Newark Bears
Encyclopedia : N : NE : NEW : Newark Bears
| Newark Bears | |
| |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Ballpark | Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium |
| Based in | Newark, New Jersey |
| Team Colors | red, black, white, silver |
| League | Atlantic League of Professional Baseball |
| Local Media | Newark Star-Ledger |
| Team Manager | Chris Jones |
| Pitching Coach | Pete Filson |
| Third Base Coach | |
| Athletic Trainer | Stacey Herrin |
| General Manager | John Brandt |
| Owner | Steve Kalafer |
The Newark Bears are an Atlantic League team based in Newark, New Jersey. Since the 1998 season, they have played in the North Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affilitated with Major League Baseball.
History
The Bears of the Atlantic League (1998-present)
The club is named after an earlier Newark team (see below). It was formed in 1998 by former New York Yankees catcher Rick Cerone, a Newark native. However, the Bears played their "home" schedule at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Connecticut that season while awaiting the completion of their new home field. In addition, the Bears played several home games during the first half of the 1999 season at Skylands Park in Augusta, New Jersey. The Bears inaugurated their new park, Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium, in Newark on July 16, 1999.Over the years, the Bears have succeeded in attracting star talent to their club. Ozzie Canseco played for the Bears in 2000 and 2001, and his brother José Canseco was with the team for part of 2001 as well. Rickey Henderson played the first half of the 2003 season with the Bears and was named most valuable player in the Atlantic League All-Star Game. He was subsequently signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers, but was released at season's end, and he returned to the Bears for 2004. Also in 2003, José Lima pitched for the Bears at the beginning of the season; after the Kansas City Royals signed him away from Newark, Lima won his first seven decisions for the Royals.
Post-Season Results
- 2001: Defeated Nashua Pride, 2 games to 1; lost to Somerset Patriots, 3 games to 2, in championship round
- 2002: Defeated Atlantic City Surf, 2 games to 1; defeated Bridgeport Bluefish, 3 games to 0, for league championship
The Bears of the International League (1926-49)
The Newark Bears were a team in the International League from 1926 to 1949. They played their home games at Ruppert Stadium in what is now known as the Ironbound section of Newark; the stadium was demolished in 1967.Newark was a hotbed of minor league baseball from the time of the formation of the Newark Indians in 1902, and the addition of the Newark Eagles of the Negro National Leagues in 1936. A Federal League team, the Newark Peppers, played in 1915.
In 1937, as a farm club of the New York Yankees, the Bears featured one of the most potent lineups in baseball, including Charlie Keller, Joe Gordon, and George McQuinn, among others. Their legacy was ensured when, after trailing 3 games to 0, they won the last four games against the Columbus Red Birds of the American Association to capture the Junior World Series.
Following the 1949 season, the Bears moved to Springfield, Massachusetts. Their departure, and the folding of the Eagles a year later, left Newark without professional baseball for nearly 50 years, until the formation of the Atlantic League Bears (see above).
Season Results
| Season | Affiliation | Manager | Record |
| 1926 | None | Fred Burchell | 99-66, 3rd place |
| 1927 | None | John Egan | 90-77, 3rd place |
| 1928 | None | Walter Johnson | 81-84, 7th place |
| 1929 | None | Tris Speaker | 81-85, 7th place |
| 1930 | None | Tris Speaker/Al Mamaux | 80-88, 5th place |
| 1931 | None | Al Mamaux | 99-69, 2nd place |
| 1932 | Yankees | Al Mamaux | 109-59, 1st place |
| 1933 | Yankees | Al Mamaux | 102-62, 1st place South |
| 1934 | Yankees | Bob Shawkey | 93-60, 1st place |
| 1935 | Yankees | Bob Shawkey | 81-71, 4th place |
| 1936 | Yankees | Ossie Vitt | 88-67, 3rd place |
| 1937 | Yankees | Ossie Vitt | 109-43, 1st place |
| 1938 | Yankees | Johnny Neun | 104-48, 1st place |
| 1939 | Yankees | Johnny Neun | 82-73, 4th place |
| 1940 | Yankees | Johnny Neun | 95-65, 2nd place |
| 1941 | Yankees | Johnny Neun | 100-54, 1st place |
| 1942 | Yankees | Bill Meyer | 92-61, 1st place |
| 1943 | Yankees | Bill Meyer | 85-68, 2nd place |
| 1944 | Yankees | Bill Meyer | 85-69, 2nd place |
| 1945 | Yankees | Bill Meyer | 89-64, 2nd place |
| 1946 | Yankees | George Selkirk | 80-74, 4th place |
| 1947 | Yankees | George Selkirk | 65-89, 6th place |
| 1948 | Yankees | Bill Skiff | 80-72, 2nd place |
| 1949 | Yankees | Buddy Hassett | 55-98, 8th place |
Post-Season Results
- 1932: Defeated Minneapolis Millers (American Association), 4 games to 2, in Junior World Series
- 1933: Lost to Rochester Red Wings, 3 games to 1, in opening round
- 1934: Lost to Toronto Maple Leafs, 4 games to 3, in opening round
- 1935: Lost to Syracuse Chiefs, 4 games to 0, in opening round
- 1936: Lost to Buffalo Bisons, 4 games to 1, in opening round
- 1937: Defeated Syracuse Chiefs, 4 games to 0; defeated Baltimore Orioles, 4 games to 0, for league championship; defeated Columbus Red Birds, 4 games to 3, in Junior World Series
- 1938: Defeated Rochester Red Wings, 4 games to 3; defeated Buffalo Bisons, 4 games to 1, for league championship; lost to Kansas City Blues, 4 games to 3, in Junior World Series
- 1939: Defeated Jersey City Giants, 4 games to 2; lost to Rochester Red Wings, 4 games to 3, in championship round
- 1940: Defeated Jersey City Giants, 4 games to 0; defeated Baltimore Orioles, 4 games to 3, for league championship; defeated Louisville Colonels, 4 games to 2, in Junior World Series
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Titles
The Bears won the Governors' Cup, the championship of the IL, 4 times, and played in the championship series 7 times.- 1937 - Defeated Baltimore
- 1938 - Defeated Buffalo
- 1939 - Lost to Rochester
- 1940 - Defeated Baltimore
- 1941 - Lost to Montreal
- 1944 - Lost to Baltimore
- 1945 - Defeated Montreal
Other Historical Newark Teams
- Newark Domestics, played in the Eastern League from 1884 to 1885.
- Newark Little Giants, played in the Eastern League in 1886, and the International League in 1887.
- Newark, played in the Central League in 1888, and the Atlantic Association from 1889 to 1890.
- Newark, played in the Atlantic League in 1896, and from 1899 to 1900.
- Newark Indians, played in the Eastern League from 1902 to 1911, and the International League from 1912 to the middle of the 1915 season. They were the International League champions in 1913.
- Newark Stars, played in the Eastern Colored League in 1926.
- Newark Browns, played in the Negro East West League in 1932.
- Newark Dodgers, played in the Negro National League from 1934 to 1935.
- Newark Peppers, played in the Federal League in 1915.
Quick facts
- Current uniform colors: White vest with black piping and black sleeves for home games and grey for away games. The home jersey has the word "Bears" across the front and number on the back. Red hats with the depiction of a bear's head in silver with black outline.
- Current logo design: The word "Bears" in script in red with black outline superimposed over the depiction of a bear holding a baseball and the Newark skyline. The city name is centered above the wordmark "Bears."
- Current mascot: Rip 'N Ruppert (1998-present).
- Current Broadcasters: Radio: Jim Cerny
- Current Radio Station: Internet
2006 Newark Bears:
Pitchers
| Infielders
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References
External Links
- [Newark Bears]
- [Atlantic League of Professional Baseball]
- [Atlantic League blog]
- [Atlantic League Independent]
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