By Nick Prete
CCC Journalism Program
CHERRY HILL – The Camden County College campus in Cherry Hill recently became the home of the South Jersey Baseball Hall of Fame.
Baseball fans will find much of the history of the game and its stars from South Jersey during a visit to the South Jersey Baseball Hall of Fame.
As you enter the William G. Rohrer Center on the Cherry Hill campus, you are greeted by items from the two South Jersey players who won the World Series with the Florida Marlins and the Cincinnati Reds. Joseph Neal and Rawly Eastwick gave their uniforms to the place and now these mementos sit behind glass. The display also includes pictures and information about other players dating back to 1887 and a replica of the World Series trophy.
As you walk up the stairs to the second floor of the building, you are greeted by a long hallway that includes a display that traces the history of baseball in South Jersey from its beginning. The display features a jersey and cap worn by Los Angeles Angels star outfielder Mike Trout, whose baseball journey started in Millville.
Keith Reynolds, a former Camden County College student who now attends Rowan, said he was impressed by the South Jersey Baseball Hall of Fame.
“What stands out to me is the World Series players from South Jersey,” Reynolds said. “Can you imagine growing up in South Jersey and now coming back to South Jersey and telling stories about your journey to the MLB and eventually receiving a World Series ring and telling friends and family about it?”
Reynolds said he liked the location as well.
“It is very nice and the upstairs hallway is very cool to look at as students pass by in class every day,” he stated.
The South Jersey Baseball Hall of Fame was founded in 1988. It had no home until 2003, when it was housed at Campbell’s Field in Camden. It remained there until the Camden Riversharks, who played there, folded in 2017. The stadium was demolished in 2018.
The Hot Stovers Baseball Club of South Jersey are the administrators of the South Jersey Baseball Hall of Fame.
Camden County College student Jairo Paden said he visited the South Jersey Baseball Hall of Fame after hearing high praise for it.
“My brother was here one day for class and told me how freaking cool the hallway is with all the history of South Jersey baseball players,” Paden stated. “It is really cool to see some of the uniforms behind the glass as well.”
The William G. Rohrer Center is on Route 70 and Springdale Road in Cherry Hill. The South Jersey Baseball Hall of Fame is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays to Fridays. Admission is free but the Hot Stovers Baseball Club of South Jersey accept donations.