In advance of its milestone anniversary, the Atlantic League has unveiled a commemorative 20th season logo. The independent circuit will display the logo prominently this year, as it be featured on team communications, apparel, merchandise and equipment.
The logo will be featured on team communications, apparel, merchandise and equipment throughout the course of the year.
“This year is sure to be a special one for the league and its eight member clubs,” said League President Rick White. “From the high level of play on the field to the affordable family entertainment off of it, fans can expect to enjoy every moment spent at one of our ballparks.”
The 20th Anniversary Season logo will be displayed as a patch on all team jerseys throughout 2017. In addition, every baseball used during each game this year will showcase the official logo. Fans will be able to purchase merchandise at team stores for all eight clubs featuring the 20th Anniversary Logo.
Highlighted in the logo are the Atlantic League’s 20 seasons of play from 1998 through 2017. In that time, the league has welcomed over 36 million fans through the gates of its ballparks. Since the league’s inception, over 800 players have had their contracts purchased by Major League Baseball organizations. More than 120 have gone on to reach the game’s highest level, and 17 ALPB alumni spent time in the big leagues during the 2016 season, including Rich Hill (Long Island), Scott Kazmir (Sugar Land) and Stephen Drew (Camden).
In 1998, the Atlantic League consisted of six teams: the Somerset (N.J.) Patriots, the Bridgeport (Conn.) Bluefish, the Newark (N.J.) Bears, the Atlantic City (N.J.) Surf, the Nashua (N.H.) Pride and the Newburgh (N.Y.) Black Diamonds. Since then, the league has expanded to eight teams: the Patriots, the Bluefish, the Long Island (N.Y.) Ducks, the Lancaster (Pa.) Barnstormers, the York (Pa.) Revolution, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, the Sugar Land (Texas) Skeeters and the New Britain (Conn.) Bees. Other previous Atlantic League clubs include the Aberdeen Arsenal and the Camden Riversharks.