CRUSTACEAN NATION!
INAUGURAL GAME
A standing-room ONLY crowd of 7,180 attended the Blue Crabs historic inaugural game May 2nd, 2008.
Fans enjoyed an entrance of Pinch involving hundreds of Charles County Youth League members, a dramatic
introduction of the Blue Crabs team and a special military tribute and delivery of the first-ever game ball.
2008 ATTENDANCE
More than 225,000 fans attended Blue Crabs games in 2008, an average of 3,217 fans per game. The Blue
Crabs attendance was in the top 1/3 of all minor league teams.
2008 CONCERTS
Regency Furniture Stadium is now Southern Maryland’s premiere outdoor concert venue. Music legends REO
Speedwagon and Kool and the Gang, as well as country stars Gary Allan and Craig Morgan performed this year
to some of the largest crowds in the brief history of Regency Furniture Stadium, with over 10,000 fans
enjoying concerts in 2008.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
ACPT
Arby’s
Archbishop Neal School
BAE Systems
Beltway Paving
Besche Oil
Bob Hall Inc.
Boston’s
Bozick Distributing
Burger King
Capital Clubhouse
Capt Billy’s
Cedar Point Federal Credit Union
Chaney Enterprises
Charlotte Hall Veteran’s Home
Chick-Fil-A
Clear Choice Windows
College of Southern Maryland
Community Bank of Tri-County
Cottman Transmission
Country Florist
Creelman Agency
Crossroads Hospitality
Dinner A’Fare
ESFCU
Grandstaff Roofing
Hebrew National
Joanne’s Pet Sitting
Ken Dixon Auto
Kool Productions
La Plata Pizza
La Plata Fitness
Lasher & Harriman
Little River Seafood
Meredith Management
Nick’s Sausage
Pepsi
PNC Bank
Raley, Watts & O’Neill
Raymond Funeral Home
Red, Hot & Blue
Regency Furniture
Reliant Assembly
Saturn of Waldorf
See-Thru Windows
Sharon’s Studio of Dance
Shoppers Food
Skanska
Sleepy’s
Snell & Son’s
SoMDjobs.com
Speedy Carwash
St. Mary’s Hospital
State Farm
TC Signs
Texas Roadhouse
Tony McClure Real Estate
Turkey Hill
US Foodservice
Victory Motorcycles
Wawa
White Plains Golf Course
Winegardners
Wonderclean
Worldwide Moving
None of this would be possible without the support of our community partners. Without the support of them
and everyone else in the community we would not be able to provide the entertaining baseball experience that
we do.
ON-FIELD SUCCESS
Despite being a first-year expansion team the Blue Crabs missed post-season play by one game in route to
compiling a 74-66 record. During the 2008 season the Cleveland Indians purchased the contracts of Dan
Reichert and John Halama from the Blue Crabs.
POST-SEASON AWARDS
Blue Crabs Manager Butch Hobson was named the 2008 Atlantic League Manager of the Year. The Blue Crabs
also had 2008 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year, Knuckleballer Joe Gannon. Three Blue Crabs players were
recognized as Atlantic League All-Stars following the 2008 season: Chris Maples – 2B, Patrick Osborn – 3B
& Joe Gannon – RHS.
CRABBY COVE: BUMPER BOATS
The Crabby Cove Bumper Boat Pond at Regency Furniture Stadium was named “2008 Ballpark Innovation of
the Year” by Ballpark Digest, professional baseball’s leading facility publication, beating entries from all Major
League and Minor League ballparks.
SCOUT NIGHTS
During the 2008 season the Blue Crabs held overnight campouts for both the Girl Scouts and the Boy
Scouts, with more than 600 scouts participating. The scouts were honored in a pre-game parade around the
warning track and provided the color guard for the National Anthem. After the game the scouts and their
families watched a movie on the giant video board, then called it a night.
ESFCU READING PROGRAM
The Blue Crabs and Educational Systems Federal Credit Unions teamed up on the Blue Crabs Reading Program,
to distribute more than 35,000 bookmarks to area schools. The Reading Program gave students in the tri-
county area the opportunity to get free baseball tickets and to be honored on the field prior to a game, if they
achieved their reading goal.
EMPLOYMENT
Regency Furniture Stadium provided over 300 jobs in the summer of 2008. Over $120,000 in admission &
amusement taxes and $100,000 in sales taxes were generated.
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
The Blue Crabs helped to raise over $100,000 for various non-profit organizations throughout the 2008
season. Included in those organizations were: American Cancer Society, Southern Maryland Food Bank,
Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund, Soldier’s Angels, Prostate Cancer Research Fund, CSM Foundation, Relay
for Life, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Children’s Miracle Network, & More…
PINCH APPEARANCES
Pinch has announced his presence in Southern Maryland with authority, making appearances at more than 75
events in the area. He has taken part in fundraising events, visited schools and hospitals, thrown out the first
pitch at Little League games and teed it up at charity golf tournaments. He’s also appeared at retirement
homes, ribbon-cutting ceremonies, charity walks, check presentations and numerous local fairs and festivals.
PLAYER APPEARANCES
Blue Crabs players and coaches truly become part of the communities in which they make their summer home.
They’ve appeared at more than 30 events including: school assemblies, run clinics for young players and helped
celebrate new businesses in Southern Maryland.
SHORTI’S GET IN FREE PROGRAM
Wawa and the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs have given away thousands of free tickets to children 12 and
younger who wear their youth athletic league uniform, jersey or t-shirt to a Blue Crabs home game. The
initiative is designed to promote activity in all organized sports – which is a great way to keep kids healthy.
BAE SYSTEMS FIELD OF DREAMS
The Blue Crabs honor local Little Leaguers before each game by choosing one area team to take the field with
the Blue Crabs starting lineup. The “BAE Systems Field of Dreams Team” gets to find out how it feels to
listen to the national anthem under the lights, in front of thousands of fans – just like big leaguers.
HOST FAMILIES
A host family is one of the most important and influential aspects of a baseball player’s summer experience.
Many of the players on the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs are in a brand new environment, away from home. It
is extraordinary how the community has embraced these players on and off the field, and welcomed them into
their homes and their families.
AMATEUR ATHLETIC GAMES
Regency Furniture Stadium was host to 8 College of Southern Maryland baseball games as well as other
amateur athletic events.
OTHER BALLPARK FUNCTIONS
Regency Furniture Stadium is much more than just a ballpark. Outside of the three concerts the stadium has
become a true meeting ground for Southern Marylanders from all walks of life. It’s a business conference
center, hosting gatherings such as corporate luncheons and community meetings. With a year-round
calendar of events, Regency Furniture Stadium is the place to see and be seen in Charles County.