Humboldt Crabs

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.[1][2] Through the 2019 season the Crabs have a total record of 2557 wins and 803 losses. The Crabs did not play the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Humboldt Crabs
Information
LeagueIndependent (Northern California)
LocationArcata, California
BallparkArcata Ball Park
Year founded1945 (1945)
League championshipsFar West League (2011-2013), WCL Tri-State (2010), Horizon Air Summer Series (2007, 2013)
California State Semi-Pro championships1961, 1963-1979
Former name(s)Eureka Paladini Crabs
Former league(s)Far West League (2011-2013), WCL Tri-State (2009-2010), Horizon Air Summer Series (2006-2009, 2012-2013)
Former ballparksAlbee Stadium
ColorsBlue, Red and White
MascotDungeness Crab
OwnershipCommunity Organization
ManagementBoard of Directors
ManagerRobin Guiver

Every Crabs game is broadcast on KGOE 1480 AM by longtime broadcasters Benjamin “the Professor” Shaeffer and Bob “Hoke” Holcomb. Most games also include the Crab Grass Band, formed in 1985, that play songs in between innings.

Brief background

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

In the 70-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.[3] A few examples are Garth Iorg, Dane Iorg, and Wally Scott.[4][5] John Oldham, a Crabs pitcher in 1952–53, was the first to make it all the way, playing for the Cincinnati Reds in 1956.[6] More recently, Leo Rosales, who pitched for the 2002 Crabs,[7] was called up to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008.[8] 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.[9][10]

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,[11] owned by the City of Arcata.[12] 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 14-member all-volunteer Board of Directors. Major rivals include the Redding Colt .45s, the Fontanetti's Athletics, and the Seattle Studs.[13]

In 2007, the team's 63rd consecutive season, the Crabs overall season record was 42 - 12;[14] in 2008, the Crabs drew an average of 874 fans to the ball park and went 35 - 13 for the season;[15] in 2009 the Crabs record was 48–11;[16] in their 66th season, 2010, the Crabs went 43 - 9.[17] Their 67th consecutive season began with the Annual Season Opening Dinner on June 3, 2011 (always the first Friday in June).[18] Regular-season play ended July 31, with post-season Tournament play August 5–7, 2011.

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.

2019 player awards
  • Most Valuable Player: Damian Henderson
  • Offensive Player of the Year: Bryce Kirk
  • Co-Pitcher of the Year: Dylan Campbell
  • Co-Pitcher of the Year: Kyle Pruhsmeier
  • "Coaches Award" - Kevin Morsching/Scott Heinig Memorial Award: Riley Cleary

Organization
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

Vikki Rossi

Coaching staff
  • Robin Guiver, Manager
  • Eric Giacone, Pitching Coach
  • Ryan Dettman, Hitting Coach
  • Brad Morgan, Assistant Coach

Trainers: Nate Kees[19]

Board of director

Note: The Board of Directors change from year to year. Vikki Rossi, Matt Filar, Ellen Barthman, Erik Fraser, Roger Lorenzetti, Tracy Mack, Carl Pellatz, Larry Zerlang, Bill Ruff, John Burke, Michelle Briggss[20]

Far West League

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[21] (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

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,[22] 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,[23] in an elimination game. On August 7 the Crabs won three games in one day, starting with Fontanetti's Athletics, 7–2,[24] (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[25] and 5-1[26] wins over the Pearl, the Crabs avoided elimination and won the tournament and the championship.[27]

The Humboldt Crabs finished the 2011 season with records of 40-13 overall, 25–7 in League/Conference play.[28]

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.[29]

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

Year by year records

(*)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

SeasonManager RecordNational Ranking
1945Lou Bonomini11-5
1946Lou Bonomini35-12
1947Lou Bonomini35-9
1948Lou Bonomini24-11
1949Lou Bonomini35-1317th
1950Lou Bonomini32-9
1951Lou Bonomini33-8
1952Lou Bonomini35-12
1953Lou Bonomini29-11
1954Lou Bonomini29-17
1955Lou Bonomini26-19
1956Lou Bonomini27-10
1957Lou Bonomini24-8
1958Lou Bonomini17-11
1959Lou Bonomini19-7
1960Lou Bonomini16-7
1961Lou Bonomini21-4*
1962Lou Bonomini21-6
1963Lou Bonomini27-7*17th
1964Lou Bonomini27-11*4th
1965Lou Bonomini29-11*3rd
1966Lou Bonomini33-9*3rd
1967Lou Bonomini28-12*4th
1968Lou Bonomini43-11*5th
1969Lou Bonomini29-13*3rd
1970Lou Bonomini24-14*
1971Lou Bonomini31-10*5th
1972Lou Bonomini29-12*
1973Lou Bonomini28-19*
1974Lou Bonomini27-12*
1975Lou Bonomini38-7*5th
1976Lou Bonomini37-11*17th
1977Lou Bonomini35-5*
1978Lou Bonomini40-10*
1979Lou Bonomini37-16*
1980Lou Bonomini45-107th
1981Lou Bonomini43-1011th
1982Lou Bonomini30-18^
1983Lou Bonomini39-7^
1984Lou Bonomini38-10^
1985Bill "Bo" Hughes51-3^17th
1986Bill "Bo" Hughes51-8
1987Tom Giacomini26-11
1988Tom Giacomini34-12
1989Tom Giacomini38-5
1990Tom Giacomini44-6
1991Tom Giacomini36-8
1992Steve Neel32-9
1993Vince Maiocco31-6
1994Vince Maiocco32-9
1995Vince Miaocco35-5
1996Ken “Shorty” Ames33-10
1997Ken “Shorty” Ames43-8
1998Ken “Shorty” Ames41-7
1999Ken “Shorty” Ames45-3
2000Ken “Shorty” Ames
2001Ken “Shorty” Ames28-13
2002Ken “Shorty” Ames<
2003Ken “Shorty” Ames43-5
2004Ken “Shorty” Ames40-9
2005Ken “Shorty” Ames37-11
2006Matt Nutter42-13
2007Matt Nutter42-12
2008Matt Nutter35-13
2009Matt Nutter48-11
2010Matt Nutter42-9
2011Matt Nutter40-1320th[30]
2012Matt Nutter37-929th[31]
2013Matt Nutter42-1426th[32]
2014Tyson Fisher34-15
2015Tyson Fisher41-9
2016Tyson Fisher35-15
2017Robin Guiver39-7
2018Robin Guiver37-10
2019Robin Guiver33-16
2020Robin Guiver~no season
2021Robin Guiver

(*)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

SeasonsManagerTotal Record
1945-1984Lou Bonomini1205-464
1985-1986Bill "Bo" Hughes102-11
1987-1991Tom Giacomini178-42
1992Steve Neel32-9
1993-1995Vince Miaocco98-20
1996-2005Ken "Shorty" Ames386-91
2006-2013Matt Nutter328-94
2014-2016Tyson Fisher110-39
2017-Robin Guiver119-33
1945-2019Overall Record2557-803

Crabs in MLB

67 former Crabs have played in the Major Leagues: Bradley Zimmer, Vinnie Pestano, Brett Pill, Leo Rosales, Greg Shanahan, Dane Iorg, Mike Harkey, Steve Olin, Scott Chiamparino, Sandy Vance, Randy Niemann, Craig Lefferts, Mike Redmond, Ken Crosby, Rick Miller, Gary Wilson, John Oldham, Rich Nye, Rich Bordi, Rod Booker, Jim Wilson, Lute Barnes, Chuck Nieson, Danny Frisella, Jose Mota, Dennis Springer, Mike Thurman, Mike Paul, Bruce Bochte, Rich Dauer, Mike Kinkade, Bruce Benedict, Bill Serena, Lee Gregory, Eric Gunderson, Victor Cole, Jack Fimple, Scott Anderson, Bill Bonham, Barry Bonnell, Warren Brusstar, Pat Clements, Roland Delamaza, Tom Dodd, Mike Gates, Ed Giovanola, Greg Gohr, Xavier Hernandez, Steve Hovley, Eddie Kearse, Frank LaCorte, Scott Lewis, Andy Mota, Chuck Nieson, Josh Pearce, Joe Price, Eric Raich, Rich Robertson, Rob Ryan, Buzz Stephen, La Schelle Tarver, Tim Tolman, Shane Turner, Colin Ward, Jim Wessinger, Stefan Wever, and Sandy Wihtol.

Famous Crabs

Ron Mingo, Pat Casey, Mark Marquess, Augie Garrido, Kerwin Danley, Russ McQueen, Steve Detwiler, Reggie Christiansen

Crabs Hall of Fame

Class of 2012: Ned Barsuglia, Bob Bonomini, Lou Bonomini, Adam Carr, Steve Fish, Mike Harkey, Dane Iorg, Rico Pastori, Greg Shanahan, Don Terbush, 1985 Tream (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

Class of 2021: TBA

References
  1. Humboldt Crabs, About Us (Humboldt Crabs website)
  2. North Coast Journal - August 1, 2002: COVER STORY
  3. Humboldt Crabs 2010 Official Program, page 14
  4. All-Time North Coast Baseball Team
  5. Humboldt Crabswebsite News Archive: A Good Time Was Had by All
  6. SJSA 2008 Hall of Fame inductee biographies: John Oldham Archived 2010-03-17 at the Wayback Machine
  7. North Coast Journal August 2002 Cover Story
  8. Baseball-Reference: Leo Rosales
  11. Arcata Ball Park
  12. City of Arcata, Sports Fields
  13. Humboldt Steelheads
  14. Humboldt Crabs 2007 Season Statistics
  15. Humboldt Crabs 2008 Season Statistics
  16. Humboldt Crabs 2009 Season Statistics
  17. Humboldt Crabs 2010 Season Statistics
  18. Humboldt Crabs web site
  19. Humboldt Crabs 2011 Coaching Staff
  20. Humboldt Crabs Board of Directors
  21. Crabs will join WCL Tri-State in 2009
  22. Fontanetti Athletics vs Humboldt Crabs (Aug 05, 2011)
  23. Atwater Aviators vs Humboldt Crabs (Aug 06, 2011)
  24. Fontanetti Athletics vs Humboldt Crabs (Aug 07, 2011)
  25. Humboldt Crabs vs Neptune Beach Pearl (Aug 07, 2011, 2pm game)
  26. Humboldt Crabs vs Neptune Beach Pearl (Aug 07, 2011, 6pm game)
  27. Crabs are Best in the Far West
  28. Humboldt Crabs 2011 Season Statistics
  29. Perfect Game USA: Summer Collegiate Team Rankings 8/9/2011
  30. 2011 Perfect Game Summer Collegiate Team Rankings
  31. 2012 Perfect Game Summer Collegiate Team Rankings
  32. 2013 Perfect Game Summer Collegiate Team Rankings
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