AtL Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

RHP Joe Gannon Returns to Blue Crabs

Published on August 21, 2010 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs News Release


(Waldorf, MD): Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Manager Butch Hobson has announced that right-handed starting pitcher Joe Gannon has ended his brief retirement, and will return to the team and start on Saturday evening against the Camden Riversharks at Regency Furniture Stadium. In 2008, Gannon was the Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year with the Blue Crabs.

Midway through last season, Gannon, the only knuckle ball pitcher in the Atlantic League, made it clear he would retire following Southern Maryland's playoff run. He finished the season on the mound to end game four of the Atlantic League Championship Series on October 4 at Regency Furniture Stadium.

After spending time with Hall-of-Fame knuckleballer Phil Niekro this summer however, Gannon made some adjustments to his delivery and decided to end his brief retirement and return to the Blue Crabs for the stretch run of the regular season and the team's second consecutive playoff appearance. For the second straight year, the Blue Crabs have qualified for the postseason by winning the Liberty Division first half title. Earlier in his career, Gannon had learned from Niekro, a 24-year Major League veteran, and other knuckleballers with MLB experience, including Tim Wakefield, Steve Sparks and Charlie Haeger.

Gannon, a Buffalo, NY native, was Wakefield's bullpen catcher in the early 90s when Wakefield was with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system. Wakefield is now in his 18th Major League season.

Gannon, 35, has also pitched in the Atlantic League with the Newark Bears, Somerset Patriots and for Butch Hobson in 2005 with the Nashua Pride. His return marks his third season with Southern Maryland, where he is the franchise's all-time leader in innings pitched with 364.1. Gannon is second in franchise history in starts (52), wins (21) and strikeouts (198). Last season, he set single-season team records with 30 starts and 202.1 innings pitched.

In 2008, he was voted Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year, after going 12-6 with a 3.17 ERA in 23 games and 22 starts.

The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs are a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, and play at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Maryland. The 2010 season is presented by the Civista Health Foundation. The franchise is in its third season, coming off the team's first playoff appearance and Liberty Division Title in 2009. Please call 301-638-9788 or visit www.somdbluecrabs.com for more information and to save your seat at the ballpark today!

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Atlantic League Stories from August 21, 2010


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