BlueClaws Proud to Honor Sam Christopher In Pre-Game Ceremony

Before the BlueClaws game on Friday, August 28th, the team honored Sam A. Christopher, known as "The Dean of Ocean County Journalists." Sam, a long time supporter of the BlueClaws from well before they played their first game, was a fixture in the FirstEnergy Park Press Box that was dedicated in his honor in 2007.

Below, find the transcript of a video tribute that ran on the FirstEnergy Park video board, a video feature by BlueClaws.com's Tony Graham, formerly of the Asbury Park Press and longtime friend of Sam, and a radio interview with Sam's son Chris, also an Ocean County journalist, who joined the BlueClaws radio broadcast in the sixth inning of Friday night's game.

 

Transcript

In February, the BlueClaws lost one of our most loyal supporters and best friends, when Sam Christopher, longtime Ocean County Observer columnist, passed away at the age of 87.

Christopher, known as "The Dean of Ocean County Journalists," covered and supported the BlueClaws from even before their 2001 inception. The team dedicated the FirstEnergy Park Press Box in his honor during a ceremony eight years ago. Christopher, even after his retirement from writing, attended BlueClaws virtually every home game up until the last few seasons, sitting in his front-row press box seat.

He was a long-time Lakewood resident and local reporter covering the area since the 1940s. He worked for the Lakewood Daily Times, Freehold Transcript, Asbury Park Press, New Jersey Courier, and Ocean County Observer. He also covered the New York Giants (baseball) when they held Spring Training in Lakewood during World War II.

Nobody loved the BlueClaws more than Sam Christopher, and while he has attended his last BlueClaws game at FirstEnergy Park, we know he is watching down tonight, with a great big smile.

- BlueClaws -