A stop at Fairfield Properties Park to catch a game of the Long Island Ducks has quickly become a staple on every Long Islander’s to-do list. The baseball team has won two championships and made it to several playoff seasons in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Every player on this minor league team is top-notch, but everyone’s got their favorite. Here are Long Islander’s top Ducklers!
2024: Long Island Voted Lew Ford Best Long Island Duck!
Lew Ford
3 Court House Dr, Central Islip
(631) 940-3825 – liducks.com
Lew Ford is the newest manager of the Long Island Ducks baseball team, named in late 2023. He is the seventh manager in the franchise’s history and was both a player and coach for the team. He has had the most hits in team history and was ranked third all-time in the Atlantic League. In addition to his time with the Ducks, Ford spent parts of seven seasons at the Major League level, playing for the Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles. The LI Ducks are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a professional partner league of major league baseball and play their home games at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip. The Ducks have won four ALPB championships since they began!
2023: Long Islanders Voted Alejandro De Aza Best Long Island Duck!
Alejandro De Aza
This year, Long Islanders have selected a new Ducks player as the Best Long Island Duck: Alejandro Alberto De Aza Ceda. The 38-year-old Dominican outfielder played on several Major League Baseball (MLB) teams before joining the Ducks last year, although New York baseball fans likely remember him, briefly, as a New York Met. Other MLB teams he played for were the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Florida Marlins, San Francisco Giants, and Washington Nationals. He signed a one-year contract with the Mets on Dec. 23, 2015 and went on to have a disappointing run with that team before joining the Oakland Athletics in 2017. But his numbers have significantly improved since joining the Ducks, which have helped make him so popular among fans of the Long Island team!
2022: Long Islanders Voted Steve Lombardozzi Best Long Island Duck!
Steve Lombardozzi
This year, the Best Long Island Duck goes to Steve Lombardozzi. The son of major league player Steve Lombardozzi Sr., Lombardozzi has baseball in his blood. After playing varsity baseball for Atholton High School in Maryland, Lombardozzi was playing for the Holyoke Blue Sox in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, was signed to the Washington Nationals, and played with the Class A Hagerstown Suns. After bouncing around the MLB, Lombardozzi eventually landed on the Long Island Ducks in 2019. During his time on the team, Lombardozzi racked up a .329 batting average with 83 RBIs, 20 stolen bases, and a league-leading 90 walks during the 2021 season. The following season, Lombardozzi was named the Atlantic League Player of the Year. Though he’s now a free agent, Lombardozzi will always be a Long Island Duck in our hearts!
2022: Long Islanders Voted Steve Lombardozzi Best Long Island Duck!
Steve Lombardozzi
This year, the Best Long Island Duck goes to Steve Lombardozzi. The son of major league player Steve Lombardozzi Sr., Lombardozzi has baseball in his blood. After playing varsity baseball for Atholton High School in Maryland, Lombardozzi was playing for the Holyoke Blue Sox in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, was signed to the Washington Nationals, and played with the Class A Hagerstown Suns. After bouncing around the MLB, Lombardozzi eventually landed on the Long Island Ducks in 2019. During his time on the team, Lombardozzi racked up a .329 batting average with 83 RBIs, 20 stolen bases, and a league-leading 90 walks during the 2021 season. The following season, Lombardozzi was named the Atlantic League Player of the Year. Though he’s now a free agent, Lombardozzi will always be a Long Island Duck in our hearts!
2021: Long Islanders Voted Joe Iorio Best Long Island Duck!
Joe Iorio
Joe Iorio is the right-handed relief pitcher for the Long Island Ducks, the island’s own professional baseball team founded in 1988. The West Islip native had a 3.09 ERA in 32 appearances in the 2019 season and also ranked first among Ducks in innings pitched with 128.1 and fourth in the club with 92 strikeouts. Iorio has played two seasons with the Ducks and has played six seasons of professional baseball overall. He was selected to pitch the Atlantic League All Star Game and tossed a scoreless inning out of the bullpen. Prior to joining the Ducks, Iorio spent his first four seasons in the Frontier League with the Washington WildThings, Southern Illinois Miners and River City Rascals.
2020: Long Islanders Voted Joe Iorio Best Long Island Duck!
Joe Iorio
Joe Iorio is the right-handed relief pitcher for the Long Island Ducks, an American professional baseball team founded in 1988. The West Islip native had a 3.09 ERA in 32 appearances in the 2019 season and also ranked first among Ducks in innings pitched with 128.1 and fourth in the club with 92 strikeouts. Iorio has played two seasons with the Ducks and has played six seasons of professional baseball overall. He was selected to pitch the Atlantic League All Star Game and tossed a scoreless inning out of the bullpen. Prior to joining the Ducks, Iorio spent his first four seasons in the Frontier League with the Washington WildThings, Southern Illinois Miners and River City Rascals.
2019: Long Islanders Voted Lew Ford Best Long Island Duck!
Lew Ford
3 Court House Dr., Central Islip
(631) 940-3825 www.liducks.com
Lew Ford is an American professional baseball outfielder and hitting coach for the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles. He also played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers, in the Mexican League for the Guerreros de Oaxaca, and in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball for the Long Island Ducks. On January 15, 2019, Ford re-signed with the Ducks for his 10th season with the club, and his sixth as a player-coach. The 42-year-old has been selected to play in three Atlantic League All-Star Games while with the Ducks (2014, 2015, 2018). In 2014, he became the second player in franchise history to be named Atlantic League Player of the Year.
2018: Long Islanders Voted Lew Ford Best Long Island Duck on Long Island
Lew Ford
3 Court House Dr., Central Islip.
631-940-3825. liducks.com
Lew Ford has been named the best player on the Long Island Ducks for 2018. Ford is a former Major League Baseball Player who now plays outfield for the Ducks. The Central Islip resident is entering his ninth season on Long Island, including his fifth as a player/coach. In his first eight seasons, Ford managed to have the highest batting average in franchise history at .328. The 41-year old was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 1999 and spent a total of six seasons in Major League Baseball. Ford also played for the Minnesota Twins and the Baltimore Orioles before joining the Ducks.
2017: Long Islanders Voted Lew Ford Best Long Island Duck on Long Island
Lew Ford
3 Court House Dr., Central Islip. 631-940-3825. liducks.com
Since joining the Long Island Ducks, Lew Ford emerged as the team’s most prolific batter. Over the last several seasons, Ford has taken on the responsibilities of hitting coach—allowing him to pass along his knowledge of the game to his teammates, of whom many are striving to earn their way to the Big Leagues. Ford first joined the club in 2009 and quickly became a favorite among the Ducks’ rabid fan base. Ford, who was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 1999, played six seasons in Major League Baseball. He spent his first five seasons with the Minnesota Twins, with his best year coming in 2004. Maybe one day he’ll return to the majors, perhaps this time as a hitting coach. In the meantime, Long Islanders say he’s the Best Long Island Duck!
2016: Long Islanders Voted Lew Ford, OF Best Long Island Duck on Long Island
Lew Ford, OF
3 Court House Dr., Central Islip. 631-940-3825. liducks.com
Lew Ford, the Long Island Ducks’ most prolific batter, successfully defended his title of Best Long Island Duck following one of his more unconventional seasons with the Atlantic League baseball team. Ford took a break from the Ducks last season when he left to play in Mexico in July, only to return in September for the team’s postseason push. Still, Ford managed to compile 108 hits and was second in the team in RBIs, with 63. Despite the shortened season, Ford tied for the team league in doubles. The outfielder, who first joined the team in 2009, also serves as a coach, making him one of the most important athletes in the clubhouse—and a fan favorite.
2015: Long Islanders Voted Lew Ford Best Long Island Duck!
Lew Ford
3 Court House Dr., Central Islip. 631-940-3825. liducks.com
Lew Ford’s team-first mentality and talent on the field helped him earn the distinction as The Best Long Island Duck on Long Island. Ford spent six seasons in Major League Baseball, including five seasons with the Minnesota Twins. Ford first joined the Ducks in 2009, appearing in 71 games. His best season came in 2014, when he batted .347, knocked in 95 RBI and scored 100 runs. Ford will now take younger hitters under his wing with his new role as a team hitting coach.
2014: Long Islanders Voted Ray Navarrete Best Long Island Duck!
1. Ray Navarrete
3 Court House Dr., Central Islip. liducks.com
2. Dontrelle Willis
3 Court House Dr., Central Islip. liducks.com
3. Lew Ford
3 Court House Dr., Central Islip. liducks.com
2013: Long Islanders Voted Ray Navarrete Best LI Duck!
1. Ray Navarrete
3 Belt Drive South, Central Islip. 631-940-3825. www.liducks.com
2. Timo Perez
3 Belt Drive South, Central Islip. 631-940-3825. www.liducks.com
3. Dan Lyons
3 Belt Drive South, Central Islip. 631-940-3825. www.liducks.com
2012: Long Islanders voted Ray Navarrete Best Long Island Duck!
1. Ray Navarrete
3 Court House Dr., Central Islip. 631-940-3825. www.liducks.com
2. Lew Ford
3 Court House Dr., Central Islip. 631-940-3825. www.liducks.com
3. Kraig Binick
3 Court House Dr., Central Islip. 631-940-3825. www.liducks.com
2011: Long Islanders Voted Brendan Monaghan Best LI Duck on Long Island!
1. Brendan Monaghan
www.liducks.com
2. Matt Cavagnaro
www.liducks.com
3. Kane Davis
www.liducks.com
2010: Long Islanders Voted Ray Navarrete Best L.I. Duck!
1. Ray Navarrete
Long Island Ducks, Citibank Park, 3 Courthouse Dr., Central Islip. 631-940-DUCK. www.liducks.com
2. Joe Valentine
3 Courthouse Dr., Central Islip. 631-940-DUCK. www.liducks.com
3. Johnny Hernandez
3 Courthouse Dr., Central Islip. 631-940-DUCK. www.liducks.com