Trenton Thunder

In April 1994, Tom DeLuca obtained permission and made arrangements with Mercer County for the creation of two HTPS sponsored covers. Member John Ranto designed the cachets – one honoring the opening of Waterfront Park and the other commemorating the first Trenton Thunder game in the stadium as a Detroit Tigers affiliate. A special cancel was applied by the USPS resulting in a unique piece of postal history.

This was such a success, that John Ranto, on his own, used the 1994 opening day cachets to celebrate the Trenton Thunder's 1995 opening day as a new Boston Red Sox affiliate. John was helped in this effort by Sherman Britton. Over 500 event covers were created.

John again used the 1994 cachet design in commemorating the 1996 Double-A All Star baseball game which was held at Waterfront Park (the home of the Trenton Thunder). The USPS-applied "Trenton Thunder Logo" cancel tied the cachet to the first all-star game held in New Jersey. This is another nice example of a HTPS member creating a piece of philatelic history.

Can You Believe It:

The 35th Anniversary of the Hamilton Township Philatelic Society!

by Joseph Francis Seliga Issued on November 16, 2010

Trenton Thunder : MiLB

Trentin Thunder were founded in 1980 as the Glen Falls White Sox (1980-1984). The Detroit Tigers became affiliated with the club in 1985 renaming the team the Glen Falls Tigers. In 1989, the club moved to London Ontario, playing as the London Tigers.

1994 the club relocated to Trenton, NJ taking the name Trenton Thunder. In 1995 the club affiliated with the Boston Red Sox, until 2003 when the team affiliated with the New York Yankees.

The Thunder play in Mercer County Waterfront Park (Arm & Hammer Park), Trenton along the Delaware River. Built for the 1994 season, the park opened late due to a rough winter, which hampered construction. The name "Samuel J Plumeri, Sr. Field" was added in 1999, to honor the father of the Thunder owner, owner of the Trenton Giants in the 1950s.

Opening day was scheduled for April 16, but the team had to look to alternate sites to play, due to incomplete construction on the stadium. "Home" games were played in Wilmington, Delaware and Philadelphia's Veteran's Stadium.

On April 26, Eastern league President John Levenda gave the incomplete stadium the okay to be used. The first home game to be played in Trenton was April 27. Albany-Colonie Yankees manager Bill Evers kept his team at their hotel and drove to the field. After looking over the field said he would not place his team in jeopardy.

Mercer County Executive Bob Prunetti made many appeals, including a phone call to George Steinbrenner asking him to have the Yankees report for their game. Even the Thunder players knew the field was unplayable. An announcement was made that the game would be played in Reading, Pa., the field would be ready on May 9.

May 9 the Binghamton Mets came to Trenton and defeated the Thunder 5-3. The Thunder would finish their inaugural season 55-85...

Waterfront Park prior to the 2019 Thunder Welcome North Open House