Fond Memories from Dodger Stadium..

Does the date April 4, 1979 mean anything to you? I (Brian Conner) recently spoke with a man who gave me a story about this day I will never forget. If nothing comes to mind that is because you were either not yet born or it was just another early spring day 29 years ago. For one man, it is one of his fondest memories from childhood. His name is Jose Zavala, and he's a resident of Aurora, Colorado. He's 42 years old and was at a game at Dodger Stadium on April 4, 1979. After the San Diego Padres took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Dodgers responded with force. Current Riversharks manager Joe Ferguson was a Dodger back in those days, catching and batting in the eight-hole--where most catchers call home in the batting order. After his team had already put one run on the board, there were two outs and the bases were loaded as he stepped into the box. He was facing left-handed pitcher Randy Jones looking to get on base any way possible to give his team the lead.

This is the point where Zavala takes over and gives me his tale of a baseball accompanied by a black eye. Zavala was in the outfield seats that day and remembers Ferguson stepping into the box and looking determined to give his team the lead. The next thing he knows Ferguson swings and hits a fly ball straight toward him. He did not know if it had enough distance to make it so he wasn't prepared for the ball to land in the empty seat right next to him. Once he realized the ball was going to land next to him he looked over and started to lean towards the ball. The ball bounced off the chair next to him and hit him right in the eye as he trapped it with his hands to his face. Then with probably the biggest smile he had shown to date, he looked up, ball in hand, and started to feel the pain. He did not mention how much it hurt, but it didn't matter.
He caught a grand slam ball from one of his childhood idols, Mr. Joe Ferguson. The Dodgers went on to win the game 10-1 as they put up another five spot in the bottom of the fourth, and Ferguson went 2-for-3 with a grand slam, a single and four RBIs. For a casual fan or someone who doesn't get excited to see their favorite player anymore this story doesn't seem that dynamic. But for those of us who grew up with heroes who we watched on TV or at a stadium around the U.S. it gives us a reason to keep the love of baseball in our hearts forever. As a 22 year old who now works in baseball, I can say I still love the game as much now as when I was a kid going to the Vet to watch my favorite Phillies take the field on a summer day or night. As I was sitting at my desk today doing my daily work on the computer, I had no idea someone would call and tell a story that would make me feel like I was thirteen years old again. For that I thank Mr. Jose Zavala and hope that he has inspired you to keep the love of Baseball around forever and always know that no matter where life has taken you, a great baseball story can bring you right back to where it all began, and for him that was Dodger Stadium.

-Brian Conner

So long, Erick San Pedro

The Major League clubs are coming around like a kiddy crane and picking off all the Atlantic League's best. Former second rounder Erick San Pedro is now a part of the White Sox family. He's headed to Birmingham, where the great Michael Jordan once roamed. I thought it'd be fun to come up with a few things that San Pedro and His Airness have in common.

1. The ACC connection. Jordan played at the University of North Carolina--just over 800 miles from San Pedro's alma mater. Like Jordan, San Pedro was a highly lauded draft pick when he left the University of Miami. Baseball America named him the Best Defensive Catcher in the Nationals system in 2005. Jordan, of course, was picked third overall after setting all kinds of records in college. He was pretty decent as a young pro, too.

2. Entrepreneurship. San Pedro majored in it at "The U," and Jordan seemed to reinvent it. I can't think of Hanes or Gatorade without thinking about Jordan. I've also used his cologne and ate at his restaurant. He's worth more as a spokesman than a lot of sports stars are on the field or court.

3. Intimidating domes. Both rock bald heads. I have a theory that the trademark look might have been part of the reason for Jordan's successes. I don't know much about physics or aerodynamicismnesses, but he was fast on a breakaway and did steal 30 bases in one season as a professional baseball player. San Pedro hasn't stolen a base as a pro yet, but at 6'0" and 205 lbs., he's a physical force.

Congratulations, Erick.

-Nick Steyn

The Big Leagues

Have you ever dreamed what it would be like to be in the majors? It is awesome! When you are walking into work you smile because you know you've made it to The Show. The grass is a more perfect green then that of the first crisp dollar bill you made as a child, the bats have a shine like a brand new car, and the stands can appear to be filled with an ocean of people on any given night.

Bump. Your face kisses back and forth off the cool glass of a bus window. You wake up. You were just dreaming while aboard your bus from Long Island, NY to Waldorf, Md. Google Maps sets the destination at roughly five and half hours. Startled, you jump and realize this is independent minor league baseball. This experience is humbling, hard, and exhausting. The minors isn't a place to brag about, it is the most trying but the most necessary work that any up and coming player has to endure. The grass can be worn thin from company softball games in the outfield. The bats and balls have to be counted at the end of a day to cut costs as if you had to turn them back into your high school athletics department. The front office has to brainstorm 24 hours a day in order to have a promotion to attract people back to support a team with more turnover than the turnstiles that align the entry gates.

Keep dreaming that dream. The Big Leagues. The ability to have your name associated with, if even for just one moment, the likes of DiMaggio, The Babe, Cy, and my personal hero Michael Jack Schmidt.

Why would anyone ever give up on their dreams? I applaud those who are dealing with the long hours in minor league stadiums year round to hopefully at some point take leap out of the Delaware River and into the Ocean that is the Big Leagues.

-Chris Reed

Chris Walker leaps back to affiliated baseball

Those Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have a lot of nerve. They've plucked our starting center fielder and sent him to Triple-A Salt Lake City. What does Salt Lake have that Camden doesn't have? Don't answer that.

Walker returns to affiliated ball after hitting .290 with five home runs, 20 RBIs and seven stolen bases. It probably couldn't have happened to a nicer guy either. Walker proved to be clutch on and off the field; he was always ready with a big hit and a big joke.

He made it easy to write game recaps. Every day, I knew I'd have to recap what he'd done on the field. It seems he had big hits in each of the team's 19 wins. Close enough.

As much as it's going to hurt this team, the purchase of Walker's contract should help the Angels. It is the goal of the Atlantic League to return players to organizations, after all.

Walker could see former Lancaster OF Brian Stavisky at a few company picnics. Stavisky was purchased by the Angels and sent to Double-A Arkansas.

The Angels outfield is stacked with experienced Major Leaguers, but three of those contracts expire this season: Juan Rivera, Garret Anderson and Vladimir Guerrero. The team holds options on Anderson and Guerrero, but Rivera is expendable if the talent pool proves deep (enter Chris Walker). Reggie Willits and Gary Matthews will be hanging around, too.

And hey, how cool would it be to see Walker and Jered Weaver playing together?

-Nick Steyn

First Week With the Riversharks

My name is Irene Pastorino and Monday was the beginning of a new experience for me here at the Riversharks. I recently graduated from Washington College on Sunday and was now entering into the "Real World." I had the first day jitters that everyone has when they are stepping into a new environment for the first time. The nervousness was quickly eased when I found out it was Zack's first day and Brian had just started only a week before me. The morning actvities began with a tour where I shortly realized I had definitely worn the wrong shoes to work that day. After the tour Joel began to explain all of the different aspects of the Corporate Sponsorship Department with me and I was then sent off to do research on our company and look through many different documents and basically just learn the ins and outs of everything. The next few days flew by with the same research and watching the Atlantic 10 Tournament during lunch breaks. Unfortunately Temple did lose and now the only team I really cared about has been eliminated.

Thursday night was the Riversharks night at the Soul. A few of the front office employees manned the display area where we distributed free vouchers and calenders of the upcoming home games. Again this was a time where i greatly regretted my shoe choice that morning. Finley made an appearance at this event and many children flocked to him for pictures and autographs. I encountered my first minor league baseball fans who knew endless amounts of stats and information on the Riversharks and their competitors. At first I just stood there dumb struck because I had no idea about any of the information they were talking about. As my first week comes to an end, I look forward in anticipation for the games to begin on June 2nd and for the summer to really get underway.

Irene Pastorino

Stepping Up to the Plate

"What song would you walk up to if you were in the pros?"

I've had the same conversation with every baseball fan I know. There is as much mystique to a player with a great walk-up song as there is to a great home run hitter. A good song can lend a player some swagger. Ever hear of Eric Byrnes?

Here's how some of this year's Rivershark entrance playlist lines up:
1. OF Chris Walker - "The Boss" by Rick Ross
2. IF Gary Cates - "Hood Figga" by Gorilla Zoe
3. IF Brett Bonvechio - "The Originators" by Bone Thugs & Harmony
4. OF Josh Rabe - "Still DRE" by Dr. Dre
5. OF L.J. Biernbaum - "Renegades of Funk" by Rage Against the Machine
6. IF Jason Phillips - "Party Like a Rockstar" by Shop Boyz
7. C Randy McGarvey - "Bombs Over Baghdad" by Outkast and the "Class of 3000" theme
8. OF Ron Davenport - "Black Betty" by Ram Jam
9. C Erick San Pedro - "They Know" by Shawty Lo
10. IF Gabe Suarez - "Da Rockwilder" by Method Man

If most of these songs have anything in common, it's that they are heavily censored by the guys in our sound booth. The team is winning, so no one is complaining.

Heck, Chris Walker's showing power like never before with a new walk-up song. "The Boss" is averaging a home run every 18 at bats (five in 90 ABs). In 2,323 ABs prior to signing with the Riversharks this off-season, Walker hit 15 home runs. That's approximately one per 155 ABs.

Jason Phillips has made millions as a Major Leaguer. The guy's got seven years of service time and can party like anything he wants to party like. It's some of the other guys I wonder about. A few of these songs are about fame and riches-- two things for which the Atlantic League is not known.

I still vote "Oh Yeah" by Yello as my song of choice. It's the song from Ferris Bueller and later from a Twix ad campaign. I'm told I'd be beaned for my arrogance, but I'd more likely be booed for not living up to expectations. Walk-up songs say so much.

There's more to baseball than box scores. Welcome to the Riversharks' front office blog.

-Nick Steyn, Public and Media Relations