Newark Bears
Information
LeagueCanadian American Association of Professional Baseball
LocationNewark, New Jersey
BallparkBears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium
Founded1998
Folded2013
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
ColorsNavy 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 Newark Eagles of the Negro National League in 1936. A Federal League team, the Newark Peppers, also played in 1915.

The original Newark Bears were a team in the International League from 1926 to 1949. They played their home games at the former Ruppert Stadium in what is now known as the Ironbound section of Newark.

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 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. The Bears inaugurated their new park, Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium, in Newark on July 16, 1999.

Over the years, the Bears attracted 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.[2]

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.[4] The Bears were one of three teams to join the league for the 2011 season, with the traveling New York Federals and the expansion Rockland Boulders. Newark was originally to be one of three cities to represent New Jersey in the Can-Am League along with Little Falls, home of the New Jersey Jackals, and Augusta, home of the Sussex Skyhawks. The Skyhawks, however, elected to stop operating after the 2010 season.

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 Bears' original primary logo, used from 1998 to 2004
The Bears' primary logo used from 2005-2008

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]
Season W - L record Winning percentage Finish Result Manager
199835-65.3506thDid not qualify for playoffsTom O'Malley
199955-64.4625th in 1st half, 3rd in 2nd halfDid not qualify for playoffsTom O'Malley
200074-66.5294th in North DivisionDid not qualify for playoffsTom O'Malley
200175-51.5951st in South DivisionLost to Somerset in Championship SeriesTom O'Malley
200269-55.5662nd in South DivisionAtlantic League Champions, defeated Bridgeport in Championship SeriesMarv Foley
200363-63.5002nd in South DivisionDid not qualify for playoffsBill Madlock
200463-63.5002nd in South DivisionDid not qualify for playoffsBill Madlock
200558-82.4143rd in North DivisionDid not qualify for playoffsChris Jones
200642-83.3363rd in North DivisionDid not qualify for playoffsChris Jones
200772-54.5712nd in North Division2-0 (won championship)Wayne Krenchicki
200872-68.514Last in Freedom DivisionDid not qualify for playoffsWayne Krenchicki
200974-66.5292nd in Freedom Division1-3 (lost to Somerset in Freedom Division Championship)Tim Raines
201053-86.3814th in Freedom DivisionDid not qualify for playoffsTim Raines
201141-51.4466th in Canadian-American AssociationDid not qualify for playoffsTim Raines
201235-65.3504th in Canadian-American AssociationDid not qualify for playoffsKen Oberkfell
201337-63.3705th in Canadian-American AssociationDid not qualify for playoffsGarry Templeton
Totals (1998–2013)902-1036.471--
Playoffs7-3.700--
  • 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 WSOU-FM 89.5 from 1999 to 2003, and again from 2007 to 2008. Previous announcers for the team include Seton Hall color commentator Dave Popkin, former WNEW-FM disc jockey Jim Monaghan, MLB Network host Victor Rojas, Somerset Patriots announcer Brian Bender, former New York Islanders broadcaster Jim Cerny, Jason Page, Ray Alexander, and Erie Otters broadcaster Paul Roper. In 2009, longtime New York sportscaster Spencer Ross served as both radio broadcaster and team on-field MC.

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

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Game over: Newark Bears officially out of business, as baseball fades from city again". NJ.com. April 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Jose Lima Statistics - Transactions". baseballreference.com. Retrieved July 11, 2006.
  3. ↑ "Bears declare bankruptcy". atlanticleaguebaseball.com. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved November 13, 2008.
  4. ↑ "It's official: Bears to Can-Am Association". BallParkDigest.com. October 6, 2010. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Newark Bears ownership changes hands once again". July 7, 2011.
  6. ↑ CAN-AM LEAGUE TO PLAY AS DIVISION OF AMERICAN ASSOCIATION IN 2014
  7. ↑ "Game over: Newark Bears officially out of business, as baseball fades from city again". NJ.com. April 27, 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Atlantic League Information". nbpfaus.net. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Bears, Jackals Announce Rivalry 'County Executive's Cup'". Wordpress.com. October 30, 2010. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Ruppert & Effa". Newark Bears. Retrieved April 3, 2009.
  11. 1 2 Newark Bears (October 2, 2009). "2009 Season Recap". Newark Bears. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Davis Transitions from Star Player to Coach » Newark Bears". Archived from the original on May 25, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
Achievements
Preceded by North Division Champions
Newark Bears
2007		 Succeeded by
Camden Riversharks
Liberty Division
2008
Preceded by South Division Champions
Newark Bears
2002		 Succeeded by
Preceded by North Division Champions
Newark Bears
2001		 Succeeded by
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