Camden Riversharks

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 is not 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.

Camden Riversharks
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
LeagueAtlantic League of Professional Baseball (Liberty Division)
LocationCamden, New Jersey
BallparkCampbell's Field
Year founded2001
Year 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

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]

The Riversharks were replaced by the New Britain Bees, a separate franchise for the 2016 season.[3]

History of Camden baseball
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,[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 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.

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

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
200149-77.3893rd in South DivisionDid not qualify for the playoffs
200271-54.5682nd in South Division1-2 (lost division final)
200378-48.6191st in South Division0-2 (lost division final)
200476-49.6081st in South Division0-3 (lost league championship)
200580-60.5711st in South DivisionDid not qualify for the playoffs
200661-65.4844th in South DivisionDid not qualify for the playoffs
200767-59.5322nd in South Division1-2 (lost division final)
200867-73.4793rd in Liberty Division1-3 (lost league championship)
200962-78.4434th in Liberty DivisionDid not qualify for the playoffs
201062-77.4464th in Liberty DivisionDid not qualify for the playoffs
201157-67.4604th in Liberty DivisionDid not qualify for the playoffs
201262-77.4464th in Liberty DivisionDid not qualify for the playoffs
201354-86.3864th in Liberty DivisionDid not qualify for the playoffs
201443-80.3503rd in Liberty DivisionDid not qualify for the playoffs
201556-83.403Tied for 3rd with BridgeportDid not qualify for the playoffs
Totals (2001–2015)945-1033.477-7-12

Retired numbers
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[7][8]

Notable alumni

References
  1. "Farewell Fans". September 21, 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-10-23. Retrieved 2015-11-05.
  2. "Atlantic League Of Professional Baseball". September 21, 2015.
  3. Don Stacom (October 22, 2015). "Atlantic League Baseball: Camden Is Out, New Britain Is In". Hartford Courant. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  4. "Camden Merritt after Albert Merritt". State of New Jersey. Archived from the original on 2006-05-15. Retrieved May 27, 2006.
  5. "Camden Merritt". Titans 101. Archived from the original on 2006-04-27. Retrieved May 27, 2006.
  6. Atlantic League information
  7. "Camden Drops Final Home Game" Archived 2011-06-08 at the Wayback Machine, 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."
  8. Brad Strauss stats, The Baseball Cube, September 13, 2007. Accessed September 28, 2008. "Brad Strauss stats."
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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