Jersey Shore BlueClaws 2026 Edition

*This trip occurred on April 7, 2026.

If you're a long time reader of this blog, you may remember that ShoreTown Ballpark was the first stadium I ever posted about on this blog (and if you're not, you've just learned a small piece of "lore"). Thanks to that, I feel like there’s not much to say about the Jersey Shore BlueClaws (or the town they play in) that I haven’t already discussed when I came here last year (and given current events, I don't think a recap is a good idea).

However, that trip featured weather that was absolutely miserable for baseball and almost NO fans, so I figured I’d try to get out to the stadium on a day that wasn’t 40 degrees and damp. Of course, there’s no guarantee that another April game will actually feature better weather, so choosing to go to another game in April is definitely a "choice" - especially since this day turned out to be cold as well (but at least it was dry).

This trip was also somewhat of a "last minute" decision, as in I decided that I would go to this game literally 24 hours before first pitch. A return to ShoreTown Ballpark was always on my radar, but the actual date was very much up in the air - my original thinking was that I would come here on a Saturday in April or May (i.e. before Saturday games move from 4 PM to 7 PM), but it turned out that none of those Saturdays worked with my schedule, so I ended up deciding to come to this game (despite being a weekday and a 6:30 start)¹.

Anyway, while this isn't the first time I've written about the same team/stadium combo more than once, it's the first time I'm doing a revisit in a different season. I'm still trying to figure out how to handle these "revisit posts" (as I'm sure this isn't the only time I'm going to revisit a place I've already discussed on this blog), but the most notable “new” thing for the BlueClaws this season is that they are celebrating 25 years of BlueClaws baseball! The combination of that plus the fact that I've never been to a Minor League Baseball home opener² made me decide to come here on a somewhat surprisingly cold April night.

For those who forgot (and/or want a refresher), ShoreTown Ballpark in Lakewood, NJ opened with the team's debut in 2001. While it is very much "typical" for a Minor League Baseball stadium (especially as the BlueClaws have been A-level for their entire history), it leans into the "Jersey Shore" identity with a themed area in the outfield with special concession stands and carnival games. The park also features a concourse that wraps fully around the field (which not every minor league stadium has), and a full-service bar/restaurant area on the suite level which is open to all fans (which helps on cold days like today). I also mentioned last year that I couldn't find fried Oreos anywhere on the concourse. Well, that may have been either due to me being unobservant or the terrible weather, as there is in fact a stand that sells funnel cake and the aforementioned fried Oreos.

For the second time in four days, I watched a Minor League Baseball game where the visiting team was an affiliate of the New York Mets (I forgot to mention the opponent for the Fisher Cats game, but it was the Binghamton Rumble Ponies³). While the result wasn't quite the same, it was very similar: the BlueClaws defeated the Brooklyn Cyclones 5-1, dropping the Cyclones (who, it should be noted, are the defending South Atlantic League champions) to 0-3 on the young season.

MERCH

The other reason I chose to visit: the BlueClaws have a few new hats this season! Unfortunately, the ones I was interested in were sold out in my size when I checked online the night before this game, and were also not in stock at the game itself. While the aforementioned hats were available in flexfit versions, New Era made a pretty significant change to their flexfits this year, and I'm still trying to figure out if I like it or not, so I decided to pass on them (for now).

There were a few special items available for the team's 25th anniversary. One of them was a version of the team's home hat with a patch on the side, but between the fact that I already have a home hat (which I got last year) and the fact that the patch is simply glued on, I decided to pass on it - instead going for a lapel pin and a "mini 50Fifty" to use as a desk decoration. Sadly, the store didn't have any of the mascot or logo plush toys from last year (as I was interested in MAYBE getting one).

Also, I TECHNICALLY mentioned it in my original post, but last year, the BlueClaws ran a promotion where fans could trade in old logo merch for team store discounts. I don't know what the reason for this promo was, but it seems that not everyone feels the burning desire to throw out their old stuff for the present based on how many of the team's old jerseys I saw...

ON DECK

I did say last time that I was planning on going to a game that should be VERY special next weekend, but I should note that this game ISN'T it.

That game is still yet to happen, but I have something a little different I want to post before it.