Minor League Monday: 2008 Somerset Patriots Ballpark 10th Season set

To celebrate their 10th season in 2008, the Somerset Patriots gave away a series of baseball cards highlighting some memorable moments in their ballpark’s 10 year history.

There were five differed strips, each with four cards that were part of the set plus an advertising card for the business that sponsored that particular giveaway. The set was not sold in the team store or online, so it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to find one today.

In addition to cards of fan favorites like Jeff Nettles, Billy Hall and Brian Adams, the set includes what I believe is Tim Raines‘ only Atlantic League baseball card. (Raines played in eight games for the 2000 Patriots team to showcase his skills with the hopes of making the U.S. Olympic team; he was not selected.) There are also cards for two notable non-baseball celebrities: singer Jessica Simpson, who performed a concert at what was then known as Commerce Bank Park in 2004, and Donald Trump, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch before a game in 2004.

The cards were produced by Choice Sports Cards and were sponsored by Watchung Pediatrics, DeVry University, PODS storage, JerseyGardens Outlet Mall, and the Somerset Patriots Kids Club presented by Children’s Specialized Hospital. The cards on each strip were numbered from 1-4. The fronts feature a large photo, with the 10th season logo and a brief description of the historical highlight at the bottom of the card. The backs have a smaller, cropped version of the photo from the front and a paragraph of information about the event.

I believe that the cards were originally grouped the way that I have them listed below, but someone who still had the intact strips would need to confirm. I have no idea which group was issued first, second, third, etc.

1. 3,000,000 Fan Welcomed
2. Ballpark of the Year
3. Career Home Run Leader – Jeff Nettles
4. Perfect 11-0 At The Ballpark – Brian Adams

1. Mr. Trump Comes To Somerset
2. Jessica Simpson Packs The Park
3. Victor Rodriguez’s MVP Season
4. Game 3 Of 2005 Division Series

1. Ground-Breaking
2. Opening Day
3. Ballpark Firsts – First Pitch
4. Ballpark Firsts – First Home Run

1. Game 4 Of The 2001 Atlantic League Championship Series
2. 2000 Atlantic League All-Star Game
3. Michael Warner’s MVP Season
4. Greg Blosser Wins Game Four

1. Somerset Ballpark Becomes Commerce Bank Ballpark
2. Baseball America’s Great Ballparks Calendar
3. Tim Raines Plays For Somerset
4. Billy Hall Steals 104 Bases

After typing in the checklist, I realized that this may be the only Somerset Patriots baseball card set I own that doesn’t include Sparky Lyle.