division titles (5)
  • 2006
  • 2009
  • 2010
  • 2016
  • 2018
Second-half titles (1)
  • 2023
Team data
NameJersey Shore BlueClaws (2021–present)
Previous names
Lakewood BlueClaws (2001–2020)
ColorsPhillies red, dark Atlantic blue, crab blue, golden yellow[1]
       
BallparkShoreTown Ballpark (2001–present)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Shore Town Baseball[2]
General managerJoe Ricciutti
ManagerGreg Brodzinski

History

Following the 2000 season, the Cape Fear Crocs of the Class A South Atlantic League relocated to Lakewood, New Jersey, and became the Lakewood BlueClaws. The BlueClaws became an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, who moved their Class A affiliation from the Piedmont Boll Weevils in Kannapolis, North Carolina, to Lakewood beginning with the 2001 season. The team was owned by the New-Jersey-born Joe Plumeri and Joe Finley, also owners of the Trenton Thunder.[4][5][6]

The BlueClaws play their home games at ShoreTown Ballpark.

Since their arrival in New Jersey, the BlueClaws have been a success at the gate. In each of their first five seasons, they averaged over 6,500 people per game. The team led the South Atlantic League in either average or total attendance every year through 2016,[7] and became the fastest team in league history to reach the two and three million fan attendance mark. On August 26, 2002, the BlueClaws set a South Atlantic League record when 13,003 people attended a 3–0 win over the Hickory Crawdads. 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.

On September 1, 2004, Ryan Howard became the first former BlueClaw to play in Major League Baseball, 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 the 15-day disabled list, 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. In addition to Howard, several former BlueClaws played for the 2008 World Champion Philadelphia Phillies. 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.

The BlueClaws were sold to Shore Town Baseball in July 2017. The new ownership group includes Minor League Baseball veteran and former Mandalay Baseball Properties CEO Art Matin, as well as local investors Bob Tamashunas and Bill Luby.[8][9]

The team rebranded as the Jersey Shore BlueClaws after the 2020 season.[1] In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the BlueClaws were organized into the High-A East.[10] In 2022, the High-A East became known as the South Atlantic League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization.[11]

Season-by-season records
SeasonAffiliationManagerFirst Half RecordSecond Half Record
2001PhilliesGreg Legg28–42, 7th place North32–37, 5th place North
2002PhilliesJeff Manto33–36, 6th place North36–34, 5th place North
2003PhilliesBuddy Biancalana22–47, 8th place North35–34, 3rd place North
2004PhilliesP. J. Forbes31–36, 7th place North39–30, 3rd place North
2005PhilliesP. J. Forbes25–45, 6th place North31–38, 7th place North
2006PhilliesDave Huppert37–32, 4th place North47–23, 1st place North
2007PhilliesSteve Roadcap33–32, 3rd place North36–33, 2nd place North
2008PhilliesSteve Roadcap38–32, 3rd place North42–28, 2nd place North
2009PhilliesDusty Wathan42–26, 1st place North36–32, 4th place North
2010PhilliesMark Parent42–28, 1st place North42–27, 1st place North
2011PhilliesChris Truby33–35, 7th place North35–34, 5th place North
2012PhilliesMickey Morandini26–43, 6th place North36–33, 4th place North
2013PhilliesMickey Morandini26–41, 7th place North 30–39, 6th place North
2014 Phillies Greg Legg 27–42, 6th place North 26–42, 7th place North
2015 Phillies Shawn Williams 33–35, 6th place North 40–30, 2nd place North
2016 Phillies Shawn Williams 29–40, 6th place North 45–25, 1st place North
2017 Phillies Marty Malloy 40–30, 2nd place North 33–36, 5th place North
2018 Phillies Marty Malloy 41–28, 1st place North 46–23, 1st place North
2019 Phillies Mike Micucci 29–41, 6th place North 29–39
2020 Phillies Season cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic}
2021 Phillies Chris Adamson 56–62, 3rd place North

Postseason records

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 BlueClaws defeated the Greenville Drive, 5–1, in game four and then took 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, two games to one, in the Northern Division final and the Greenville Drive, three games to one, in a rematch series.

In 2016, the BlueClaws opened the first half of the season in sixth place in the Northern Division but rallied to take the second half crown. The BlueClaws then defeated the Hagerstown Suns, two games to zero, but fell in the South Atlantic League final series, three games to one, versus the Rome Braves.

In 2018, the BlueClaws won both halves of the season only to lose in the South Atlantic League final against the Lexington Legends. The BlueClaws won the Northern Division championship against the Kannapolis Intimidaters.

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

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 June 9, 2023
 Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • South Atlantic League
 → Philadelphia Phillies minor league players

Retired numbers

Cole Hamels' number 19 and Ryan Howard's number 29 have been retired by the BlueClaws.

Notable alumni

References
  1. Benjamin, Hill (October 21, 2020). "Shore thing: BlueClaws Adopt Beachy Keen Look". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  2. Reichard, Kevin (July 27, 2017). "Shore Town Baseball Acquires Lakewood BlueClaws Operating Interest". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  3. "The Look". Jersey Shore BlueClaws. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  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. "South Atlantic League Attendance". South Atlantic League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  8. "BlueClaws: New owners Shore Town Baseball has local ties and big ideas". Asbury Park Press.
  9. "About the BlueClaws - Lakewood BlueClaws About Us". Lakewood BlueClaws.
  10. Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  11. "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
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