Chatham Athletics
Encyclopedia
The Chatham Anglers, more commonly referred to as the Chatham A's and formerly the Chatham Athletics, are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Chatham, MA. Prior to the 2009 season, the team changed its name to the Chatham Anglers due to Major League Baseball Properties' trademark of "Athletics and A's". The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League
and plays in the league's Eastern Division. Chatham currently plays its home games at Veterans Field
in the town of Chatham. The A's have been operated by the non-profit Chatham Athletic Association since 1963. Like other Cape League teams, the Chatham Anglers are funded through merchandise sales, donations, and other fundraising efforts at games such as fifty-fifty raffles.
In 2007, Chatham finished the year in second place in the Eastern Division with 53 points and qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2005, where they were swept by eventual champion Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox
. Chatham has not won the league championship since 1998, when they defeated the Wareham Gatemen
three games to two in the championship series.
led the team to a 30–9–4 record in the regular season and a championship victory over the Falmouth Commodores
The A's reached the championship series four more times before they finally won another league title in 1982 when they swept the Hyannis Mets
three games to none in the championship series.
Chatham was one of the league's most successful teams throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. Chatham made the playoffs nine out of ten years between 1991 and 2000, including with Cape League titles in 1992, 1996, and 1998. The A's have claimed more Cape League Regular Season (7) and Post-Season (7) Eastern Division titles than any other team, their last of which came in 2001 when they lost the championship series to the Wareham Gatemen
.
On October 17, 2008, in response to a licensing agreement between the Cape League and Major League Baseball
, the A's announced that their team name would be changing to the Chatham Anglers. They will retain their red, white, and blue colors, and the uniforms will still have pinstripes.
The Anglers have a long standing rivalry with the Orleans Firebirds. Besides from the two towns sharing a border, in 2005 when Orleans pitcher Shaun Haviland hit Evan Longoria
with a fastball, Longoria and Haviland continued to jaw with each other down the first baseline. The next at bat Longoria took Haviland to deep center and stared him down the first baseline.
motion picture Summer Catch
, starring Freddy Prinze Jr.. Jim Collins' The Last Best League (2004, ISBN 0-306-81418-8) is a non-fiction account of the 2002 Chatham A's, which featured infielder Jamie D'Antona
.
Cape Cod Baseball League
The Cape Cod Baseball League is a collegiate summer baseball league located on Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, in which many college baseball stars play during the summer. Many future Major League Baseball players have started there during their college years; MLB has provided...
and plays in the league's Eastern Division. Chatham currently plays its home games at Veterans Field
Veteran's Field
Veterans Field is the home field of the Chatham Anglers baseball team. It is located on Depot Road in Chatham, Massachusetts, USA, on Cape Cod.-Stadium history:...
in the town of Chatham. The A's have been operated by the non-profit Chatham Athletic Association since 1963. Like other Cape League teams, the Chatham Anglers are funded through merchandise sales, donations, and other fundraising efforts at games such as fifty-fifty raffles.
In 2007, Chatham finished the year in second place in the Eastern Division with 53 points and qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2005, where they were swept by eventual champion Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox
Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox
The Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox, or Y-D Red Sox, is a collegiate summer baseball team based in South Yarmouth, MA. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League and plays in the league's Eastern Division...
. Chatham has not won the league championship since 1998, when they defeated the Wareham Gatemen
Wareham Gatemen
The Wareham Gatemen are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Wareham, MA. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League and plays in the league's Western Division...
three games to two in the championship series.
The Pre-Modern Era
Amateur baseball in the town of Chatham dates back to the early 1900s and the old Cape Cod Twilight League. Chatham was the dominant team in the league throughout the 1930s, winning the Twilight League championship seven consecutive times between 1933 and 1939. The team has played at its current home ballpark, Veteran's Field, since 1923.The Modern Era
Chatham has seen significant success in the league's modern era, winning a total of five Cape League Championships. They began the modern era by reaching the Cape League championship series for four consecutive years. Their first title came in 1967, when Thurman MunsonThurman Munson
Thurman Lee Munson was an American Major League Baseball catcher. He played his entire 11-year career for the New York Yankees...
led the team to a 30–9–4 record in the regular season and a championship victory over the Falmouth Commodores
Falmouth Commodores
The Falmouth Commodores are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Falmouth, Massachusetts. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League and plays in the league's Western Division. Falmouth currently plays its home games at Arnie Allen Diamond at Guv Fuller Field, one of 6 ballparks in...
The A's reached the championship series four more times before they finally won another league title in 1982 when they swept the Hyannis Mets
Hyannis Mets
The Hyannis Harbor Hawks, formerly the Hyannis Mets, are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Hyannis, MA. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League and plays in the league's Western Division. Hyannis currently plays its home games at McKeon Park, which opened for play in 1979...
three games to none in the championship series.
Chatham was one of the league's most successful teams throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. Chatham made the playoffs nine out of ten years between 1991 and 2000, including with Cape League titles in 1992, 1996, and 1998. The A's have claimed more Cape League Regular Season (7) and Post-Season (7) Eastern Division titles than any other team, their last of which came in 2001 when they lost the championship series to the Wareham Gatemen
Wareham Gatemen
The Wareham Gatemen are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Wareham, MA. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League and plays in the league's Western Division...
.
On October 17, 2008, in response to a licensing agreement between the Cape League and Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, the A's announced that their team name would be changing to the Chatham Anglers. They will retain their red, white, and blue colors, and the uniforms will still have pinstripes.
The Anglers have a long standing rivalry with the Orleans Firebirds. Besides from the two towns sharing a border, in 2005 when Orleans pitcher Shaun Haviland hit Evan Longoria
Evan Longoria
Evan Michael Longoria is a Major League Baseball third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays. Formerly, Longoria was a star infielder for the Long Beach State University baseball team, the Cape Cod League MVP, and the Big West Co-Player of the Year.He made his major league debut for the Rays in , and...
with a fastball, Longoria and Haviland continued to jaw with each other down the first baseline. The next at bat Longoria took Haviland to deep center and stared him down the first baseline.
The A's in media
The Chatham A's were featured prominently in the 2001 Warner Bros.Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
motion picture Summer Catch
Summer Catch
Summer Catch is a 2001 romantic comedy film starring Freddie Prinze Jr., Jessica Biel, and Matthew Lillard. The story takes place on Cape Cod, but the majority of the film was shot in Southport, North Carolina.-Plot:...
, starring Freddy Prinze Jr.. Jim Collins' The Last Best League (2004, ISBN 0-306-81418-8) is a non-fiction account of the 2002 Chatham A's, which featured infielder Jamie D'Antona
Jamie D'Antona
James Joseph D'Antona is a professional baseball infielder.D'Antona played college baseball for Wake Forest University where he had a .354 career batting average and 58 home runs. In , he was the ACC leader in slugging percentage, home runs, and RBI...
.
Famous alumni
- Bobby ValentineBobby ValentineRobert John "Bobby V" Valentine is an American professional baseball manager and former player who is currently the manager of the Boston Red Sox. He previously managed the Texas Rangers and New York Mets as well as the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan...
1967 - Jeff BagwellJeff BagwellJeffrey Robert Bagwell , is a former American professional baseball player and coach. He played his entire fifteen-year Major League Baseball career as a first baseman for the Houston Astros and was a four-time All-Star...
1987–1988 - Jason BayJason BayJason Raymond Bay is a Canadian professional baseball player. An outfielder, he currently plays for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball...
1999 - Ryan BraunRyan BraunRyan Joseph Braun is an American right-handed Major League Baseball left fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers. A perennial standout, he was ranked No...
2000 - David BushDavid BushDavid Thomas Bush is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. He bats and throws right-handed...
2000–2001 - Eric ByrnesEric ByrnesEric James Byrnes , is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He has played for the Oakland Athletics, the Colorado Rockies, the Baltimore Orioles, the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Seattle Mariners...
1995 - Jamie D'AntonaJamie D'AntonaJames Joseph D'Antona is a professional baseball infielder.D'Antona played college baseball for Wake Forest University where he had a .354 career batting average and 58 home runs. In , he was the ACC leader in slugging percentage, home runs, and RBI...
2002 - David DeJesusDavid DeJesusDavid Christopher DeJesus is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball.-Career:DeJesus was raised in Manalapan Township, New Jersey, and played high school baseball at Manalapan High School. He was drafted out of high school by the New York Mets in...
1999 - Rich Hill 2000–2001
- Chris Ianetta 2002
- Evan LongoriaEvan LongoriaEvan Michael Longoria is a Major League Baseball third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays. Formerly, Longoria was a star infielder for the Long Beach State University baseball team, the Cape Cod League MVP, and the Big West Co-Player of the Year.He made his major league debut for the Rays in , and...
2005 - Mike LowellMike LowellMichael Averett Lowell is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball third baseman. During a 13-year career, Lowell played for the New York Yankees , Florida Marlins , and the Boston Red Sox...
1994 - Mike MacDougalMike MacDougalRobert Meiklejohn MacDougal is a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball, who is currently a free agent...
1998 - Kevin MenchKevin MenchKevin Ford Mench is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent.-High school and college career:...
1998 - Andrew MillerAndrew Miller (baseball)Andrew Mark Miller is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.-College:...
2004–2005 - Thurman MunsonThurman MunsonThurman Lee Munson was an American Major League Baseball catcher. He played his entire 11-year career for the New York Yankees...
1967 - Ross OhlendorfRoss OhlendorfCurtis Ross Ohlendorf is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He is known for his hard-biting sinker. He can hit 97 mph with a two-seam sinking fastball, and he's working to improve his developing changeup, slider, and breaking ball.-High School and College...
2003 - Chad OrvellaChad OrvellaChad Robert Orvella is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently in the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organization. He spent his college career at North Carolina State University as their starting shortstop and would also pitch in certain situations...
2002 - Brian RobertsBrian RobertsBrian Michael Roberts is an American Major League Baseball All Star second baseman, nicknamed B-Rob.He made his Major League debut in and has spent his entire professional career with the Baltimore Orioles organization, located in Baltimore, Maryland.-Early life, education and college-baseball...
1998 - Scott SchoeneweisScott SchoeneweisScott David Schoeneweis is an American Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher who is currently a free agent.In the five seasons from 2003–07, Schoeneweis allowed only one home run to left-handed batters...
1993 - Kyle SnyderKyle SnyderKyle Ehren Snyder is an American baseball player, who is a former relief pitcher.Snyder played with the Kansas City Royals and the Boston Red Sox . He is listed at 6-8 and 220 pounds, is a switch hitter, and throws right-handed....
1998 - Tim StaufferTim StaufferTimothy James Stauffer is an American professional baseball pitcher with the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball. He was born in Portland, Maine....
2002 - Scott WilliamsonScott WilliamsonScott Ryan Williamson is a right-handed relief pitcher in the Florida Marlins organization. He has played for the Cincinnati Reds , Boston Red Sox , Chicago Cubs , San Diego Padres , and the Baltimore Orioles...
1996 - Chris Young 2000
- Brad ZieglerBrad ZieglerBrad Gregory Ziegler is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks.-Minor leagues:...
2001