BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY The Newark Bears are an American professional baseball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are a member of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 1999 season, the Bears have played their home games at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium. They were originally a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.
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 Pepper 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 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 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, 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 brotherJosé 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.
Other notable alumi include Scott Spiezio, 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. 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 of the Newark Bears and 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.[3] 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.
The Bears are also the most recent Atlantic League team to switch leagues. The Nashua Pride moved following the 2005 Atlantic League season, and the Atlantic City Surf followed the next year. Like the Bears, both moved to the Can-Am League. The Surf folded after two seasons in the league while the Pride franchise is now known as the Pittsfield Colonials.
Currently, the Newark Bears are owned and operated by Dr Douglas Spiel and Danielle Dronet.
Logos and uniforms
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The team colors of the Newark Bears are navy blue and white. The primary logo consists of a stylized bear holding a baseball bat superimposed over a depiction of the Newark skyline over a baseball diamond. The "Newark Bears" wordmark is centered at the base of the logo, and includes white accents and black outline.
The Bears' uniforms are traditional in design. The home cap is navy blue throughout with a white block "N" centered on the front. The home jerseys are white with traditional navy blue pinstripes. A navy blue, block "N" is prominently displayed on the left breast. The road jersey is gray with the cursive "Newark" wordmark in navy blue, centered diagonally across the front. Both home and away jersey sleeves sport the Bears' primary logo. The Bears wear navy blue belts and socks with all uniforms.
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