Newark Bears
Newark Bears | |
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Information | |
League | Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball |
Location | Newark, New Jersey |
Ballpark | Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium |
Founded | 1998 |
Folded | 2013 |
Nickname(s) | Brick City Bears |
League championships | (2) 2002, 2007 |
Division championships | (2) 2001, 2007 (First Half Champs) |
Former name(s) | Newark Bears (1998–2013) |
Former league(s) | Atlantic League of Professional Baseball |
Colors | Navy blue, white |
The Newark Bears were an American independent league professional baseball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They were a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and, later, the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball. The Bears played their home games at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium. The team folded after the 2013 season.[1]
History of Newark baseball
Newark was the home of several former minor league baseball teams, from the formation of the Newark Indians in 1902 and the addition of the
The original Newark Bears were a team in the
The Bears of the Atlantic League
The Newark Bears are named for the former Newark Bears team of the International League. The new team was formed in 1998 by former
Over the years, the Bears attracted star talent to their club.
Other notable alumni include Scott Spiezio, Edgardo Alfonzo, Armando Benítez, Carl Everett, Ramiro Mendoza, Scott Williamson, Keith Foulke, Jay Gibbons, Jim Leyritz, Daryle Ward and Lance Johnson.
Rescue from bankruptcy and possible demise
The Newark Bears, under former owner Marc Berson, filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy on October 24, 2008.[3] The team's existence was almost compromised until the Bases Loaded Group, LLC purchased the team, guaranteeing a $1 million line of credit to the Atlantic League. The Bases Loaded Group consisted of executives from Philadelphia and New Jersey, some hailing from Newark. The primary leader of the group was Tom Cetnar, former General Manager of the Bears in 2001. He served as president and was a member of the ownership group.
Move to the Can-Am League
The Newark Bears joined the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball on October 6, 2010.
In 2010, the Newark Bears were purchased by New Jersey radiologist Dr. Douglas Spiel and his partner, Danielle Dronet.[5]
The Can-Am League announced on November 28, 2013, that the Newark Bears would not operate in 2014, with the remaining four teams now a division in the American Association.[6] An auction for the team's assets was held on April 26, 2014.[7]
Logos and uniforms
The Newark Bears went through three phases of logos and uniform colors. When the franchise began, it had a purple, black and white color scheme. In the mid-2000s, the team went to red, black, and white. When the club ceased operations, its colors were navy blue and white. The primary logo consisted of a stylized bear holding a baseball bat superimposed over a depiction of the Newark skyline over a baseball diamond. The "Newark Bears" wordmark was centered at the base of the logo and included white accents and a black outline.
The Bears' uniforms were traditional in design. The home cap was navy blue throughout with a white block "N" centered on the front. The home jerseys were white with traditional navy blue pinstripes. A navy blue, block "N" was prominently displayed on the left breast. The road jersey was gray with the cursive "Newark" wordmark in navy blue, centered diagonally across the front. Both home and away jersey sleeves sported the Bears' primary logo. The Bears wore navy blue belts and socks with all uniforms.
Season-by-season records
Newark Bears - 2004 to 2011[8] | |||||
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Season | W - L record | Winning percentage | Finish | Result | Manager |
1998 | 35-65 | .350 | 6th | Did not qualify for playoffs | Tom O'Malley |
1999 | 55-64 | .462 | 5th in 1st half, 3rd in 2nd half | Did not qualify for playoffs | Tom O'Malley |
2000 | 74-66 | .529 | 4th in North Division | Did not qualify for playoffs | Tom O'Malley |
2001 | 75-51 | .595 | 1st in South Division | Lost to Somerset in Championship Series | Tom O'Malley |
2002 | 69-55 | .566 | 2nd in South Division | Atlantic League Champions, defeated Bridgeport in Championship Series | Marv Foley |
2003 | 63-63 | .500 | 2nd in South Division | Did not qualify for playoffs | Bill Madlock |
2004 | 63-63 | .500 | 2nd in South Division | Did not qualify for playoffs | Bill Madlock |
2005 | 58-82 | .414 | 3rd in North Division | Did not qualify for playoffs | Chris Jones |
2006 | 42-83 | .336 | 3rd in North Division | Did not qualify for playoffs | Chris Jones |
2007 | 72-54 | .571 | 2nd in North Division | 2-0 (won championship) | Wayne Krenchicki |
2008 | 72-68 | .514 | Last in Freedom Division | Did not qualify for playoffs | Wayne Krenchicki |
2009 | 74-66 | .529 | 2nd in Freedom Division | 1-3 (lost to Somerset in Freedom Division Championship) | Tim Raines |
2010 | 53-86 | .381 | 4th in Freedom Division | Did not qualify for playoffs | Tim Raines |
2011 | 41-51 | .446 | 6th in Canadian-American Association | Did not qualify for playoffs | Tim Raines |
2012 | 35-65 | .350 | 4th in Canadian-American Association | Did not qualify for playoffs | Ken Oberkfell |
2013 | 37-63 | .370 | 5th in Canadian-American Association | Did not qualify for playoffs | Garry Templeton |
Totals (1998–2013) | 902-1036 | .471 | - | - | |
Playoffs | 7-3 | .700 | - | - |
- 2 Atlantic League Championships (2002, 2007)
Rivalries
Shortly after the Newark Bears joined the Can-Am League, they announced a formal rivalry with the New Jersey Jackals. Since both teams played in Essex County, they established the County Executives' Cup to formalize this geographical contest. [9]
Radio
Bears games were aired on
Mascots
The Newark Bears' official mascots were anthropomorphic bears named Ruppert and Effa. They wore the team's home jersey and cap. Ruppert was named after Jacob Ruppert, who owned the former Newark Bears team in the 1930s. Effa alludes to Effa Manley, the first woman to own and operate a professional baseball team (the Newark Eagles) and the only female member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.[10]
Retired numbers
- 21 (Roberto Clemente)
- OF, retired in 2009[11]
- 42 (Jackie Robinson)
- 2B, retired throughout professional baseball on April 15, 1997[11]
- 1 (Quentin Davis)
- OF, retired in 2012[12]
Notable former players
- Edgardo Alfonzo
- Armando Benítez
- José Canseco
- Ozzie Canseco
- Ramón Castro
- Carl Everett
- Jay Gibbons
- Rickey Henderson
- José Herrera
- Bobby Hill
- Doug Jennings
- Danny Kanell
- Steve Kent
- Al Levine
- Jim Leyritz
- José Lima
- Rob Mackowiak
- Rubén Mateo
- Hensley Meulens
- Tim Raines Jr.
- Jeriome Robertson
- Randall Simon
- Phil Weintraub
See also
References
- ^ "Game over: Newark Bears officially out of business, as baseball fades from city again". NJ.com. April 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
- ^ "Jose Lima Statistics - Transactions". baseballreference.com. Retrieved July 11, 2006.
- ^ "Bears declare bankruptcy". atlanticleaguebaseball.com. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved November 13, 2008.
- ^ "It's official: Bears to Can-Am Association". BallParkDigest.com. October 6, 2010. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
- ^ "Newark Bears ownership changes hands once again". July 7, 2011.
- ^ CAN-AM LEAGUE TO PLAY AS DIVISION OF AMERICAN ASSOCIATION IN 2014
- ^ "Game over: Newark Bears officially out of business, as baseball fades from city again". NJ.com. April 27, 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
- ^ "Atlantic League Information". nbpfaus.net. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
- ^ "Bears, Jackals Announce Rivalry 'County Executive's Cup'". Wordpress.com. October 30, 2010. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
- ^ "Ruppert & Effa". Newark Bears. Retrieved April 3, 2009.
- ^ a b Newark Bears (October 2, 2009). "2009 Season Recap". Newark Bears. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
- ^ "Davis Transitions from Star Player to Coach » Newark Bears". Archived from the original on May 25, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
External links
Achievements | ||
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Preceded by | North Division Champions Newark Bears 2007 |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by | South Division Champions Newark Bears 2002 |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by Nashua Pride
2000 |
North Division Champions Newark Bears 2001 |
Succeeded by |