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Humboldt Crabs

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Humboldt Crabs
Information
LeaguePacific Empire League (2024-present)[1]
LocationArcata, California
BallparkArcata Ball Park
Founded1945 (1945)
Nickname(s)Crusty The Mascot
League championshipsFar West League (2011-2013), WCL Tri-State (2010), Horizon Air Summer Series (2007, 2013), Western Baseball Association (1967-1969, 1982-1985)
California State Semi-Pro championships1961, 1963-1977, 1979, 1981
Former name(s)Paladini Crabs (1945-1948)
Former league(s)Far West League (2011-2013)
WCL Tri-State (2009-2010)
Horizon Air Summer Series (2006-2009, 2012-2013)
Big West Conference (1970-1972)
Western Baseball Association (1967-1969, 1982-1996)
Former ballparksAlbee Stadium
Babe Ruth Field at Redwood Acres
ColorsBlue, Red and White
MascotDungeness Crab
OwnershipCommunity Organization
ManagementBoard of Directors
ManagerRobin Guiver

The Humboldt Crabs are a collegiate summer baseball team located in Arcata, California. Playing in every season since they were founded in 1945 by Lou Bonomini, later joined by Ned Barsuglia, the Crabs are the oldest continually-operated summer collegiate baseball team in American baseball.[2][3] Through the 2024 season the Crabs have a total record of 2693 wins, 830 losses, and one tie. The Crabs did not play the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of 2024, the Crabs are charter members of the newly-formed Pacific Empire League.

Crabs games are broadcast on KEJB 1480 AM, the Humboldt Crabs YouTube Channel, and stats are live on GameChanger App. Most games also include the Crab Grass Band, formed in 1983, that play songs in between innings.

Brief background

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Originally the Eureka Paladini Crabs, named for the Paladini Fish Company who sponsored the team from 1945 to 1947.

In the 77-year history of the Humboldt Crabs, over 300 players have continued on to play professional baseball, with over 60 former Crabs going all the way to the Major Leagues.[4] Dane Iorg played for the Crabs from 1968 to 1970.[5][6] John Oldham, a Crabs pitcher in 1952–53, was the first to make it all the way, playing for the Cincinnati Reds in 1956.[7] Leo Rosales, who pitched for the 2002 Crabs,[8] was called up to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008.[9] 2003 Crabs infielder Brett Pill was called up to the San Francisco Giants in 2011, and was on the team's 2012 roster as a 1st baseman.[10][11] Most recently, Vinny Pestano, Bradley Zimmer, and Mike Redmond are all former Crabs.

Their best season, record-wise, was 1985 when the team won 46 consecutive games to start the season. Future Major Leaguers Mike Harkey, Eric Gunderson, Steve Olin, and Scott Chiamparino led a dominant pitching staff.

The Crabs play the majority of their games at home at the Arcata Ball Park,[12] owned by the City of Arcata.[13] The team is made up of college players from different NCAA programs throughout the U.S. The Humboldt Crabs are a non-profit baseball organization operated by a 12-member all-volunteer Board of Directors. Rivals include the Redding Colt 45s, the Fontanetti's Athletics, the Corvallis Knights, and the Seattle Studs.[14] Most recent opponents include Healdsburg Prune Packers, San Luis Obispo Blues, Seals Baseball, Walnut Creek Crawdads, Solano Mudcats, Marysville Gold Sox and many others from the CCL League. Past opponents include House of David, the Indianapolis Clowns, the Oakland Larks, the Los Angeles White Sox, the San Diego Tigers, the Portland Roses, Owl Drug, the Alaska Goldpanners, the Redding Browns, the Bend Elks, the Bellingham Bells, the North Pole Nicks, the Valley Green Giants, the Santa Barbara Foresters, the Anchorage Glacier Pilots, the Boulder Collegians, the Sacramento Smokeys, the Grand Junction Eagles, and Athletes in Action. Through the years the Crabs have run multiple secondary teams, the Humboldt Ports (1962), the Humboldt All-Stars (1996-2006), and the Humboldt Steelheads (2007-2011).

In 2007, the team's 63rd consecutive season, the Crabs overall season record was 42 - 12;[15] in 2008, the Crabs drew an average of 874 fans to the ball park and went 35 - 13 for the season;[16] in 2009 the Crabs record was 48–11;[17] in their 66th season, 2010, the Crabs went 43 - 9;[18][19] the 2019 team went 33–16. Find stats on the GameChanger app.

The Humboldt Crabs are a non-profit, community-oriented organization. Its mission is four-fold:

  • To promote family entertainment by providing high-quality summer collegiate baseball games to the public at a reasonable price;
  • To provide talented collegiate-level baseball players with a positive summer baseball experience;
  • To support youth sports programs (with an emphasis on baseball or softball) in the Humboldt County area with contributions of funding and/or equipment as funds permit in addition to annual baseball skills camps and clinics operated by Humboldt Crabs players and coaches;
  • To preserve and build the tradition of Humboldt Crabs Baseball.

Current roster

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2024 Humboldt Crabs roster
Players Coaches
Pitchers
  •  5 Hayden Bode
  • 25 Sean Carey
  • Tyler Howard
  • 20 Caleb Neiman
  • 14 Nolan Long
  • 31 Andrew Overland
  • 13 Caleb Ruiz
  • 12 Cameron Saso
  • 34 Bryce Stockton
  • 24 Ty Schwaiger
  • Blake Ignaciak
 Catchers
  •  3 Troy Harding
  •  6 Ethan Rivera

Infielders

  •  2 Colin Callahan
  • Ethan Felix
  • 28 Javier Felix
  • 30 Billy Ham
  •  9 Keenan Morris
  • Jett Ruby
  •  4 Parker Rodgers
  • Ty Kennedy

Outfielders

  • 10 Blake Browning
  • 16 Victor Castaneda
  • Keoni Coloma
  •  1 Trent Keys
  •  7 Jehee Lee
 Manager
  • 27 Robin Guiver

Coaches

  • 33 Jeff Giacomini (First base)
  • 21 John Bryant (Third base)
  • 15 Eric Giacone (Pitching)



  • 26 active
  • (11 pitchers, 15 position players)
Updated: June 4, 2024[20]

2024 player awards

[edit]
  • Most Valuable Player: Jett Ruby
  • Offensive Player of the Year: Billy Ham
  • Pitcher of the Year: Andrew Overland
  • Reliever of the Year: Bryce Stockton
  • "Coaches Award" - Kevin Morsching/Scott Heinig Memorial Award: Ethan Rivera
  • Defensive Player of the Year:

Organization

[edit]
Humboldt Crabs Fan Appreciation Day 2010

Humboldt Crabs Baseball, Inc is a 501(c)(4) community-owned organization. A volunteer board of directors rely on the support of community members & sponsors to keep the Humboldt Crabs Baseball operation functioning.

President

[edit]

Scarlet Palmer

Coaching staff

[edit]
  • Robin Guiver, Manager
  • Eric Giacone, Pitching Coach
  • John Bryant, Hitting Coach
  • Jeff Giacomini, Assistant Coach

Trainers: Nate Kees[21]

Board of Directors

[edit]

Note: The board of directors is subject to change from year to year. Current serving members include Scarlet Palmer, David Sharp, Vikki Rossi, Matt Filar, Ellen Barthman, Erik Fraser, Roger Lorenzetti, Larry Zerlang, Michelle Briggs Butler, Neil Butler, and Brice Gummersall.

Far West League

[edit]

The Crabs joined the Far West League (FWL), which had ten teams participating in the 2011 season. The five-team FWL North Division included the Humboldt Crabs, Nor Cal Pirates, Redding Colt 45s, Nevada Bullets (formerly Reno Aces), and Southern Oregon RiverDawgs. The five-team FWL South Division included the Atwater Aviators, Fontanetti's Athletics, Neptune Beach Pearl, California Glory, and Fresno Cardinals. The Crabs were part of the West Coast League/Tri-State[22] (which was associated with the West Coast League in the Pacific Northwest) then merged with the Pacific West Baseball League to form the FWL. (The California Seals were originally an eleventh team in the FWL but are on hiatus for the 2011 season.)

2011 league champions

[edit]

This inaugural year of the Far West League culminated with the top five League teams competing in a double-elimination Tournament, hosted by the Humboldt Crabs and played in the Arcata Ball Park, August 5–7. The Humboldt Crabs (21 - 6), with the best record in regular season league play, were the top-seeded team, but lost their first game to fourth-seed Fontanetti's Athletics, 1–0,[23] on August 5. To avoid being eliminated, the Crabs had to win four games in a row. On August 6, the Crabs shut out the Atwater Aviators, 2–0,[24] in an elimination game. On August 7 the Crabs won three games in one day, starting with Fontanetti's Athletics, 7–2,[25] (who had beaten the Crabs 2 of 3 games in regular-season play); then facing the Neptune Beach Pearl who had won 8 of their previous 9 games, and who were as yet undefeated in the Tournament. By winning four in a row, including 6-3[26] and 5-1[27] wins over the Pearl, the Crabs avoided elimination and won the tournament and the championship.[28]

The Humboldt Crabs finished the 2011 season with records of 40–13 overall, 25–7 in League/Conference play.[29]

The Humboldt Crabs rank #22 from among over 220 summer collegiate league teams in the nation for the week of August 9, 2011, by Perfect Game USA.[30]

The Far West League has since disbanded, but the Crabs were league champions all three years in its inception.

Year by year records

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(*)denotes California State Semi-Pro Champion

(^) denotes West of the Rockies Tournament Champion

(<) denotes All-American Invitational Champion

(~) denotes season not played due to the COVID-19 pandemic

National Rankings through 1985 are for finishes at the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kansas.

Season Manager Coach Record National Ranking
1945 Lou Bonomini 11-6
1946 Lou Bonomini Fred Papini 35-12
1947 Lou Bonomini Fred Papini 34-13
1948 Lou Bonomini Fred Papini 26-17
1949 Lou Bonomini Fred Papini 36-14
1950 Lou Bonomini Fred Papini, Nobby Paynter 35-12
1951 Lou Bonomini Fred Papini 36-14
1952 Lou Bonomini Phil Sarboe, Fred Papini 38-12
1953 Lou Bonomini Ed Hemingway, Fred Papini 29-11
1954 Lou Bonomini 29-17
1955 Lou Bonomini 22-22
1956 Lou Bonomini 27-10
1957 Lou Bonomini Fred Papini 24-8
1958 Lou Bonomini 17-11
1959 Lou Bonomini Eddie Oliveria 19-8
1960 Lou Bonomini Jack Altman 16-7
1961 Lou Bonomini Jack Altman 24-5* 5th
1962 Lou Bonomini Jack Altman 15-6
1963 Lou Bonomini Bert Holt 27-7* 17th
1964 Lou Bonomini Bert Holt 27-11* 4rd
1965 Lou Bonomini 25-10* 3rd
1966 Lou Bonomini 29-4* 3rd
1967 Lou Bonomini Jack Altman 37-7* 4th
1968 Lou Bonomini Jack Altman 43-11* 3rd
1969 Lou Bonomini Wayne Hartman 30-11*
1970 Lou Bonomini Wayne Hartman 18-18*
1971 Lou Bonomini Tom Wheeler 21-20*
1972 Lou Bonomini Ron Brown 39-11*
1973 Lou Bonomini Bob Bonomini 29-19*
1974 Lou Bonomini Tom Hinkle 27-12-1* 5th
1975 Lou Bonomini Tom Hinkle 38-7* 5th
1976 Lou Bonomini Berdy Harr 31-11*
1977 Lou Bonomini Berdy Harr, Paul Weaver 35-5* 7th
1978 Lou Bonomini Mike Simpson 40-10
1979 Lou Bonomini Bob Milano 37-16*
1980 Lou Bonomini Ken Snyder 45-10 7th
1981 Lou Bonomini Ken Snyder, Al Figone 43-10* 12th
1982 Lou Bonomini Ken Snyder 27-17^
1983 Lou Bonomini Nick Fuscardo 39-7^
1984 Lou Bonomini Nick Fuscardo 44-10^
1985 Lou Bonomini Bo Hughes 51-3^ 17th
1986 Lou Bonomini Bo Hughes 51-8
1987 Lou Bonomini Tom Giacomini 24-11
1988 Tom Giacomini Ken Ames 32-12
1989 Tom Giacomini Ken Ames 38-5
1990 Tom Giacomini Ken Ames, Steve Neel 44-6
1991 Tom Giacomini Ken Ames, Steve Neel, Matt Nutter 36-8
1992 Steve Neel Burch Boehner 32-9
1993 Vince Maiocco Byron Pontoni 31-6
1994 Vince Maiocco Bryan Neagle, Sean Harper 32-9
1995 Vince Miaocco Jeff Menard 35-5
1996 Ken “Shorty” Ames Al Brisack 33-10
1997 Ken “Shorty” Ames Al Brisack 44-10
1998 Ken “Shorty” Ames Al Brisack 41-7
1999 Ken “Shorty” Ames Al Brisack 45-3
2000 Ken “Shorty” Ames Robin Guiver, Reggie Christiansen 33-13
2001 Ken “Shorty” Ames Robin Guiver, Eric Brown 28-13
2002 Ken “Shorty” Ames Robin Guiver, Eric Brown 43-12<
2003 Ken “Shorty” Ames Robin Guiver, Matt Pidgeon 43-5
2004 Ken “Shorty” Ames Robin Guiver, Matt Pidgeon 40-9
2005 Ken “Shorty” Ames Robin Guiver, Matt Pidgeon 37-11
2006 Matt Nutter Robin Guiver 42-13
2007 Matt Nutter Robin Guiver, Matt Wilson 42-12
2008 Matt Nutter Robin Guiver. Matt Wilson 35-13
2009 Matt Nutter Robin Guiver, Matt Wilson, Mike Jordt 48-11
2010 Matt Nutter Robin Guiver, Mike Jordt, Tyson Fisher 43-9
2011 Matt Nutter Robin Guiver, Mike Jordt, Brad Morgan, Tyson Fisher 40-13 20th[31]
2012 Matt Nutter Robin Guiver, Jeff Giacomini, Brad Morgan 37-9 29th[32]
2013 Matt Nutter Robin Guiver, Jeff Giacomini, Brad Morgan 42-14 26th[33]
2014 Tyson Fisher Eric Giacone, Andrew Ayers, David Flores 34-15
2015 Tyson Fisher Eric Giacone, Andrew Ayers, Andrew Nelson 41-9
2016 Tyson Fisher Eric Giacone, Tim Wheeler 35-15
2017 Robin Guiver Eric Giacone, Brad Morgan, Ryan Dettman 39-7
2018 Robin Guiver Eric Giacone, Brad Morgan, John Bryant 37-10
2019 Robin Guiver Eric Giacone, Brad Morgan, John Bryant 33-16
2020 Robin Guiver ~ no season
2021 Robin Guiver Eric Giacone, Brad Morgan, John Bryant 39-6
2022 Robin Guiver Eric Giacone, Jeff Giacomini, John Bryant 36-10
2023 Robin Guiver Eric Giacone, Jeff Giacomini, John Bryant 40-7
2024 Robin Guiver Eric Giacone, Jeff Giacomini, John Bryant 33-17

(*)denotes California State Semi-Pro Champion

(^) denotes West of the Rockies Tournament Champion

(<) denotes All-American Invitational Champion

(~) denotes season not played due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Seasons Manager Total Record
1945-1987 Lou Bonomini 1,330-471-1
1988-1991 Tom Giacomini 150-31
1992 Steve Neel 32-9
1993-1995 Vince Maiocco 98-20
1996-2005 Ken "Shorty" Ames 387-93
2006-2013 Matt Nutter 329-94
2014-2016 Tyson Fisher 110-39
2017- Robin Guiver 237-73
1945-present Overall Record 2693-830-1

Crabs in MLB

[edit]

72 former Crabs went on to play in the Major Leagues: Dave Melton (1949), John Oldham (1952-1953, 1961–1962), Chuck Nieson (1961), Danny Frisella (1964), Rich Nye (1965), Mike Paul (1965), Buzz Stephen (1965), Sandy Vance (1966), Steve Hovley (1966), Jim Nettles (1966), Bob Gallagher (1966), Greg Shanahan (1967-1970), Lute Barnes (1967-1968), Rick Sawyer (1967), Ken Hottman (1968), Ken Crosby (1968), Rick Miller (1968), Dane Iorg (1968-1970), Bruce Bochte (1969), Bill Bonham (1969), Eric Raich (1970), Bob Kammeyer (1971), Rich Dauer (1972), Frank LaCorte (1972), Warren Brusstar (1973), Steve Davis (1973), Barry Bonnell (1974), Sandy Wihtol (1974), Randy Niemann (1975), Bruce Benedict (1976), Joe Price (1976), Jim Wessinger (1976), Tim Tolman (1976), Mike Gates (1977), Stefan Wever (1977), Craig Lefferts (1978), Rich Bordi (1978), Jim Scranton (1978), Tom Dodd (1978-1979), Rod Booker (1979), Jack Fimple (1979-1980), La Schelle Tarver (1980), Jim Wilson (1981), Colin Ward (1981), Shane Turner (1982), Scott Anderson (1982-1983), Jose Mota (1983), John Fishel (1983), Xavier Hernandez (1984), Mike Harkey (1985), Scott Chiamparino (1985), Steve Olin (1985–86), Eric Gunderson (1985–86), Dennis Springer (1986), Scott Lewis (1986), Victor Cole (1987), Ed Giovanola (1988), Greg Gohr (1988), Gary Wilson (1989), Mike Redmond (1991), Mike Kinkade (1992), Roland Delamaza (1992), Mike Thurman (1993), Rob Ryan (1993), Josh Pearce (1998), Leo Rosales (2002), Brett Pill (2003), Vinnie Pestano (2004), Bradley Zimmer (2012), Jason Alexander (2016), James Outman (2016), and David Hamilton (2016). Four players, Lee Gregory (1966–67), Bill Serena (1961), Eddie Kearse (1951), and Floyd Stromme (1950) played for the Crabs after playing in the MLB.

Famous Crabs

[edit]

Mel Bareilles (1945), Bill Prentice (1946), Dick Clegg (1949), Roger Osenbaugh (1949-1950), Ed Hemingway (coach 1953), Al Endriss (1955), Bob Milano (player 1962–1963, coach 1979), Augie Garrido (1966), Mark Marquess (1966-1967), Russ McQueen (1971-1972), Brad Kelley (1973), Berdy Harr (coach 1976–1977), Tom Beyers (1977–78), Pat Casey (1980), Dan Yokubaitis (1981-1982), Kerwin Danley (1982), Mike Dotterer (1982), Nick Fuscardo (coach 1983–1984), Gary Henderson (1983), Reggie Christiansen (player 1995–1996, coach 2000), Ron Mingo (2000-2003), Marco Grifantini (2004), Steve Detwiler (2007, 2009), Alex Crosby (2014), Alex Cappa (ballpark staff 2015–2016), Tim Wheeler (coach 2016), Alex Pham (2018). and Tyler Ganus (2021).

Crabs Hall of Fame

[edit]

Class of 2012: Ned Barsuglia, Bob Bonomini, Lou Bonomini, Adam Carr, Steve Fish, Mike Harkey, Dane Iorg, Rico Pastori, Greg Shanahan, Don Terbush, 1985 Team (51 Wins, 3 Losses)

Class of 2013: Eddie Oliveira, Don Carter, Sandy Vance, Mark Marquess, Randy Niemann, Craig Lefferts, Steve Olin, Tom Giacomini, Mike Redmond, Brian Blauser, 1968 Team (42 Wins, 11 Losses)

Class of 2014: Eldridge “Red” Hunt, Carl Del Grande, Dennis Pontoni, Augie Garrido, Rich Nye, Rich Bordi, Rod Booker, Steve Neel, Gary Wilson, Jeff Giacomini, 1981 Team (43 Wins, 10 Losses)

Class of 2015: Fred Papini, Douglas Clayton, Billy Olsen, Lute Barnes, Paul Ziegler, Shane Turner, Scott Eskra, Joe Gerber, Nick Giacone, 2003 Team (43 Wins, 5 Losses)

Class of 2016: Mark Pirrucello, John Oldham, Bruce Benedict, Jim Wilson, Burt Nordstrom, Chris DeBoo, Richard Cates, Jerry Nutter, Elvira Bonomini, 1999 Team (45 Wins, 3 Losses)

No Hall of Fame Class of 2017

Class of 2018: John Austin, Lee Iorg, Troy Schader, Leo Rosales, Pat Clements, Bob Milano, Jim "Spider" Thomas, Jack Fimple, Ugo Giuntini, 1990 team (44 Wins, 3 Losses)

Class of 2019: Hans Smith, Wade Hammond, Gregg Reynolds, Eric Gunderson, Al Masterson, Larry Taylor, David Ferres, Ken Dunaway, Joe Gallaty, Mary "Baseball Betty" Lacefield

No Hall of Fame Class of 2020-2023

Class of 2024: Al Brisack, Matt Tomlin, Greg Lorenzetti, Brandon Marcelli, Reggie Christiansen, Fred Lomeli, 2015 Team (41-9)

References

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  1. ^ Pacific Empire League official website
  2. ^ Humboldt Crabs, About Us (Humboldt Crabs website)
  3. ^ North Coast Journal - August 1, 2002: COVER STORY
  4. ^ Humboldt Crabs 2010 Official Program, page 14
  5. ^ All-Time North Coast Baseball Team
  6. ^ Humboldt Crabswebsite News Archive: A Good Time Was Had by All
  7. ^ SJSA 2008 Hall of Fame inductee biographies: John Oldham Archived 2010-03-17 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ North Coast Journal August 2002 Cover Story
  9. ^ Baseball-Reference: Leo Rosales
  10. ^ "Brett Pill - San Francisco Giants - MLB - Yahoo! Sports". sports.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 2011-09-24.
  11. ^ "Humboldt Crabs".
  12. ^ Arcata Ball Park
  13. ^ City of Arcata, Sports Fields
  14. ^ Humboldt Steelheads
  15. ^ Humboldt Crabs 2007 Season Statistics
  16. ^ Humboldt Crabs 2008 Season Statistics
  17. ^ Humboldt Crabs 2009 Season Statistics
  18. ^ Humboldt Crabs 2010 Season Statistics
  19. ^ Humboldt Crabs web site
  20. ^ "Humboldt Crabs Roster". humboldtcrabs.com. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  21. ^ Humboldt Crabs 2011 Coaching Staff
  22. ^ Crabs will join WCL Tri-State in 2009
  23. ^ Fontanetti Athletics vs Humboldt Crabs (Aug 05, 2011)
  24. ^ Atwater Aviators vs Humboldt Crabs (Aug 06, 2011)
  25. ^ Fontanetti Athletics vs Humboldt Crabs (Aug 07, 2011)
  26. ^ Humboldt Crabs vs Neptune Beach Pearl (Aug 07, 2011, 2pm game)
  27. ^ Humboldt Crabs vs Neptune Beach Pearl (Aug 07, 2011, 6pm game)
  28. ^ Crabs are Best in the Far West
  29. ^ Humboldt Crabs 2011 Season Statistics
  30. ^ Perfect Game USA: Summer Collegiate Team Rankings 8/9/2011
  31. ^ 2011 Perfect Game Summer Collegiate Team Rankings
  32. ^ 2012 Perfect Game Summer Collegiate Team Rankings
  33. ^ 2013 Perfect Game Summer Collegiate Team Rankings
[edit]
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