Gem by the River

Just beyond the outfield of the Camden Athletic Complex, the majestic Ben Franklin Bridge strikes a powerful pose against the city skyline. Ambitious batters may even dream of sending a home run sailing far beyond the left-field fence to land with a splash in the Delaware River. A day at the ballpark couldn’t come with much more aesthetic appeal; in February of this year, NCAA.com named the complex one of the 11 best backdrops in college baseball. But for Scarlet Raptor baseball’s players and coaches, the facility’s visuals are merely a small part of its appeal. After the program cycled through a series of temporary homes—and even spent a season with no home at all—the new baseball diamond, completed prior to the 2022 season, represents the support of a community and an investment in the team’s future.

Through the end of the 2018 season, Scarlet Raptor baseball played its home games at Campbell’s Field, which had formerly hosted the Camden Riversharks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Demolition of Campbell’s Field began in December 2018, and although the Rutgers University Board of Governors had approved a $7.5 million redevelopment of the site the in 2017, the fruits of this effort would be years away, sending the baseball program into a challenging period.

The team spent the 2019 season playing home games on the fields of multiple New Jersey county colleges and at the Maplezone Sports Institute in Aston, Pennsylvania—28 miles from the Rutgers–Camden campus. In 2020, the team played just six games—including two home contests at Rider University—before the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the season. The program then made the difficult decision to play the entire 2021 season on the road.

“The team didn’t let it affect them, but it was definitely not ideal,” said Rutgers–Camden Director of Athletics Jeff Dean. “Parents and families were loyal and wanted to watch their kids play, but they had to travel everywhere and follow them around.”

Jeffrey Dean, director of athletics and recreational services

Jeffrey Dean, director of athletics and recreational services

"I was a first-year coach when the pandemic hit, and trying to recruit kids without a field was extremely challenging," said Ryan Kulik, head coach of Rutgers–Camden baseball. "We used to have to practice on the soccer field while the softball team and the track and field team were also practicing. At times there were four or five different sports out there at once in the community park. I don't miss those days at all!"

The grand opening of the Camden Athletic Complex was held on May 2, 2022, but the team ushered in a new era of Scarlet Raptor baseball at the facility long before that. They played their entire 2022 slate of home games on the new field, opening the season by winning both games of a February 27 doubleheader against Oneonta. On April 2, Chancellor Antonio D. Tillis threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to a matchup against conference rival Kean University.

“Once the kids knew it was going to be their home, there was relief,” Dean said. “With the surface, turf, and backdrop, it is the top field in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The players, coaches, and families are very thankful to have it.”

The effects of the new field immediately showed up in the clubhouse and box scores. The 2022 season saw the team win more home games than it had since 2015, and in 2023, the Scarlet Raptors boasted a stellar 14-3 home record en route to their first winning season since 2018. Though the season saw the team navigate ups and downs, their new home provided a constant sense of pride.

The baseball facility is managed by the Camden County Parks Department, which also operates the neighboring multipurpose field and track. Rutgers–Camden receives priority usage for practices and games, but the field hosts other teams and leagues within the community.

“It is wonderful to see the whole community making use of the field,” Dean said. “More folks from around the baseball world are getting to know our program, and more students are coming to our games. When the weather warms up in April, it’s not hard to find a perfect day or night to go to the ballpark.”

Dean has seen word spread across campus of the team’s unbeatable new ballpark experience; he noted that the university’s different athletic teams make a concerted effort to attend each other’s games and lend support. The complex has also proven to attract the attention of recruits, who are drawn to the opportunity to play games under bright stadium lights and on the grounds where professional ballplayers once laced up their cleats. For the Rutgers–Camden baseball program as a whole, the sight of the Ben Franklin Bridge beyond the outfield fence carries a rich symbolism of the team’s safe passage out of an uncertain past and into winning years ahead.

Author's note: Jeffrey Dean passed away on Jan. 22, 2024, after more than 30 years of service to Rutgers–Camden. On behalf of the many student-athletes, alumni, and campus community members who considered him a cherished colleague, mentor, and friend, this story is dedicated to his memory.

Shortstop Giacomo Antonicello fields a ball with the iconic Philadelphia skyline in the background

Shortstop Giacomo Antonicello fields a ball with the iconic Philadelphia skyline in the background

“It is wonderful to see the whole community making use of the field.”
Jeffrey Dean, director of athletics and recreational services

Design: Douglas Shelton