| Bridgeport Bluefish Founded in 1998 Bridgeport, Connecticut | |||
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| Owner(s)/Operated By: Get Hooked LLC | |||
| General Manager: Todd Marlin | |||
| Manager: Tommy John | |||
| Media: Connecticut Post | |||
| Website: www.bridgeportbluefish.com | |||
The Bridgeport Bluefish are a professional baseball team based in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in the United States. Headline events of the year Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey Jr This article refers to the modern Atlantic League. For the original incarnations of the Atlantic League which operated between 1896 and 1915 see Atlantic League The Ballpark at Harbor Yard is a 5300-seat baseball-only stadium in Bridgeport Connecticut that hosted its first regular season baseball game on May 21 1998 as the tenants Thomas Edward John Jr (born May 22 1943 in Terre Haute Indiana) is a former left-handed Pitcher in Major League Baseball whose 288 The Connecticut Post is a daily Newspaper located in Bridgeport Connecticut. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Bluefish are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. This article refers to the modern Atlantic League. For the original incarnations of the Atlantic League which operated between 1896 and 1915 see Atlantic League From the 1998 season to the present, the Bluefish have played their home games at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard. The Ballpark at Harbor Yard is a 5300-seat baseball-only stadium in Bridgeport Connecticut that hosted its first regular season baseball game on May 21 1998 as the tenants
The Bluefish won their first league championship in 1999, and have won the most games in Atlantic League history. The land under the The Ballpark at Harbor Yard was purchased by the city of Bridgeport from Donald Trump for $1 and with the forgiveness of back taxes owed on the property. Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American Business magnate, Socialite, Television personality, and The Jenkins Valve plant was destroyed to make way for the stadium. The success of the Bluefish led to major redevelopment of the South End, including construction of the Arena at Harbor Yard and a multi-use parking garage. The Arena at Harbor Yard is a 10000-seat multi-purpose Arena in Bridgeport Connecticut. [1] In many ways, the renaissance of Bridgeport was started by the Bluefish. [2]
The original founders of the Bluefish were Mickey Herbert, Jack McGregor, Mary-Jane Foster, and Bridgeport Waterfront Investors. Herbert brought control prior to the 2000 season and anchored the team through a mayoral scandal and difficult financial circumstances. Prior to the 2006 season, the franchise was purchased by Get Hooked, LLC, a group of investors from Fairfield County (a group that includes McGregor and Foster). Named after the extremely large area of salt-marshes and swamps both on the coast and inland Fairfield County is located in the southwestern corner of the U Charlie Dowd served as the team's General Manager from its inception until the end of the 2006 season. Former Kane County Cougars General Manager Bill Larsen took over in his place.
"Bluefish" refers to the kind of fish that resides in the Long Island Sound, on which the city of Bridgeport is located. The bluefish ( Pomatomus saltatrix) called tailor in Australia, is a species of popular marine game- Fish found in all climates Long Island Sound is an Estuary of the Atlantic Ocean and various Rivers in the United States that lies between the coast of Connecticut Sometimes the team is called by the unofficial nicknames, the Park City Blues or the Park City Nine, in reference to the city of Bridgeport's nickname.
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History of Bridgeport baseball
Baseball Comes to Bridgeport
The game of baseball was first played in Bridgeport, Connecticut soon after the Civil War ended. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South Other teams that called the city home were the Victors, Mechanics, Bolts, Americans, and the Bears. Bridgeport was the home of Major Leaguer, James "Orator" O'Rourke, who signed the first African-American to play for a professional baseball team in 1895. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa Visiting Major League and Negro League teams often played exhibition games in Bridgeport in the shadow of the city's smokestacks. Part of the History of baseball in the United States series The Negro leagues were American professional Baseball leagues Professional baseball would not be played in Bridgeport for about another half-century, until the arrival of the Bluefish in 1998.
Bridgeport Bluefish
The first game of the Bridgeport Bluefish was May 21, 1998, and continued to have winning seasons throughout its playing history. Events 878 - Syracuse Italy is captured by the Muslim sultan of Sicily. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) The team has been to three of the Atlantic League Championship Series, and won in 1999 versus the Somerset Patriots. The Somerset Patriots are a professional baseball team based in Bridgewater Township New Jersey, in the United States They were runners-up in 1998, losing to Atlantic City, and in 2002, losing to Newark. The Atlantic City Surf is a professional baseball team based in Atlantic City New Jersey, in the United States. The Newark Bears are a professional baseball team based in Newark New Jersey, in the United States
The Bluefish, and the Atlantic League itself, tend to attract life-long minor leaguers as well as the occasional Major Leaguer at the end of his career. Some of the marquee names who have sported Bluefish jerseys include José Offerman, Edgardo Alfonzo, Deivi Cruz, Junior Spivey, Quinton McCracken, and Mariano Duncan. José Offerman (born José Antonio Offerman Dono on November 8, 1968 in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic) is a professional Edgardo Antonio Alfonzo (born November 8, 1973 in Miranda State, Venezuela) is a Major League Baseball Infielder currently Deivi Cruz Garcia (born November 6, 1972 in Nizao, Dominican Republic) is a former Baseball Shortstop who last played Ernest Lee "Junior" Spivey Jr (born January 28, 1975 in Oklahoma City Oklahoma) is a Second baseman, formerly in Major League Quinton Antoine McCracken (born August 16, 1970 in Wilmington, North Carolina) is a former Major League Baseball Outfielder Mariano (Nalasco Duncan (born March 13, 1963 in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic) was a Second Baseman and Shortstop
Quick facts
- Current uniform colors: White jersey with navy piping for home games and grey for away games. A uniform is a set of standard Clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity The home jersey has the word "Bluefish" across the front, the away with the "Bridgeport" wordmark. The caps are navy blue with a bluefish logo interwoven with a scripted capital "B" in navy blue with white and aqua outline.
- Current logo design: The word "Bluefish" in script in navy with aqua and white outline superimposed over the depiction of a bluefish holding a baseball bat. The city name is centered above the wordmark "Bluefish. "
- Current mascot: B.B. the Bluefish (1998-present). The term mascot – defined as a term for any person animal or object thought to bring Luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common
- Current Broadcasters: Radio: Jeff Holtz, Carl Lombardi, Chris Elsesser, Daniel Grazynski
- Current Radio Station: WVOF 88. WVOF is the student-run radio station at Fairfield University in Fairfield Connecticut and the future home of the Fairfield County News Desk of Connecticut Public 5 fm
- Current TV Station:
Current roster
Bridgeport Bluefish roster | |||||||||
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| Active (25-man) roster | Coaches | ||||||||
Pitchers
Catchers
| Infielders
Outfielders
Disabled List
| Coaching Staff
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Retired Numbers
42, Jackie Robinson, retired throughout baseball. Calvin Elroy Pickering (born September 29, 1976 in Saint Thomas United States Virgin Islands) is a former First baseman in Major League Alejandro Antonio "Alex" Prieto (born June 19, 1976 in Caracas Venezuela) is a Major League Baseball Second baseman Chad Robert Bentz (born on May 5, 1980 in Seward, Alaska) is a Major League Baseball Pitcher who currently plays for the Timothy Andrew Drew (born August 31, 1978 in Valdosta Georgia) is a former American Major League Baseball player Thomas Edward John Jr (born May 22 1943 in Terre Haute Indiana) is a former left-handed Pitcher in Major League Baseball whose 288 Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson (January 31 1919 – October 24 1972 was a Baseball player for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
References
- ^ Bridgeport Renewal. EPA. Retrieved on May 26, 2006.
- ^ Bridgeport's Renaissance. EPA. Retrieved on May 26, 2006.
| Preceded by Atlantic City Surf 1998 | Atlantic League Champions Bridgeport Bluefish 1999 | Succeeded by Nashua Pride 2000 |
| Preceded by Nashua Pride 2005 | North Division Champions Bridgeport Bluefish 1998, 1999, 2002, 2006 | Succeeded by Camden Riversharks 2007 |
External links
Official websites
Blogs
Media
| Achievements | ||
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| Preceded by Atlantic City Surf 1998 | Atlantic League Champions Bridgeport Bluefish 1999 | Succeeded by Nashua Pride 2000 |
| Preceded by Nashua Pride 2005 | North Division Champions Bridgeport Bluefish 1998, 1999, 2002, 2006 | Succeeded by Newark Bears 2002 |
| Freedom Division | Liberty Division |
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| Lancaster Barnstormers | Newark Bears | Somerset Patriots | York Revolution | Bridgeport Bluefish | Camden Riversharks | Long Island Ducks | Southern Maryland Blue Crabs |
| Former teams: Aberdeen | Atlantic City | Lehigh Valley | Nashua | Newburgh | Road Warriors | |
| Other Independent Baseball Leagues: American Association | Can-Am | Continental | Frontier | Golden | Northern | United | |
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