EL1 Trenton Thunder

Thunder Announce Its "All 15 Year Team"

Published on April 7, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Trenton Thunder News Release


(Trenton, NJ) - The 2007 Eastern League Champion Trenton Thunder, the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, have announced its "All 15-Year Team". The honorary team is sponsored by the Mercer County Improvement Authority Recycling Department.

The "All 15-Year Team" was selected via voting through an online ballot from the team's official website, www.trentonthunder.com. The voting ran for a month with the ballots being tallied on Friday, March 7th.

The players selected to the "All 15-Year Team" will be featured in a card set that will only be available via four entrance giveaways. The first 1,500 fans to the games on April 14, June 23, June 30 and July 28 will each take home a 5-card portion of the set. For a break down of the "All 15-Year Team", please see below. The players are listed by the night they appear in the card set.

The Thunder began play in 1994 and will be celebrating their 15th season in Trenton with nine 15th Season themed giveaways throughout the year. In addition to the four "All 15 Year Team" Card Set giveaways, the first 1,500 fans will take home a 15th Season Bucket Hat on May 2, a 15th Season Logo Baseball on May 13 and a 15th Season Logo Pint Glass on July 29. The Thunder will offer a special 15th Season Collector's Yearbook to fans on July 8 while fans on August 12 will receive a Thunder History Three Logo Baseball Collector's Set. The set will contain three baseballs that will pay tribute to the Thunder franchise's current and past official logos.

Trenton plays the first game of a three-game series tonight at Altoona, the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Game time is 6:35 p.m. RHP Jason Jones (8-7, 3.11) starts for Trenton and will by opposed by Binghamton RHP Bobby Parnell (2-4, 4.78).

Trenton's home opener will take place on Thursday night April 10th against the Harrisburg Senators, the Double-A affiliate of the Harrisburg Senators. Game time is 7:05 p.m. The first 2,000 fans ages 6 and over will receive a Desktop Championship Ring Replica thanks to Liberty Tax Service of Hamilton, NJ. There will also be a post-game fireworks show following the game. Tickets are available by calling 609-394-3300 or online at www.trentonthunder.com.

Monday April 14 vs. Altoona

RHP Phil Hughes / INF Tony Clark / C Dioner Navarro / OF Kevin Thompson / RHP Justin Pope

Hughes-Hughes went 10-3 for the Thunder in 2006 and posted the best single-season ERA for any Thunder pitcher with a minimum of 91 IP (2.25).

Clark-In the first-year of the franchise, Clark led Trenton in home runs (21) and RBI (86) and was the team's lone representative in the 1994 Eastern League All-Star game

Navarro- Navarro hit .341 for the Thunder in 58 games during the 2003 season and was rated the #1 prospect in the Yankees Minor League System entering the 2004 season.

Thompson- Thompson joined the Thunder in 2003 and proceeded to set Thunder records for stolen bases in a season (47), month (20 in August) and single-game record (4 @ Portland (7/29). Pope- Pope has 52 career saves with the Thunder, the most in team history.

Giveaway Date-June 23 vs. Erie

INF Robinson Cano / OF Melky Cabrera / RHP Joba Chamberlain / OF Brett Gardner / RHP Scott Patterson

Cano- Cano played for the Thunder in 2003-04 and finished third in the American League batting race in 2006 (.342) and was selected to represent the American League in the 2006 All-Star Game.

Cabrera- Cabrera played for the Thunder in 2005 and has appeared in 130 games for the Yankees in 2006, and 150 games in 2007.

Chamberlain- Chamberlain struck out 66 in 40.1 IP for the Thunder in 2007, and eventually was promoted to the Yankees where he only gave up 1 ER in 19 games for New York.

Gardner- Gardner stole a combined 46 bases between the 2006-07 seasons.

Patterson- Pitching in his second season for the Thunder in 2007, Patterson notched a 4-2 with a 1.09 ERA in 43 appearances. He also struck out 91 and only walked 15 in 74 IP.

Giveaway Date-June 30 vs. Portland

RHP Chien Ming Wang / RHP Carl Pavano / LHP Ron Mahay / LHP Corey Spencer / Manager Tony Franklin

Wang- Wang pitched for the Thunder from 2003-04, and has gone on to win 19 games in consecutive seasons for the Yankees

Pavano- Pavano was the Eastern League's "Pitcher of the Year" in 1996 for Trenton.

Mahay- Mahay pitched and played the outfield during his time in Trenton and has had a long Major League career.

Spencer-Spencer is third in all-time career saves (27) in Thunder history.

Franklin- Franklin led last year's Thunder team to their first Eastern League Championship.

Giveaway Date-July 28 vs. Altoona

INF Nomar Garciappara / INF Kevin Youkilis / RHP Jeff Suppan / RHP Joe Hudson / INF Pork Chop Pough

Garciaparra- Garciaparra played for the Thunder in 1995 and is a five-time Major League All-Star.

Youkilis- A 2002 member of the Thunder, Youkilis was named Boston Red Sox Minor League Player of the Year in 2002.

Suppan- Suppan won six games for the Thunder in 1995 and was also named MVP of the NLCS in 2006 for St. Louis

Hudson-Hudson, a NJ native, pitched for the Thunder in 1995, and had eight saves.

Pough- Pough had 21 home runs for the Thunder in 1995 which tied Tony Clark's mark from the previous season.

Check out the Trenton Thunder Statistics

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