No Minor Accomplishment: The Revival of New Jersey Professional Baseball

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments S ince August 2004, I’ve depended on many people for the help and support necessary to finish this project, and I would like to acknowledge them now, and sincerely hope that I do not leave anybody out. First, I’d like to thank my former employer, the Bernards Township Library in Basking Ridge, under the direction of Anne Meany, and my supervisor, Ruth Lufkin, for their early encouragement of this project . I would especially like to thank the head children’s librarian, Antonette D’Orazio, for drafting me to do a presentation on New Jersey baseball for the kids of Bernards Township, which led to the idea of this book. I would also like to thank my current employers, the Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries; and in particular the head of Special Collections, Ronald Becker; the university archivist Tom Frusciano; and all of my coworkers for their continued patience and encouragement as I have moved through this process. The materials contained in the New Jersey Room at Special Collection, as well as the online resources available via the Rutgers University Libraries Web site were a great source of historical information for me. I’d like to acknowledge Robert Mulcahy, athletic director of Rutgers University, for giving me insight into his days with the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and their efforts to bring baseball to the Meadowlands Sports Complex in the 1980s. Also, Helene Lynch, the local history librarian, and Rina Banerjee, the adult reference librarian, at the Mercer County Library, Lawrenceville branch, for assisting me in researching the early days of the Trenton Thunder and Waterfront Park via their vertical clippings files. Tony Torre and Herm Sorcher, the former general manager and assistant general manager of the New Jersey Cardinals, provided me with insight into the operation of the Sussex County club prior to its move to Pennsylvania, as did the use of the microfilm facilities at the Sussex County Library, Newton branch. Brad Taylor and his fantastic staff at the Trenton Thunder gave me continuing access during my research. In particular, I would also like to thank Dan Loney for arranging my initial visit to Trenton, as well as Eric Lipsman, Bill Cook, and Greg Coleman in the front office and former general manager Rick Brenner for sharing their insights into the organization with me. Former head groundskeeper, Nicole Sherry, was gracious enough to sit for an interview prior to her leaving for the head groundskeeper job with the Baltimore Orioles. I’d also like to thank the former Thunder and current New York Mets broadcaster, Tom McCarthy, for sharing his recollections of his days with the Thunder with me. I owe a debt of gratitude to Bob Wirz, the publisher of the Weekly Independent Baseball Insider, for spending four hours with me at his home in Connecticut, teaching me all about the ins and outs of independent professional baseball. Also, Frank Boulton, the founder and chief executive officer of the Atlantic League, sat for a lengthy interview that enabled me to better understand the origins and continued successful operation of the league. Joe Klein, the executive director of the Atlantic League, met with me twice in his office in Camden to explain to me the detailed inner workings of player-procurement issues and procedures of the Atlantic League; and Adam Gladstone, one of the chief talent scouts of the league, gave me great detail on what he looks for in an Atlantic League player. Mike Ashmore, who writes a successful Atlantic League daily column, also helped me understand the operation of the league. My initial team visit was with the Somerset Patriots back in July 2005, and I would like to thank the vice president of public relations, Marc Russinoff, for arranging interviews and otherwise facilitating my visit there. Steve Kalafer took an ample amount of time out of his busy schedule to sit with me that evening, providing me insight into his ownership of the club. I’d also like to give a big thanks to general manager, Patrick McVerry, and front-office staffers Matt Rothenberg, Chris Bryan, and Dave Marek for information on the Patriots operation. The Patriots chapter also received considerable contributions from the shortstop and team captain Emiliano Escandon; broadcaster Brian Bender; x Acknowledgments Geoff Mosher of the Courier News; and, of course, the biggest Somerset Patriot fan that I know, Yvonne Selander, the reference...