Bridgeport Bluefish
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| 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. The Bluefish are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. From the 1998 season to the present, the Bluefish have played their home games at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard.
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. 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.[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). 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. 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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[edit] History of Bridgeport baseball
[edit] Baseball Comes to Bridgeport
The game of baseball was first played in Bridgeport, Connecticut soon after the Civil War ended. 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. Visiting Major League and Negro League teams often played exhibition games in Bridgeport in the shadow of the city's smokestacks. Professional baseball would not be played in Bridgeport for about another half-century, until the arrival of the Bluefish in 1998.
[edit] Bridgeport Bluefish
The first game of the Bridgeport Bluefish was May 21, 1998, and continued to have winning seasons throughout its playing history. The team has been to three of the Atlantic League Championship Series, and won in 1999 versus the Somerset Patriots. They were runners-up in 1998, losing to Atlantic City, and in 2002, losing to Newark.
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.
[edit] Quick facts
- Current uniform colors: White jersey with navy piping for home games and grey for away games. 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).
- Current Broadcasters: Radio: Jeff Holtz, Carl Lombardi, Chris Elsesser, Daniel Grazynski
- Current Radio Station: WVOF 88.5 fm
- Current TV Station:
[edit] Current roster
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Bridgeport Bluefish roster
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Pitchers
Catchers
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Infielders
Outfielders
Disabled List
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Coaching Staff
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[edit] Retired Numbers
42, Jackie Robinson, retired throughout baseball.
[edit] 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 |
[edit] External links
[edit] Official websites
[edit] Blogs
[edit] 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 |
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| 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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