GOING BACK TO THE SHOW

Since its inception in 1998, the Atlantic League has been home to professional ballplayers both in the early stages of their careers as well as the latter stages. Quite simply, playing in the Atlantic League means different things to different players. The league has seen such Major League players as Jose Canseco, Ruben Sierra, Tim Raines, Jose Lima, Rickey Henderson, Dante Bichette, Pete Incaviglia, Curtis Pride, Carlos Baerga, Jim Leyritz, Brendan Donnelly, Joe Borowski, Jose Offerman, Bobby Hill, Henry Rodriguez, Juan Gonzalez, Deivi Cruz, Edgardo Alfonzo and countless others. Some of these players were looking for another Major League chance and played in the Atlantic League to stay involved in baseball, while others simply wanted to remain in the game as long as they possibly could. In over ten years of existence, the Atlantic League has served as home to over 600 players who have Major League experience under their belt, more than 70 this season alone.

The Atlantic League provides an alternative for ex-major leaguers to play but it is also a valuable option for young players looking to advance their minor league careers. Many young players such as Stephen Drew and Jared Weaver, first round draft picks still negotiating with their teams, or others that my have been overlooked in the draft, get the opportunity to hone their skills and improve their overall game. The experience they will gain from their teammates and coaches will prepare them to take the next step into a Major League organization. Since 1998, over 300 players who began the season on one of the eight teams in the Atlantic League have had their contract sold to a Major League organization. Some have gone to an affiliated team and worked their way up, while others were called upon to go straight to ‘The Show'. Some have gone to an affiliated team and worked their way up, while others were called upon to go straight to The Show. In 2005, catcher Chris Widger went directly from the Camden of the Atlantic League to Chicago to help the White Sox capture their first World Series championship in 88 years. In either case, the players used their experiences with the Atlantic League as a building block to further their careers.

Out of the 300+ players that were sold to Major League Clubs, nearly half (44 percent) were pitchers. This statistic alone is enough to draw in young pitchers and players looking to play baseball for a Major League team. Another 10 percent were catchers, leaving the remaining 46 percent as position players. Over one whole team each season have had their contracts sold to a Major League club.

As the play on the field improved, so did the coaching in the dugout. Each season, multiple managers or coaches will have Major League playing or coaching experience, including Cy Young winner Sparky Lyle, former Boston Red Sox manager Butch Hobson, former All-Stars Von Hayes and Tim Raines and Hall-of-Famer Gary Carter. The Atlantic League is not only a stepping stone for hungry ballplayers but also for younger coaches and managers looking to get started. In its first ten seasons, the Atlantic League has placed more than 50 mangers, coaches, instructors or scouts in Major League organizations.

The Atlantic League is comprised of eight teams, the Camden Riversharks (managed by Joe Ferguson), Somerset Patriots (Sparky Lyle), Long Island Ducks (Gary Carter), Newark Bears (Tim Raines), Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (Butch Hobson), Lancaster Barnstormers (Von Hayes), Bridgeport Bluefish (Tommy John) and the York Revolution (Chris Hoiles).

For the first 100 years, Major League clubs had but two ways to build their teams -- by signing their own players or by way of trades. Free agency in 1976 offered the first change in more than 100 years. Now with the advent of independent baseball a fourth option has developed. More and more players are choosing to play independent baseball to keep contract flexibility while performing essentially for all Major League clubs who choose to scout and sign Independent League players. Independent baseball has become an integral part in the development of each Major League Organization Player Personnel Department. The Atlantic League has solidified its niche in professional baseball.
The following Atlantic League alumni have returned to Major League action:

* Drew, Lofton, Hill, Shibilo Stocker, Puffer and Weaver are only players to MLB without prior ML experience.

The following Atlantic League players were sold back to MLB Organizations in 2007:

The following Atlantic League Alumni have played in Major League during the 2007 season: