Happy Birthday BlueClaws!

They have become a summertime staple at the Jersey Shore just like boardwalks, Barnegat Lighthouse, Salt Water Taffy and the Stone Pony. 

It’s hard to believe it was 15 years ago this week that the BlueClaws took the field in Lakewood for their inaugural home opener.  Unlike that rainy and cool evening it appears the 2016 home opener will be played in much better conditions which in itself is a blessing because it seems like many of those first home games have been played when it was either cold or wet. 

Game time temperature tonight should be about 50 degrees when the BlueClaws open a 7-game home stand against the Greensboro Grasshoppers with first pitch at 6:35.  Depending on the wind conditions at FirstEnergy Park it will be a night for either hot coffee or cold beer. Likely the later because it’s “Thirsty Thursday” which means dollar beer (and soda) which is always a good draw.

Speaking of good draw, the BlueClaws have led the South Atlantic League in attendance in all fifteen years of their existence and they’ve also won 3 league championships with the most recent being in 2010.  The Class “A” affiliate of the Phillies is off to a slow start having dropped six of seven on the road to start the season.  However there is plenty of talent and fans will likely gravitate to outfielder Cornelius Randolph, an 18-year old from Georgia who was the Phillies first-round draft pick last June.

While there are always diehard baseball fans at the games for many it’s about the experience of spending a night at the ballpark, eating hot dogs and ice cream and enjoying the sights and sounds.   If you’ve never been to FirstEnergy Park then this sunny weekend would be a good time to experience what’s become a Jersey Shore tradition as tickets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday are just $1.  For more visit blueclaws.com.

By the way every BlueClaws game, home and away can be heard on News Talk Radio WOBM AM 1160 & 1310.