No Minor Accomplishment: The Revival of New Jersey Professional Baseball

Chapter 8: Discovering Camden with the Riversharks

O ne Wednesday evening, I sat amidst a crowd of approximately 3,500 fans at Campbell’s Field in Camden—an impressive number considering that across the river, the Philadelphia Phillies were also playing at home on this evening. The luxury suites on the second level of the ballpark were all occupied, showing corporate and group support for the Riversharks. From my seat on the first-base side of the park, I viewed what is probably the most important aspect of what the Riversharks have brought to Camden: the community itself coming together . Directly in front of me was an African-American father, who appeared to be in his seventies, and his middle-aged son, enjoying the game and discussing its every aspect. Families with children were evident all 123 8 Discovering Camden with the Riversharks The Campbell’s Kids greet fans at the entrance to Campbell’s Field, Camden. Photograph by Bob Golon, 2005. throughout the ballpark. To my left sat an interracial group of ten teenagers who were talking, giggling, eating hot dogs and ice cream, drinking sodas, and enjoying their night out together at the ballgame, even though the game was not their primary focus. When you’re sitting alone in the stands as I was that evening, you get to do a lot of people watching. In this particular case, I was thoroughly taken by watching this array of people united for a summer evening in this spectacular ballpark. This is what developer Steve Shilling had in mind when he invested a personal fortune and brought professional baseball to Camden. Although the city is undergoing redevelopment similar to what’s happening in Newark, this south Jersey ball club draws more fans than the Bears. The people who fled Camden for the nearby suburbs have come back to support the Riversharks, joining their inner-city neighbors on nights such as these. Suburban Camden embraces the Riversharks more than suburban Newark does the Bears. Why? Perhaps it is the lure of the many waterfront activities that have been created in Camden since redevelopment began in that area. Perhaps the serenity of the river gives a feeling of safety to those who go there, as opposed to downtown Camden just a few blocks away. The city is one of contrasts. Yet, there is evidence that the diverse populations of people, business and educational organizations, and government agencies are willing to cooperate and invest big money to bring Camden back to its former glory. The waterfront redevelopment and the ballpark at the foot of the Ben Franklin Bridge is evidence of such efforts. Like any riverfront city, Camden had its roots in manufacturing and commerce. It originally was a ferry hub for travel to Philadelphia, and goods grown on the nearby New Jersey farms were shipped to Philadelphia from Camden’s ports. The creation of the Camden and Amboy Railroad in 1834 connected Camden to the newly developing shore resort of Atlantic City, with connections up the New Jersey coast to Newark and New York City. The railroad caused the first major boom in population in the city, and heavy industry spurred the second. The greatest period of growth for Camden’s population occurred between 1870 and 1920, when it rose from 20,000 to 116,000 residents. This growth was due to new immigrants—primarily Poles, Jews, and Italians—moving to the area to take advantage of the new industrial job opportunities being created in Camden’s factories.1 Years ago, on the southern end of Cooper Street, sat the Richard Easterbrook steel writing-pen factory. At its height, the Easterbrook fac124 No Minor Accomplishment tory employed more than 450 people and produced 600,000 pens per day.2 The New York Shipbuilding Company opened in Camden in 1900. The company was so named because it was originally intended to be located in Staten Island, but the land needed for it could not be secured there. Instead, its founder, Henry G. Morse, decided to locate in Camden for its suitable land, rail facilities, and the availability of experienced shipbuilding labor. More than five hundred ships were built there, mostly for the United States Government, including the nuclear ship Savannah and the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. During the peak of its production during World War II, the shipyard employed 35,000 Camden area residents .3 At the same time that Morse’s firm was establishing itself, an...