CAMDEN - There's the persnickety Mr. Trash - the Felix Unger of mascots, the tuxedo-clad lad who urges fans to pick up after themselves - as well as the popular El Pistolero, masked supplier of free T shirts to the cheering masses.

There's Finley the Shark, smiling ticket-takers, friendly security guards, guest public-address announcers and between-inning races around the bases.

There's that great view of the Ben Franklin Bridge, the Delaware River and the Philadelphia skyline.

Oh, yeah, there's baseball, too.

It's not like the sport is an afterthought for the Camden Riversharks. It's just that, right now, the organization is good at everything except pitching and hitting.

``The fans have been kind to us,'' Camden manager Wayne Krenchicki said after his team lost for the 10th time in 11 games, by an 8-4 score to the Nashua Pride before 5,429 spectators Wednesday afternoon in Campbell's Field.

Nearly 100 games into its inaugural season, Camden's professional baseball team is a success everywhere but on the field. The Riversharks have done everything right but play this game.

``They must have built this place on an Indian burial ground,'' Krenchicki said of the misfortunes of the team with a 33-60 overall record, including a 9-21 mark in the second half.

Bad baseball hasn't kept people away from Campbell's Field, which is a tribute to the allure of this little gem of a park, the organization's fan-friendly approach, slick marketing and the novelty factor.

After drawing its largest non-weekend crowd - including hundreds of kids wearing the same color T-shirts from camps and recreation centers - the Riversharks are averaging 3, 970 spectators, the third-highest attendance figure in the independent Atlantic League.

``In terms of the operational stuff, we've done well and we' re continuing to improve,'' Riversharks general manager John Brandt said. ``As far as on the field, we've had a lot of things go wrong. We want to be competitive. If we're competitive, that adds to the enjoyment for the fans.''

This is a great place to watch a baseball game. The park is an absolute jewel, with great sightlines and seats with close proximity to the playing field, and a view in the distance that can't be beat around these parts.

It might be an even better place if the team was any good.

``We've got talent but we just haven't gelled together as a team,'' said Haddon Township native Brad Strauss, the Camden third baseman who led off the home half of the first with a home run.

Between the mascots, the ballpark, the promotions and the view, the baseball sometimes gets overshadowed in Campbell' s Field. Someday soon, the Riversharks hope to make that a bad thing.

Phil Anastasia is the sports columnist for the Courier- Post. He can be reached at (856) 486-2424 or by e-mail at panastasia@courierpostonline.com.

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