Lakewood BlueClaws

MiLB infobox
name = Lakewood BlueClaws
founded = 1987
city = Lakewood, New Jersey
misc =
logo =LakewoodBlueClaws.pnguniform
class level = Single-A
past class level=
current league = South Atlantic League
conference =
division = Northern Division
past league =
majorleague = Philadelphia Phillies (2001-present)
pastmajorleague = Montreal Expos (1997-2000)
* Detroit Tigers (1987-1996)
nickname = Lakewood BlueClaws (2001-present)
* Cape Fear Crocs (1997-2000)
* Fayetteville Generals (1987-1996)
pastnames =
ballpark = FirstEnergy Park
* J. P. Riddle Stadium
pastparks =
leaguechamps = 1 (2006)
divisionchamps =
misc6 =
owner =
manager = Steve Roadcap
gm = Geoff Brown

The Lakewood BlueClaws are a minor league baseball team affiliated with the Philadelphia Phillies. They are based in Lakewood, New Jersey. They play in the Class A South Atlantic League. Their home field is FirstEnergy Park.

History

The BlueClaws moved to Lakewood from Fayetteville, North Carolina, where they had been known first as the Fayetteville Generals and later as the Cape Fear Crocs. Their first season in Lakewood was 2001. The Phillies' previous South Atlantic League affiliate was based in Kannapolis, North Carolina, and known as the Piedmont Boll Weevils from 1995 to 2000. Prior to that, the team was based in Spartanburg, South Carolina. There is also a team in Huntsville, Alabama that is named the Blue Claws that is a Babe Ruth team (2008).

trong Fan Support

Since their arrival in New Jersey, the BlueClaws have been a success at the gate. In each of their first five seasons, they have averaged over 6,500 fans per game. On August 26, 2002, in a game against the Hickory Crawdads which the BlueClaws won 3-0, attendance was a South Atlantic League record 13,003. The BlueClaws have led the South Atlantic League in attendance every year, topping out at over 460,000 in 2006 and became the fastest team in South Atlantic League history to reach the 2 million fan attendance mark. This box office success comes in the absence of great success on the field. In their first four seasons, the BlueClaws failed to qualify for the playoffs. Their overall record topped the .500 mark for the first time in 2004.

A small but dedicated group of fans have developed a particular interest in rookie third baseman Travis "Moose" Mattair. These fans, who call themselves "Mooseketeers" in reference to Mattair's childhood nickname, cheer loudly for both Mattair and the team in general. They are known for displaying homemade signs and jerseys, and their novelty moose hats were a regular fixture at First Energy Park throughout the 2008 season.

Recent Developments

On September 1, 2004, Ryan Howard became the first former BlueClaw to play in the major leagues, 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, Ryan Howard played a few warm-up games with the Blue Claws after suffering a hamstring injury.

Records

eason Records

Post-Season Records

The Blue Claws won the by|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.

Alumni

*Ezequiel Astacio
*Rod Barajas
*Michael Bourn
*Eude Brito
*Taylor Buchholz
*Gavin Floyd
*Cole Hamels
*J.A. Happ
*Ryan Howard
*Kyle Kendrick
*Scott Mathieson
*Chris Roberson
*Carlos Ruiz
*Robinson Tejeda
*Shane Victorino
*Randy Wolf
*Tim Worrell
*Mike Zagurski

External links

* [http://www.blueclaws.com Lakewood BlueClaws (official site)]