Long Island Ducks

The Long Island Ducks is an American professional baseball team based on Long Island in the Suffolk County town of Central Islip, New York. The Ducks compete in the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB), an independent baseball league not affiliated with Major League Baseball, and are the league's only team based in New York. The Long Island Ducks played their first season in 2000, two years after the ALPB inaugural season. Since their inception the Ducks' home ballpark has been Bethpage Ballpark, formerly known as Suffolk County Sports Park (1999), EAB Park (2000-2001), and Citibank Park (2002-2009).[2] The "Ducks" name refers to Long Island's duck-farming heritage (itself represented by the Big Duck ferrocement)[3] and recalls the former Long Island Ducks professional ice hockey team. The team's first manager was Bud Harrelson, a part-owner of the team and a former Major League player.

Long Island Ducks
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
LeagueAtlantic League of Professional Baseball (Liberty Division)
LocationCentral Islip, New York
BallparkBethpage Ballpark
Year founded1998
League championships4 (2004, 2012, 2013, 2019)
Division championships8 (2004, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
ColorsGreen, orange, black, white
                   
MascotQuackerJack
OwnershipFrank Boulton (Founder & CEO), Bud Harrelson (Owner), Seth Waugh (Owner)[1]
ManagerWally Backman
General ManagerMichael Pfaff
MediaNewsday
Websitewww.liducks.com

History

The Ducks, the only professional baseball team located on suburban Long Island, began play in 2000, and from 2000-2019 won four ALPB championships (see below). Team owner Frank Boulton expressed his contentment with the Ducks in 2007 to Baseball America, saying, "The Long Island Ducks are the best thing I've ever done in baseball."[4]

A league rivalry developed between the Ducks and the Bridgeport Bluefish, with the two teams contesting the "Ferry Cup" from 2009 until the latter team's termination in 2017. The Ferry Cup name referred to its exclusive sponsor, the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company, which was utilized by the teams and their fans for traveling to each ballpark.[5][6][7]

Former Major League Baseball player and MLB Hall of Fame member Gary Carter managed the Ducks in 2009. Following Carter's death in 2012, the Ducks dedicated the season to his memory and wore a commemorative patch on their uniforms.

Former Major League Baseball players to have played on the Ducks include Dontrelle Willis,[8] Ramon Castro,[9] Ben Broussard, Leo Rosales, Josh Barfield, Bill Hall, Bryant Nelson, Ian Snell, and Lew Ford. Rich Hill played with the Ducks in 2015, prior to his return to the majors in 2016 with the Boston Red Sox. In 2017, pitcher Éric Gagné attempted a professional baseball comeback with the Ducks; that same year, Nate Freiman, Henderson Alvarez, Quintin Berry, and Tim Melville played with the Ducks and later joined an MLB organization or foreign professional league.[10]

Logos and uniforms

The official colors of the Long Island Ducks are black, green, orange, and white. The primary logo features the "Ducks" wordmark in orange with black outline. The wordmark begins with a stylized, cartoon duck head in the form of a capital, cursive "D."

Since 2015, OC Sports has been the official on-field headwear of the Atlantic League.[11] The home caps are black throughout with the duck head logo centered on the front. The away caps are black with an orange brim and the duck head logo. The batting helmets are black with the webbed-foot logo.

The Ducks wear uniforms produced by Rawlings.

The home jersey is white with black pinstripes with the "Ducks" wordmark centered across the front. The numbering on the jersey is primarily in green with white outline and black drop shadow. The away jerseys are grey with the "Long Island" cursive wordmark centered across in green with white and orange outline. The numbering is in green with white outline and orange drop shadow. The alternate is an orange jersey with the "Ducks" word mark centered across the chest.

Season-by-season records

Long Island Ducks - 2004–2019[12]
Season W - L Record Winning Percentage Finish Playoffs
200082-58.5863rd in North DivisionDid Not Make Playoffs
200162-64.4921st in North DivisionDid Not Make Playoffs
200265-61.5162nd in North DivisionDid Not Make Playoffs
200367-59.5321st in North DivisionDid Not Make Playoffs
200465-61.5163rd in North Division5-1 (Won Championship)
200567-73.4791st in North Division1-2 (Lost Division Final)
200673-53.5792nd in North Division0-2 (Lost Division Final)
200772-54.5711st in North Division0-2 (Lost Division Final)
200871-69.5071st in Liberty Division0-2 (Lost Division Final)
200974-66.5291st in Liberty Division2-3 (Lost Division Final)
201070-68.5073rd in Liberty DivisionDid Not Make Playoffs
201178-47.6241st in Liberty Division4-4 (Lost Championship Series)
201263-74.4603rd in Liberty Division6-4 (Won Championship)
201363-77.4502nd in Liberty Division6-2 (Won Championship)
201473-67.5212nd in Liberty DivisionDid Not Make Playoffs
201580-59.5762nd in Liberty Division2-3 (Lost Division Final)
201672-68.5142nd in Liberty Division3-5 (Lost Championship Series)
201773-67.5213rd in Liberty Division3-4 (Lost Championship Series)
201868-57.5442nd in Liberty Division5-5 (Lost Championship Series)
201986-54.6141st in Liberty Division6-2 (Won Championship)
Totals (2000–2019)1424-1202.54214 Playoff Berths4 Championships
Playoffs43-41.512--
  • 4 Atlantic League Championships (2004, 2012, 2013, 2019)

Radio

All games are broadcast over the Ducks' official YouTube channel, website and (beginning 2017) Facebook Live. For 2017, WRHU/88.7 serves as the radio home of the Ducks (replacing previous broadcaster WRCN-FM 103.9). Michael Polak, Chris King, and Andrew Weiss currently serve as the team's official broadcasters.

Mascot

The Long Island Ducks' official mascot is an anthropomorphic duck named QuackerJack. He wears the Ducks' full home white uniform with green and white sneakers. He debuted on March 18, 2000 at then-Citibank Park.[13] His name alludes to a popular baseball game food produced by the Cracker Jack brand, and the quacking sound of a duck.

Current roster

Long Island Ducks roster
Active (25-man) roster Coaches/Other

Pitchers

 

Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

 

Manager

Coaches

Disabled list
‡ Inactive list
§ Suspended list

Roster updated April 20, 2020
Transactions

Retired numbers

4 (Justin Davies)
Outfielder and franchise record holder for stolen bases. Retired on June 18, 2015
16 (Ray Navarrete)
Utility player and franchise record holder for runs, hits, home runs, RBI, and doubles. Retired on August 16, 2015
42 (Jackie Robinson)
Second baseman. Retired throughout professional baseball on April 15, 1997
3 (Bud Harrelson)
Part owner of Long Island Ducks 4x atlantic league champion. Retired on August 3, 2018

References

  1. "Staff". Long Island Ducks. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  2. "Park History". Long Island Ducks. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  3. "Determining the Facts - Reading 1: Representational Architecture". National Park Service. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  4. Baseball America's 2007 Independent organization of the year
  5. "Ferry Cup Package Available This Weekend". Long Island Ducks. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  6. "Ferry Cup Package Available This Weekend". Long Island Ducks. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  7. "Ducks Swim By 'Fish In Series Finale". Long Island Ducks. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  8. "Dontrelle Willis Joins Long Island".
  9. "Ramon Castro Inked by Ducks".
  10. "The Atlantic League Announces Headwear Partnership with OC Sports". SFIA. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  11. Atlantic League information
  12. "QuackerJack". Long Island Ducks. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
Achievements
Preceded by
Long Island Ducks
2012
Atlantic League Champions
Long Island Ducks

2013
Succeeded by
Lancaster Barnstormers
2014
Achievements
Preceded by
Long Island Ducks
2016
Liberty Division Champions
Long Island Ducks

2017
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Nashua Pride
2003
North Division Champions
Long Island Ducks

2004
Succeeded by
Nashua Pride
2005
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