Camden Riversharks

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Camden Riversharks
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
LeagueAtlantic League of Professional Baseball (Liberty Division)
LocationCamden, New Jersey
BallparkCampbell's Field
Founded2001
Folded2015
Nickname(s)The Sharks,
South Jersey's Home Team
League championships(0)
ColorsNavy blue, Columbia blue, white      
Retired numbers16, 42
OwnershipOpening Day Partners
ManagerChris Widger
General ManagerLindsay Rosenberg
MediaCamden Courier-Post, meridix.com (Internet Radio Broadcast)
Websitewww.riversharks.com

The Camden Riversharks were an American professional baseball team based in Camden, New Jersey, from 2001 to 2015. They were a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which was not at that time affiliated with Major League Baseball. The Riversharks played their home games at Campbell's Field, which was situated at the base of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Due to its location on the Delaware River, the ballpark offered a clear view of the Philadelphia skyline. The "Riversharks" name referred to the location of Camden on the Delaware River, and the primary logo incorporated 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 (the authority had purchased Campbell's Field from Rutgers University two months prior).[1][2][3][4]

The Riversharks were replaced by the New Britain Bees, a separate franchise for the 2016 season.[5]

History of Camden baseball[edit]

Camden Riversharks game in 2009. A PATCO train crossing the Ben Franklin Bridge

The Riversharks were not the first baseball team to call Camden home. The Camden Merritt, named for former state senator Albert Merritt,[6] of the Interstate Association played there in 1883, and disbanded the same year.[7] Another team from the Tri-State League played in Camden in 1904, and they too disbanded, during the season. The inception of the Riversharks in 2001 was the first professional baseball team in Camden since the 1904 season.

Logos and uniforms[edit]

Ticket stub for Camden-Somerset game of June 12, 2009

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[edit]

Camden Riversharks - 2001 to 2015[8]
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

Retired numbers[edit]

42 (Jackie Robinson)
Second baseman, Retired throughout professional baseball on April 15, 1997
16 (Brad Strauss)
1B / 3B / OF / DH, Retired by the Riversharks on August 12, 2007[9][10]

Notable alumni[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Farewell Fans". Riversharks.com (Press release). Camden Riversharks. September 21, 2015. Archived from the original on October 23, 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2015.
  2. ^ "...the Camden Riversharks will cease baseball operations immediately...". Facebook. Atlantic League Of Professional Baseball. September 21, 2015. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022.
  3. ^ Adomaitis, Greg (October 21, 2015). "Riversharks leaving Camden after 15 years due to lease issues". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  4. ^ Walsh, Jim (April 13, 2016). "Play ball? Campbell's Field outlook hazy". Courier-Post. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  5. ^ Stacom, Don (October 22, 2015). "Atlantic League Baseball: Camden Is Out, New Britain Is In". Hartford Courant. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  6. ^ "Governor Breaks Ground for Ballpark". State of New Jersey (Press release). Office of the Governor. June 15, 2000. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  7. ^ "New Jersey Sports Teams of the Past". Titans101.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2006.
  8. ^ "Atlantic League Information". The North Brunswick Pfaus. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  9. ^ Filomeno, Natalie (September 13, 2007). "Camden Drops Final Home Game, 5-2, on Brad Strauss Night". Riversharks.com. Camden Riversharks. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved 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.
  10. ^ "Brad Strauss stats". The Baseball Cube. September 13, 2007. Retrieved September 28, 2008.

External links[edit]

Achievements
Preceded by
Newark Bears
North Division
2007
 Liberty Division Champions
Camden Riversharks
2008 		Succeeded by
Preceded by South Division Champions
Camden Riversharks
2004 		Succeeded by
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