It’s the end of an era at Arm & Hammer Park, as Chase, “bat dog” for the Trenton Thunder (Class AA; Eastern League), is set to retire at the beginning of July.
Chase’s retirement party is set for Friday, July 5, with Chase bobbleheads distributed to the first 2,000 fans. Chase will pass the Thunder bat-dog duties on to his son Derby and has not retrieved a bat this season.
“Chase has been the furry face of the franchise for more than 10 years,” said Thunder General Manager Will Smith. “Now, unlike most who make their careers on professional baseball fields, he’s going out on his own terms.”
Chase has been entertaining fans at Trenton Thunder games since 2002 and still can be seen on the field before the game, visiting fans in the stands and greeting them outside Arm & Hammer Park after the game. Over the past ten seasons, Chase has been featured worldwide on CNN and Japanese Television, nationally on ESPN, FOX and the YES Network and regionally on FOX-29, KYW-3, UPN-9, News 12 NJ, Today in New York on WNBC-4 plus his picture has appeared in Sports Illustrated and newspapers all over the country. On June 4, 2013 Chase was honored on the field at Yankee Stadium following a special invitation by Yankees GM Brian Cashman.
Chase’s son “Home Run” Derby was introduced to Thunder fans as a puppy in 2008. Since 2010, Derby has been sharing bat dog duties with his dad. Now in 2013 he not only is the bat dog in the bottom of the first inning, but he brings water out to the umpires during the game. Derby continues to work out with the players in the bullpen and the outfield during pregame warm-ups and pose for pictures with the fans during and after games.Chase’s Retirement Party.
—-
Share your news with the baseball community. Send it to us at editors@augustpublications.com.
Are you a subscriber to the weekly Ballpark Digest newsletter? You can sign up for a free subscription at the Newsletter Signup Page.
Join Ballpark Digest on Facebook and on Twitter!
Follow Ballpark Digest on Google + and add us to your circles!
Arm & Hammer Park is one of the ballparks mapped out in the Ballpark Digest iPhone/iPad app. Buy it for only $1.99 and plan your ballpark trips!