Trenton Thunder
Encyclopedia
The Trenton Thunder are an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 Minor League Baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...

 team and are the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...

. The Thunder play in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League
Eastern League (U.S. baseball)
The Eastern League is a minor league baseball league which operates primarily in the northeastern United States, although it has had a team in Ohio since 1989. The Eastern League has played at the AA level since 1963. The league was founded in 1923 as the New York-Pennsylvania League...

, and are the two-time defending league champions. The Thunder's home stadium
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...

 is Mercer County Waterfront Park
Mercer County Waterfront Park
Samuel J. Plumeri, Sr. Field at Mercer County Waterfront Park is a stadium in Trenton, New Jersey. It is the home baseball park for the Trenton Thunder of the Eastern League...

 in Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...

, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...

.

Team history

The Trenton Thunder were founded in 1980 in Glens Falls, New York
Glens Falls, New York
Glens Falls is a city in Warren County, New York, United States. Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,700 at the 2010 census...

, as the Glens Falls White Sox
Glens Falls White Sox
The Glens Falls White Sox were an American minor league baseball team from Glens Falls, New York that played in the Eastern League from 1980 until 1985. The team was founded in 1980 as the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. In 1986, the team affiliated with the Detroit Tigers and...

. The team was affiliated with the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...

 from 1980-1985. The Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...

 replaced the White Sox in 1986 with the team being renamed as the Glens Falls Tigers
Glens Falls Tigers
The Glens Falls Tigers were an American minor league baseball team from Glens Falls, New York that played in the Eastern League from 1986 until 1988. The team was founded in 1980 as the Glens Falls White Sox, the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. In 1986, the team affiliated with the...

, and stayed on as a Tigers affiliate after the franchise moved to London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...

, in 1989, becoming the London Tigers
London Tigers
The London Tigers were a professional AA baseball team that played in the Eastern League from 1989 to 1993. They played at Labatt Memorial Park in London, Ontario, and were affiliated with the Detroit Tigers.-History:...

 and began playing at historic Labatt Park
Labatt Park
Labatt Memorial Park is a baseball stadium near the forks of the Thames River in central London, Ontario, Canada. It is in size, has 5,200 seats and a natural grass field...

.

In 1994, the London Tigers relocated to Trenton and became the Trenton Thunder. The team kept the Tigers affiliation for that season only before switching affiliations to the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...

 in . As a Red Sox affiliate, the club recorded three first-place finishes, but was eliminated from the playoffs in the first round each time. In , the Thunder became the Yankees affiliate and the Portland Sea Dogs
Portland Sea Dogs
The Portland Sea Dogs are the Double-A minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Established in 1994 and based in Portland, Maine, the Sea Dogs play in the Northern Division of the Eastern League....

 became the new Red Sox affiliate. The switch reflected both teams' fanbases, as Central New Jersey is home to a large number of Yankees fans, while Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...

 is home to a large number of Red Sox fans.

On June 4, 1994, Phil Stidham became the first Thunder alumnus to play in the major leagues for the Detroit Tigers, giving up six runs on six hits, including two home runs, as part of a 21-7 romp by the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...

.

In , the Thunder became the first team in Minor League Baseball history to draw over 400,000 fans for 12 consecutive seasons at the Double-A level or below. Through 13 seasons, over 5.4 million people had attended a Thunder game.

Surpassing the previous mark set of 8,729 while Derek Jeter
Derek Jeter
Derek Sanderson Jeter is an American baseball shortstop who has played 17 years in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. A twelve-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion, Jeter's clubhouse presence, on-field leadership, hitting ability, and baserunning have made him a central...

 was on a rehab stint with the team, the Thunder set a new single-game attendance record on May 23, 2007, when 9,134 fans attended to watch Roger Clemens
Roger Clemens
William Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...

 make his second minor-league start as he worked toward a return to the Yankees.

On September 15, 2007, the Thunder defeated the Akron Aeros
Akron Aeros
The Akron Aeros are a minor league baseball team based in Akron, Ohio, USA. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians.The Aeros play in Canal Park, located in downtown Akron, which seats 9,097 fans...

 to win their first Eastern League Championship Series in team history.

Trenton defended its league title with 5-1 win over the Akron Aeros
Akron Aeros
The Akron Aeros are a minor league baseball team based in Akron, Ohio, USA. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians.The Aeros play in Canal Park, located in downtown Akron, which seats 9,097 fans...

 on September 14, 2008.

The Thunder lost to the Altoona Curve
Altoona Curve
The Altoona Curve are a minor league baseball team based in Altoona, Pennsylvania, named after nearby Horseshoe Curve . The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club...

 in the 2010 Eastern League Championship Series.

On July 2nd and 3rd 2011 Derek Jeter returned once again for a rehab start. On the 3rd, a Sunday, a paid attendance of 9,212 set a new record.

Notable alumni

Tigers
  • Tony Clark
    Tony Clark
    Anthony Christopher Clark, known as Tony , is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and current MLB Network studio analyst....



Red Sox
  • David Eckstein
    David Eckstein
    David Mark Eckstein is a former American professional baseball player who was an infielder in Major League Baseball for ten seasons. He played college baseball for the University of Florida, and has played professionally for the Anaheim Angels, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona...

  • Nomar Garciaparra
    Nomar Garciaparra
    Anthony Nomar Garciaparra is a former Major League Baseball player. After playing parts of 9 seasons as an All-Star shortstop for the Boston Red Sox, he played third base, first base, and designated hitter for the Oakland Athletics, first base and third base for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and...

  • Shea Hillenbrand
    Shea Hillenbrand
    Shea Matthew Hillenbrand is a professional baseball player who last played for the York Revolution of the independent Atlantic League....

  • Adam Hyzdu
    Adam Hyzdu
    Adam Davis Hyzdu is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball. He batted and threw right-handed.In Major League Baseball, he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, , Boston Red Sox , San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers .-Biography:Hyzdu attended Moeller High School...

  • Trot Nixon
    Trot Nixon
    Christopher Trotman Nixon is an American retired professional baseball right fielder. He played from 1996-2008 for three different teams, but is noted primarily for his time with the Boston Red Sox...

  • Carl Pavano
    Carl Pavano
    Carl Anthony Pavano is an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher currently with the Minnesota Twins.-Early career:...

  • Bret Saberhagen
    Bret Saberhagen
    Bret William Saberhagen is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher.-Early years:Bret Saberhagen attended Grover Cleveland High School, located in Reseda, California. Saberhagen starred in both basketball and baseball...

  • Jeff Suppan
    Jeff Suppan
    Jeffrey Scot Suppan , is a Major League Baseball pitcher, who is currently a free agent.-Baseball career:Suppan was drafted out of high school by the Boston Red Sox in the second round of the 1993 amateur draft, and rapidly ascended to the Majors making his debut at the age of 20...

  • John Valentin
    John Valentin
    John William Valentin is a former shortstop and third baseman in Major League Baseball. He played most of his major league career with the Boston Red Sox, with his final season being for the New York Mets. He batted and threw right-handed...

  • Kevin Youkilis
    Kevin Youkilis
    Kevin Edmund Youkilis , also known as "Youk" , is an American professional baseball player with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball...



Yankees
  • Alfredo Aceves
    Alfredo Aceves
    Alfredo Aceves Martínez is a Mexican professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. He uses a fastball, which can reach the mid 90s, a curveball, a changeup, and a cut fastball. He is known for his control and his ability to throw any pitch in any count...

  • T. J. Beam
    T. J. Beam
    Theodore Lester "T. J." Beam is a Major League baseball relief pitcher for the Lancaster Barnstormers.-New York Yankees:...

  • Kevin Brown†
  • Melky Cabrera
    Melky Cabrera
    Melky Astacio Cabrera is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the San Francisco Giants.-Minors:Cabrera was signed by the New York Yankees on November 13, 2001, at age 17...

  • Andy Cannizaro
    Andy Cannizaro
    Andrew Lee Cannizaro is a former Major League Baseball infielder.Cannizaro was drafted by the Yankees in the seventh round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft after two seasons at Tulane University....

  • Robinson Canó
    Robinson Canó
    Robinson José Canó Mercedes is a Dominican baseball player who currently plays as a second baseman for the New York Yankees.-Family and early life:...

  • Joba Chamberlain
    Joba Chamberlain
    Justin Louis "Joba" Chamberlain is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees.-Early life:Chamberlain was born and grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska. Chamberlain's parents, Harlan Chamberlain and Jackie Standley, were never married and split up when Joba was 18 months old...

  • Roger Clemens
    Roger Clemens
    William Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...

  • Tyler Clippard
    Tyler Clippard
    Tyler Lee Clippard is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals.-New York Yankees:Clippard was drafted in the 9th round of the 2003 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees out of J. W. Mitchell High School...

  • Phil Coke
    Phil Coke
    Phillip "Phil" Douglas Coke is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. Coke was born in Sonora, California-College:Coke attended San Joaquin Delta College...

  • Matt DeSalvo
    Matt DeSalvo
    Matthew Thomas DeSalvo is a Major League Baseball pitcher who is with the independent York Revolution...

  • Octavio Dotel
    Octavio Dotel
    Octavio Eduardo Dotel is a Domincan professional baseball pitcher who is currently a Free Agent....

  • Shelley Duncan
    Shelley Duncan
    David Shelley Duncan is a Major League Baseball first baseman, outfielder, and designated hitter for the Cleveland Indians.-Personal:Duncan is the oldest son of Dave Duncan, a MLB catcher and pitching coach...

  • Brett Gardner
    Brett Gardner
    Brett M. Gardner is an American Major League Baseball left fielder for the New York Yankees. Gardner, who is 5' 10", bats and throws left-handed.-College baseball career:...

  • Alberto Gonzalez
    Alberto Gonzalez (baseball)
    Alberto Ramón González is a Major League Baseball shortstop and third baseman who is currently a free agent.-Minor leagues:...

  • Phil Hughes
  • Austin Jackson
    Austin Jackson
    Austin Jarrell Jackson is an American professional baseball outfielder with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball...

  • Derek Jeter
    Derek Jeter
    Derek Sanderson Jeter is an American baseball shortstop who has played 17 years in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. A twelve-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion, Jeter's clubhouse presence, on-field leadership, hitting ability, and baserunning have made him a central...

  • Jeff Karstens
  • Ian Kennedy
    Ian Kennedy
    Ian Patrick Kennedy is a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks.He is 6' 0" tall and weighs 190 pounds...

  • Kenny Lofton
    Kenny Lofton
    Kenneth Lofton is a former Major League Baseball outfielder known for his great speed on the base paths as well as in the field, award-winning defensive play , timely hitting, and playful spirit. He batted and threw left-handed...

  • Hideki Matsui
    Hideki Matsui
    is a Japanese Major League Baseball designated hitter and outfielder. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed.After playing the first ten seasons of his career for the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, he played the next seven seasons, from 2003–2009, for the New York...

  • Jesus Montero
    Jesus Montero
    Jesús Alejandro Montero is a Venezuelan baseball catcher for the New York Yankees. At the time of his signing, the Yankees projected him as a possible future replacement for Jorge Posada, however there were doubts about whether his height and weight were conducive to being an everyday...

  • Carl Pavano
    Carl Pavano
    Carl Anthony Pavano is an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher currently with the Minnesota Twins.-Early career:...

  • Edwar Ramirez
    Edwar Ramírez
    Edwar Emilio Ramírez is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently a free agent.-Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: 2002–2005:...

  • David Robertson
    David Robertson (baseball)
    David Alan Robertson is a Major League baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees.-High school career:Robertson was born in Birmingham, Alabama, and played his first three years at Central-Tuscaloosa High School. He was a 2-year starter for the Falcons at shortstop and pitcher...

  • Austin Romine
    Austin Romine
    Austin Allen Romine is a catcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball.-Baseball career:...

  • Omir Santos
    Omir Santos
    Omir Santos Rios is a Major League Baseball catcher. Santos has played for the Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets and Detroit Tigers.-Career:...

  • Chien-Ming Wang
    Chien-Ming Wang
    Chien-Ming Wang is a Taiwanese Major League Baseball pitcher. He was initially signed as an amateur free agent by the New York Yankees for the 2000 season, and played for the Staten Island Yankees...

  • Bernie Williams
    Bernie Williams
    Bernabé Williams Figueroa Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and Puerto Rican musician.-Early life:...

  • Francisco Cervelli
    Francisco Cervelli
    Francisco Cervelli is a Major League Baseball catcher for the New York Yankees. He was an international signee by the Yankees in and played in the 2009 World Baseball Classic for the Italian team. He is Hispanic of Italian descent...

  • Andy Pettitte
    Andy Pettitte
    Andrew Eugene Pettitte is a retired American left-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher.In his major league career, he played for the New York Yankees from 1995–2003. He then signed with the Houston Astros, and played for them from 2004 through 2006. In 2007, Pettitte rejoined the Yankees...




†Made only appearance(s) for franchise during rehab assignment

Retired numbers

  • 5: Nomar Garciaparra
    Nomar Garciaparra
    Anthony Nomar Garciaparra is a former Major League Baseball player. After playing parts of 9 seasons as an All-Star shortstop for the Boston Red Sox, he played third base, first base, and designated hitter for the Oakland Athletics, first base and third base for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and...

  • 33: Tony Clark
    Tony Clark
    Anthony Christopher Clark, known as Tony , is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and current MLB Network studio analyst....

  • 42: Jackie Robinson
    Jackie Robinson
    Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...




†Jackie Robinson never played for the Trenton Thunder, but his number, 42, was retired by every Major League Baseball team and affiliate. See grandfather clause
Grandfather clause
Grandfather clause is a legal term used to describe a situation in which an old rule continues to apply to some existing situations, while a new rule will apply to all future situations. It is often used as a verb: to grandfather means to grant such an exemption...

.

Season records

{|- border=1
|-
|Season||Affiliation||Manager||Record
|-
|1994||Tigers||Tom Runnells
Tom Runnells
Thomas William Runnells is the Bench Coach of the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball, and a former infielder, coach and manager in American Major League Baseball.-Biography:...

||55-85, 5th place South
|-
|1995||Red Sox||Ken Macha
Ken Macha
Kenneth Edward Macha is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and manager. During an 8-year managing career, he managed the Oakland Athletics , whom he guided to the American League's Western Division championship in both his first and final seasons with the team, and the Milwaukee Brewers...

||73-69, 1st place South (tie)
|-
|1996||Red Sox||Ken Macha||86-56, 1st place South
|-
|1997||Red Sox||DeMarlo Hale
DeMarlo Hale
DeMarlo Hale is a Major League Baseball coach for the Boston Red Sox.Hale is a former first baseman and outfielder in minor league baseball who played in part of four seasons for the Boston and Oakland organizations between 1984 and 1988.Following his playing career, Hale worked at the Bucky Dent...

||71-70, 4th place South
|-
|1998||Red Sox||DeMarlo Hale||71-70, 3rd place South
|-
|1999||Red Sox||DeMarlo Hale||92-50, 1st place North
|-
|2000||Red Sox||Billy Gardner, Jr.
Billy Gardner, Jr.
William Frederick Gardner, Jr. is an American minor league baseball manager. In , Gardner is slated to begin his fifth consecutive season as skipper of the Montgomery Biscuits, Double-A Southern League affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays...

||67-75, 5th place North
|-
|2001||Red Sox||Billy Gardner, Jr.||67-75, 5th place North
|-
|2002||Red Sox||Ron Johnson
Ron Johnson (manager)
Ronald David Johnson was the former first base coach of the Boston Red Sox. Also, he was formerly the manager of the Pawtucket Red Sox in minor league baseball, having led the team since 2005-2009. He guided them to a 2nd-place finish in the North Division of the International League...

||63-77, 5th place North (tie)
|-
|2003||Yankees||Stump Merrill
Stump Merrill
Carl "Stump" Merrill is a former manager in Major League Baseball who served as manager of the New York Yankees in and...

||70-71, 4th place North
|-
|2004||Yankees||Stump Merrill||64-78, 6th place North
|-
|2005||Yankees||Bill Masse||74-68, 2nd place North
|-
|2006||Yankees||Bill Masse||80-62, 1st place North
|-
|2007||Yankees||Tony Franklin
Tony Franklin (baseball)
Anthony Wayne Franklin is an American manager in minor league baseball and a former infielder in the minor leagues...

||83-59, 1st place North
|-
|2008||Yankees||Tony Franklin||86-54, 1st place North
|-
|2009||Yankees||Tony Franklin||69-72, 3rd place North
|-
|2010||Yankees||Tony Franklin||83-59, 1st place East
|-
|2011||Yankees||Tony Franklin||68-73, 4th place East

Playoff appearances

  • 1995 season: Lost to Reading
    Reading Phillies
    The Reading Phillies are a minor league baseball team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, playing in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. Since the 1967 season, they have been the AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies....

    , 3-0 in semifinals
  • 1996 season: Lost to Harrisburg
    Harrisburg Senators
    The Harrisburg Senators are a minor league baseball team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals....

    , 3-1 in semifinals
  • 1999 season: Lost to Norwich
    Connecticut Defenders
    The Connecticut Defenders were a minor league baseball team based in Norwich, Connecticut. The team, which played in the Eastern League, was the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major-league club from 2003 until following the 2009 season, when the Defenders relocated to Richmond,...

    , 3-2 in semifinals
  • 2005 season: Lost to Portland
    Portland Sea Dogs
    The Portland Sea Dogs are the Double-A minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Established in 1994 and based in Portland, Maine, the Sea Dogs play in the Northern Division of the Eastern League....

    , 3-2 in semifinals
  • 2006 season: Lost to Portland
    Portland Sea Dogs
    The Portland Sea Dogs are the Double-A minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Established in 1994 and based in Portland, Maine, the Sea Dogs play in the Northern Division of the Eastern League....

     3-1 in semifinals
  • 2007 season: Defeated Portland
    Portland Sea Dogs
    The Portland Sea Dogs are the Double-A minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Established in 1994 and based in Portland, Maine, the Sea Dogs play in the Northern Division of the Eastern League....

     3-1 in semifinals; defeated Akron
    Akron Aeros
    The Akron Aeros are a minor league baseball team based in Akron, Ohio, USA. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians.The Aeros play in Canal Park, located in downtown Akron, which seats 9,097 fans...

     3-1 in championship series.
  • 2008 season: Defeated Portland
    Portland Sea Dogs
    The Portland Sea Dogs are the Double-A minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Established in 1994 and based in Portland, Maine, the Sea Dogs play in the Northern Division of the Eastern League....

     3-0 in semifinals; defeated Akron
    Akron Aeros
    The Akron Aeros are a minor league baseball team based in Akron, Ohio, USA. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians.The Aeros play in Canal Park, located in downtown Akron, which seats 9,097 fans...

     3-1 in championship series.
  • 2010 season: Defeated New Hampshire
    New Hampshire Fisher Cats
    The New Hampshire Fisher Cats are a minor league baseball team based in Manchester, New Hampshire. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays major-league club....

     3-0 in semifinals; lost to Altoona
    Altoona Curve
    The Altoona Curve are a minor league baseball team based in Altoona, Pennsylvania, named after nearby Horseshoe Curve . The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club...

     3-1 in championship series.


Waterfront Park


Official Name: Samuel J. Plumeri, Sr. Field at Mercer County Waterfront Park
Mercer County Waterfront Park
Samuel J. Plumeri, Sr. Field at Mercer County Waterfront Park is a stadium in Trenton, New Jersey. It is the home baseball park for the Trenton Thunder of the Eastern League...



Address: One Thunder Road, Trenton, NJ 08611

Opened: May 9, 1994

Seating Capacity: 6,440

Dimensions: LF - 330 ft, CF - 407 ft, RF - 330 ft

Boomer

The Thunder's mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...

 is a blue "Thunderbird" named Boomer. He wears a Thunder uniform as well as purple and yellow shades. Boomer traditionally takes part in many of the promotions and activities throughout Thunder home games, such as a race around the bases against a young fan. Boomer's likeness has appeared on numerous pieces of merchandise, and he is involved with several programs assisting children in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Strike

Strike is the Thunder's newest mascot, debuting during the 2008 season. He is a yellow lightning bolt and his character is also depicted on the team's alternate caps. Strike can be seen all over Waterfront Park during a Thunder game, usually in tandem with Boomer, the Thunder's original mascot. Together Strike and Boomer take part in such in-game activities as shooting t-shirts off into the crowd, racing a youngster around the bases for a prize, and even competing against one another to pick the loudest section in the stadium on a given night. Strike's name was chosen via an online poll, as over 1,000 suggestions were made with "Strike" being the most popular name mentioned by the fans.

Chase

Chase "That Golden Thunder" is a Golden Retriever
Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a medium-sized breed of dog. They were historically developed as gundogs to retrieve shot waterfowl such as ducks and upland game birds during hunting and shooting parties. As such, they were bred to have a soft mouth to retrieve game undamaged and have an instinctive love...

 who has been part of the Thunder family since late in the 2002 season. He often serves as "batdog" during the first inning at most Thunder home games, retrieving bats and balls and returning them to the Thunder dugout. Contrary to popular belief, his teeth do not leave marks in the equipment, as Retrievers are trained to carry birds without puncturing them. Later in the game, Chase usually catches frisbees to win a cash prize for a lucky fan. He does however have a golden tooth due to his bat carrying duties. Chase has garnered significant media attention, appearing on FOX, CNN, YES Network
YES Network
The Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network is a New York City-based, regional cable television channel; it broadcasts a variety of sports events, with an emphasis on New York Yankees baseball games, and New Jersey Nets basketball games. YES made its debut on March 19, 2002...

, UPN9, WNBC4, and even Japanese television. In 2008, Chase sired
Father
A father, Pop, Dad, or Papa, is defined as a male parent of any type of offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to father, parallel to "maternal" for mother...

 a litter of pups. One of the pups was trained to be his successor and was named Home Run Derby (or Derby for short) in a fan poll during the offseason. Another of the pups from that litter was named Ollie, and currently serves in a batdog capacity for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats
New Hampshire Fisher Cats
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats are a minor league baseball team based in Manchester, New Hampshire. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays major-league club....

.

Ownership

Joe Plumeri, Trenton-born and Chairman & CEO of Willis Group Holdings
Willis Group Holdings
Willis Group Holdings is a global insurance broker headquartered in the Willis Building, London, United Kingdom. It has more than 400 offices in 120 countries, and approximately 17,000 employees...

, owns the Trenton Thunder. The team plays at Samuel J. Plumeri, Sr. Field, the 6,341-seat stadium which Plumeri named after his father in 1999.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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