Somerset Patriots
Encyclopedia
The Somerset Patriots are an American
professional baseball team based in Bridgewater Township, New Jersey
. They are a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball
. From the 1999 season to the present, the Patriots have played their home games at TD Bank Ballpark.
The Patriots are the winningest franchise of the Atlantic League, capturing five Championship Series titles in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008, and most recently, 2009
The "Patriots" name refers to the Middlebrook encampment
where the first official flag of the United States
was unfurled, after a law to adopt a national flag had been passed by Congress on June 14, 1777. By special order of Congress
, a thirteen star flag is flown 24 hours a day at the Washington Camp Ground, part of the former Middlebrook encampment, in Bridgewater Township.
For spring training in 2009, the Somerset Patriots became the first Atlantic League team to hold its spring training in its own locale, at the Jack Cust Baseball Academy in nearby Flemington
, instead of the traditional site in Lakeland, Florida
. The Lancaster Barnstormers
and the York Revolution
followed suit in 2009, primarily because of the 2008 economic recession.
. Centered below the soldier is the wordmark in navy blue underlined by a silver baseball bat outlined in navy blue. The word "Somerset" is centered above the wordmark in maroon.
The Patriots wear caps produced by The Game Headwear
and uniforms by Majestic Athletic
. The caps are navy blue throughout with the cap logo centered on the front. The cap logo consists of the Continental soldier's head outlined in white and maroon. The Patriots also have an alternate cap that has a navy blue crown with a maroon brim and button. The cap logo on the alternate cap consists of a scripted "S" in maroon with white outline and the Patriot-head cap logo superimposed. The home jersey is sleeveless with maroon piping and the "Patriots" wordmark centered across the front in navy blue and maroon. The away jersey features full sleeves with maroon piping and the "Somerset" wordmark. The belt, socks, and undershirt are navy blue.
The Patriots alternate jersey is navy blue with silver piping. The "Patriots" wordmark is centered on the chest in maroon with white outline, and a white star in the underscore.
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, with the "Voice of the Patriots" Adam Amin.
s is an anthropomorphic
dog named Sparkee
. He wears the team's home uniform with white sneakers. The mascot debuted on July 11, 1998 at the Atlantic League's first All-Star Game at Bernie Robbins Stadium
in Atlantic City, New Jersey
. Sparkee's name refers to the Patriots manager, Sparky Lyle
. The team also employs another character of unknown species (although many speculate it to be either Felidae-cat or Ursidae-bear) named Slider. After training with Sparkee for several months, he debuted in the 2007 season. Slider wears the Patriots' navy blue alternate jersey with gray pants. A mascot named "TD" (after the stadium's sponsor) debuted in the June 30th, 2010 game against the Camden Riversharks.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball team based in Bridgewater Township, New Jersey
Bridgewater Township, New Jersey
Bridgewater Township is a township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. , the township population was 44,464.Bridgewater Township was originally created by Royal Charter on April 4, 1749, from portions of the Northern precinct, and was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial group of...
. They are a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
, which is not affiliated with 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...
. From the 1999 season to the present, the Patriots have played their home games at TD Bank Ballpark.
The Patriots are the winningest franchise of the Atlantic League, capturing five Championship Series titles in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008, and most recently, 2009
The "Patriots" name refers to the Middlebrook encampment
Middlebrook encampment
The Middlebrook encampment refers to the seasonal encampment of the Continental Army during the American War for Independence near Middle Brook in Bridgewater Township, New Jersey . The site includes part of the ridge of the First Watchung Mountain...
where the first official flag of the United States
Flag of the United States
The national flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars alternating with rows...
was unfurled, after a law to adopt a national flag had been passed by Congress on June 14, 1777. By special order of Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, a thirteen star flag is flown 24 hours a day at the Washington Camp Ground, part of the former Middlebrook encampment, in Bridgewater Township.
History
The Somerset Patriots were one of the founding members of the Atlantic League in 1998. However, the team spent its inaugural season as a road team while TD Bank Park was being constructed. In the 1999 season, the Patriots opened their ballpark, where they quickly became one of the most successful franchises of the league in both of the win and attendance columns.For spring training in 2009, the Somerset Patriots became the first Atlantic League team to hold its spring training in its own locale, at the Jack Cust Baseball Academy in nearby Flemington
Flemington, New Jersey
Flemington is a borough in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 4,581. It is the county seat of Hunterdon County....
, instead of the traditional site in Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
. The Lancaster Barnstormers
Lancaster Barnstormers
The Lancaster Barnstormers is an American professional baseball team based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. They are a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
and the York Revolution
York Revolution
The York Revolution is an American professional baseball team based in York, Pennsylvania. It is a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent league not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
followed suit in 2009, primarily because of the 2008 economic recession.
Logos and uniforms
The Somerset Patriots official colors are navy blue, maroon, and silver. The primary logo depicts a Continental soldier in navy blue with white stars on his shoulder and maroon stripes flowing to his left, a reference to the U.S. flagFlag of the United States
The national flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars alternating with rows...
. Centered below the soldier is the wordmark in navy blue underlined by a silver baseball bat outlined in navy blue. The word "Somerset" is centered above the wordmark in maroon.
The Patriots wear caps produced by The Game Headwear
The Game Headwear
The Game Headwear originated as Neil's Sporting Goods in the 1960s. Initially started to equip little league and school athletic teams, the company's business greatly increased in the 1970s and 1980s...
and uniforms by Majestic Athletic
Majestic Athletic
Majestic Athletic is a maker of sports apparel. The company is also the current uniform provider for Major League Baseball. It has been a subsidiary of VF since 2007.-Origins:Majestic was founded by Faust Capobianco III in 1976...
. The caps are navy blue throughout with the cap logo centered on the front. The cap logo consists of the Continental soldier's head outlined in white and maroon. The Patriots also have an alternate cap that has a navy blue crown with a maroon brim and button. The cap logo on the alternate cap consists of a scripted "S" in maroon with white outline and the Patriot-head cap logo superimposed. The home jersey is sleeveless with maroon piping and the "Patriots" wordmark centered across the front in navy blue and maroon. The away jersey features full sleeves with maroon piping and the "Somerset" wordmark. The belt, socks, and undershirt are navy blue.
The Patriots alternate jersey is navy blue with silver piping. The "Patriots" wordmark is centered on the chest in maroon with white outline, and a white star in the underscore.
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Radio
All of the Patriots' games are broadcast on WCTC 1450 AMWCTC
WCTC is an American radio station broadcasting a syndicated and live talk radio format. Licensed to New Brunswick, New Jersey, the station serves the Middlesex area. The station is currently owned by Greater Media .The station broadcasts in C-QUAM AM stereo...
, with the "Voice of the Patriots" Adam Amin.
Mascots
One of the Somerset Patriots' official mascotMascot
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...
s is an anthropomorphic
Anthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism is any attribution of human characteristics to animals, non-living things, phenomena, material states, objects or abstract concepts, such as organizations, governments, spirits or deities. The term was coined in the mid 1700s...
dog named Sparkee
Sparkee the Mascot
Sparkee the Mascot is the official mascot of the Somerset Patriots, who play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He is a furry, grey, canine-like creature with white eyes and a large black nose. Sparkee wears a full Patriots home uniform with black sneakers...
. He wears the team's home uniform with white sneakers. The mascot debuted on July 11, 1998 at the Atlantic League's first All-Star Game at Bernie Robbins Stadium
Bernie Robbins Stadium
Bernie Robbins Stadium is a 5,500-seat baseball-only stadium in Atlantic City, New Jersey that opened in 1998. It was built as the home of the Atlantic City Surf baseball team, which discontinued operations prior to the 2009 season. College teams have also used the stadium...
in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
. Sparkee's name refers to the Patriots manager, Sparky Lyle
Sparky Lyle
Albert Walter "Sparky" Lyle is an American former left-handed relief pitcher who spent sixteen seasons in Major League Baseball . He was a closer from 1969 to 1977, first for the Boston Red Sox and then the New York Yankees. A three-time All-Star, he won the American League Cy Young Award in 1977...
. The team also employs another character of unknown species (although many speculate it to be either Felidae-cat or Ursidae-bear) named Slider. After training with Sparkee for several months, he debuted in the 2007 season. Slider wears the Patriots' navy blue alternate jersey with gray pants. A mascot named "TD" (after the stadium's sponsor) debuted in the June 30th, 2010 game against the Camden Riversharks.
Retired numbers
 |
| 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... |
| 2B Second baseman Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base... Retired throughout professional baseball on April 15, 1997 |