Crazy Facts About the Long Island Ducks Baseball Team

When the Long Island Ducks took the field for the first time on April 28, 2000, at the brand-new EAB Park in Central Islip, fans weren’t sure what to expect from an independent Atlantic League franchise. But founder Frank Boulton and Mets legend Bud Harrelson (co-owner and first manager) knew something Long Islanders love: baseball, family fun, and a good local pun.

Twenty-five years later, the Ducks are the winningest franchise in Atlantic League history and one of Long Island’s quirkiest success stories.

Long Island Ducks Ballpark Musical Chairs

The Ducks’ ballpark has had more names than QuackerJack has dance moves:

EAB Park (2000–2001)
Citibank Park (2001–2010)
Suffolk County Sports Park (briefly, 2010)
Bethpage Ballpark (2010–2020)
Fairfield Properties Ballpark (2020–present)

The stadium seats 6,002 fans, includes 20 luxury suites and a restaurant bar, and has hosted three Atlantic League All-Star Games (2002, 2010, 2018).

Why the Ducks?

The name honors Long Island’s duck-farming heritage. In the 1960s, Eastport was shipping 6.5 million ducks a year from 29 farms. Today, only Crescent Duck Farm in Aquebogue remains, though it was nearly wiped out in 2024 when H5N1 bird flu forced the culling of 100,000 birds. Read our story about duck farming on Long Island here.

The Ducks name also nods to the minor league hockey team that once skated under the same banner – and of course to the Big Duck, a 1931 Flanders roadside landmark built by a duck farmer to sell poultry, now on the National Register of Historic Places.

Long Island Ducks Fan Flock Power

Over 9 million fans have attended Ducks games, most in league history.
More than 710 sellouts have been recorded.
In 2024, a five-year-old from Islip became the team’s 9 millionth fan.
From 2021–2024, the Ducks led all MLB Partner Leagues in attendance.

Records, Wins & Weird Games fo the Long Island Ducks

Franchise record as of mid-2023: 1,581–1,396 (.531).
At home, the Ducks are 1,000–726 (.579), hitting the 1,000-home-win milestone in 2025 with a walk-off by Ed Johnson.
Postseason record: 46–45, second-most playoff wins in league history.
In 2006, the Ducks played the league’s longest game: 18 innings, 6 hours 20 minutes, 34 hits, 39 strikeouts.

Championships & Rivalries

Four league championships: 2004, 2012, 2013, 2019.
Nine division titles: 2004, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021.
Their cross-Sound rivalry with the Bridgeport Bluefish produced the Ferry Cup (2009–2017), named for the Bridgeport–Port Jefferson ferry.

Legends of the Flock

Bud Harrelson (Mets World Series champ) was the Ducks’ first manager.
Gary Carter (Hall of Fame catcher) managed in 2009.
Lew Ford, Ducks legend and player-coach:
- Played all 140 games in 2014 and set a league record with 189 hits.
- Became the Ducks’ all-time hits leader in 2021.
- Notched his 1,000th Atlantic League hit in 2022, only the 4th player ever to do so.

Bud Harrelson: The Duck Whisperer’s Farewell

Derrel McKinley “Bud” Harrelson—Mets legend, Ducks co-founder, coach, and president—passed away on January 11, 2024, after a courageous multi-year battle with Alzheimer’s, which was diagnosed in 2016 and publicly disclosed by 2018.

He co-founded the Ducks in 1998, managed their inaugural 2000 season (82–58, Manager of the Year), and stayed on as coach until 2018, when the team retired his #3 during a moving ceremony. Ducks players also donned purple #3 jerseys during that game to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s.

Harrelson’s Legacy with the Ducks:

Co-founder & First President: Bud teamed up with Frank Boulton in 1998 to launch the Ducks and immediately lent the fledgling Atlantic League credibility.
Inaugural Season Manager (2000): Under his leadership, the Ducks soared to an impressive 82–58 record, earning him Manager of the Year honors.
Number 3 Retired: On August 3, 2018, in a heartfelt “Bud Harrelson Appreciation Night,” his iconic #3 was retired. The evening included a benefit auction for the Alzheimer’s Association of Long Island and ended with a fireworks display.

Reflections from the Ducks Community:

Frank Boulton, Ducks Owner/CEO, said, “Bud’s impact on Long Island will be felt through Ducks baseball for as long as we play. He was a one-of-a-kind human being, and he is missed greatly.”
General Manager Michael Pfaff shared, “Words do little in describing what Bud Harrelson has meant to the game of baseball, the Long Island community and the Ducks.”

Beyond the Ducks:

Mets Roots: Bud was the gritty shortstop for the 1969 “Miracle Mets,” a Gold Glove winner in 1971, Mets coach during their 1986 championship, and briefly managed the team in 1990–1991.
Cause & Comfort: Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2016, Bud bravely shared his journey publicly beginning in 2018, raising awareness for the disease and he became an honorary chair of the Alzheimer’s Association Long Island in 2019.

QuackerJack: The Duck Behind the Ducks

The Ducks’ secret weapon isn’t a slugger—it’s their mascot. QuackerJack, or “QJ” to fans, has been the orange-feathered face of the franchise since day one, and he’s just as legendary as the players.

Mascot Royalty: Named Atlantic League Mascot of the Year in 2015, 2017, and 2023—the first mascot ever to win the honor.
Local Legend: Has been voted “Best Mascot on Long Island” 15 times, including four straight years through 2025.
Fan Favorite: Celebrates his birthday on March 18 with annual ballpark bashes.
Ambidextrous Athlete: Bats and throws both righty and lefty—because why not?
Pop Culture Duck: Loves the movie Howard the Duck, the song Surfin’ Bird, and the game Duck, Duck, Goose. His idol? The San Diego Chicken.
Food Rules: Will eat anything except poultry—but yes, he enjoys duck sauce.
Community Hero: Through the QuackerJack Foundation, he helps support more than 900 nonprofits, showing up at schools, hospitals, and fundraisers.

Long Island Ducks Community & Culture

It’s not just about baseball. The Ducks are woven into Long Island life. From ushers like John Kesler, who’s been greeting fans since 2001, to nightly fireworks and themed promotions, they’ve made the ballpark more carnival than stadium. The QuackerJack Foundation has supported more than 900 charities, giving back as much as the Ducks entertain.

Long Island Ducks 25th Anniversary Quirks

In 2025, the Ducks didn’t just turn 25, they threw themselves a season-long birthday party. It started in late 2024, when the team unveiled a sleek 25th Anniversary logo, complete with silver lettering, “Est. 2000,” and four stars for the championships they’ve racked up.

By spring, the ballpark itself had a facelift. A brand-new turf playing field was installed, with fresh outfield walls, bullpens, and mound—making Long Island the eighth Atlantic League team to go turf. Oh, and yes—the Ducks painted their basepaths bright orange for good measure.

The celebrations kicked into high gear on Opening Weekend:

On April 19, 2025, fans were invited to a free Fan Fest, where they watched batting practice, got autographs, and saw the roster introduced on the field.
The official season opener on April 25 was followed by a special ceremony April 26, featuring Ducks legends Kevin Baez, Kraig Binick, Ray Navarrete, and Lew Ford throwing out first pitches, highlight reels on DuckVision, and a fireworks show to close out the night.
Players also debuted limited-edition green anniversary jerseys with silver trim and the commemorative logo, later auctioned off to benefit the QuackerJack Foundation.
The 25th Anniversary season schedule was packed with fan-first promotions: Mother’s Day and Memorial Day games, Camp Day for kids, Independence Day fireworks, and plenty of weekend specials across 63 home games. Local media summed it up best: 2025 was a “huge upgrade” for Ducks fans, on and off the field.

Quick Quacks (Recap)

First game: April 28, 2000, at EAB Park.
Ballpark has had five names in 25 years.
Named after duck farms, a hockey team, and the Big Duck.
9+ million fans and 710+ sellouts.
Winningest team in Atlantic League history.
Four championships, nine division titles.
Played the league’s longest game: 18 innings.
Ferry Cup rivalry vs. Bridgeport Bluefish.
Lew Ford: 1,000+ hits and a franchise legend.
QuackerJack: award-winning mascot, ambidextrous athlete, community hero.
John Kesler: usher since 2001.
QuackerJack Foundation: 900+ nonprofits supported.
Orange basepaths in 2025, because Long Island baseball should never be boring.

Cover photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.