Bridgeport Bluefish
| Bridgeport Bluefish | |
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| Founded in 1997 Bridgeport, Connecticut |
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| Owner(s)/Operated By: Frank Boulton | |
| General Manager: Bob Goughan | |
| Manager: Willie Upshaw | |
| Media: Connecticut Post | |
| Website: www.bridgeportbluefish.com | |
The Bridgeport Bluefish is an American professional baseball team based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. The Bluefish play their home games at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard.
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[edit] History of Bridgeport baseball
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 the team has had many winning seasons. The team has been to four Atlantic League Championship Series, and won in 1999 versus the Somerset Patriots. They lost to Atlantic City, in 2002, to Newark, and to in 2006 Lancaster.
The Bluefish, and the Atlantic League itself, tend to attract veteran minor leaguers as well as the occasional Major Leaguer at the end of their careers. Some of the former major-leaguers who have sported Bluefish jerseys include José Offerman, Edgardo Alfonzo, Deivi Cruz, Junior Spivey, Quinton McCracken, Antontio Alfonseca, Willy Mo Pena, and Mariano Duncan.
The Bluefish won their first league championship in 1999, and have won the most games in Atlantic League history. The land under 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 demolished 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 the Bridgeport Waterfront Investors. Herbert 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 that included McGregor and Foster. However, Get Hooked dropped the Bluefish prior to the 2008 season in favor of seeking a new ballpark for the city of Yonkers, New York. The Bluefish were purchased by Frank Boulton, who is also the owner of the Long Island Ducks and the founder of the Atlantic League.
Before the 2009 season, the Bluefish hired Willie Upshaw, a Major League Baseball alumnus and Fairfield County native, as their bench coach. He was Bridgeport's first manager from 1998 to 2000, as well as the first base coach for the Cleveland Indians from 2000–2005, and the San Francisco Giants for the 2006 and 2007 seasons. Upshaw spent nine of his ten playing seasons in the Majors with the Toronto Blue Jays. He led the team twice in home runs and RBI. First in 1982 with 21 home runs and 75 RBI and also in 1983 with 27 home runs and 104 RBI. During the 1983 season, Upshaw became the first Toronto player to top 100 RBI in a season.[3] On July 8, 2009 manager Tommy John announced he was stepping down and Willie Upshaw was picked to take his place.[4]
[edit] Logos and uniforms
The official colors of the Bridgeport Bluefish are navy blue, aqua, and silver. The primary logo consists of the "Bluefish" wordmark in navy blue with aqua outline superimposed over a depiction of a cartoon bluefish holding a baseball bat.
The Bluefish wear caps produced by The Game Headwear and uniforms by Wilson Sporting Goods. The home cap is navy blue with aqua trim on the ventilation holes and an aqua button, with the cap logo depicting a bluefish interwoven with a capital "B" centered on the front. The away cap is navy blue with an aqua brim and button, with the same cap logo. The home jersey is white with traditional navy blue piping below the collar and around the sleeves. The "Bluefish" wordmark is centered across the front in navy blue with silver outline and aqua drop shadow. The number on the back is in solid navy blue, and the interlocking "BB" logo centered on the left sleeve. The away jersey is grey with navy blue piping, and the "Bridgeport" wordmark centered across the front in navy blue with white outline. The Bluefish also have navy blue alternate jerseys, with aqua piping. The interlocking "BB" logo is centered on the left-side chest, with the number on the back in aqua outlined in white.
[edit] Season-by-season records
| Season | First Half W - L Record | First Half Winning Percentage | First Half Finish | Second Half W - L Record | Second Half Winning Percentage | Second Half Finish | Overall W - L Record | Overall Winning Percentage | Overall Finish | Playoffs |
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| 2005 | 33-37 | .471 | 2nd in North Division | 22-48 | .314 | 4th in North Division | 55-85 | .393 | 4th in North Division | - |
| 2006 | 38-25 | .603 | 2nd in North Division | 37-24 | .607 | 1st in North Division | 75-49 | .605 | 1st in North Division | 2-3 (lost league championship to Lancaster Barnstormers) |
| 2007 | 35-28 | .556 | 2nd in North Division | 25-38 | .397 | 4th in North Division | 60-66 | .476 | 3rd in North Division | - |
| 2008 | 33-37 | .471 | 3rd in Liberty Division | 34-36 | .486 | 3rd in Liberty Division | 67-73 | .479 | 3rd in Liberty Division | - |
| 2009 | 33-37 | .471 | 3rd in Liberty Division | 32-38 | .457 | 3rd in Liberty Division | 65-75 | .464 | 3rd in Liberty Division | - |
| 2010 | 36-34 | .514 | 3rd in Liberty Division | 47-23 | .671 | 1st in Liberty Division | 83-57 | .592 | 1st in Liberty Division | 0-3 (lost league championship to York Revolution) |
| 2011 | 32-31 | .507 | 3rd in Liberty Division | 36-28 | .671 | 2nd in Liberty Division | 68-59 | .535 | 2nd in Liberty Division | 0-1 (lost play in game to Southern Maryland Blue Crabs) |
| Totals (1998–2011) | 487-413 | .541 | - | 520-449 | .536 | - | 1007-862 | .511 | - | 10-17 |
- 1 Atlantic League Championship (1999)
[edit] Ferry Cup
The Bridgeport Bluefish contend with the Long Island Ducks over the Ferry Cup, which is sponsored by the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company. The two teams border on the Long Island Sound, and many fans of both teams regularly cross it to support them. As of May 12, 2009 the Bluefish-Ducks rivalry record is 85-83, in favor of Bridgeport.[6]
[edit] Mascots
One of the Bridgeport Bluefish official mascots is an anthropomorphic bluefish named B.B. He wears the team's alternate jersey (number 98) with white sneakers. B.B. was born on May 29, 1997 in Cape Hatteras. He later migrated to the Long Island Sound, and joined the Bluefish soon after. The mascot's name alludes to the initials of the team and its nickname.[7]
Cap'n L.I. Sounder was another source of entertainment at Harbor Yard. He donned the uniform of a sailor, and has a short beard. Cap'n L.I. Sounder's name referred to the nautical rank of captain and the name of a Long Island Sound resident. Cap'n L.I. Sounder no longer appears at Bluefish home games.
[edit] Current roster
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Bridgeport Bluefish roster
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Pitchers
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Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
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Manager Coaches
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[edit] Retired numbers
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| Roberto Clemente[8] | Jackie Robinson |
| OF Retired by the Brigeport Bluefish on August 14, 2008 |
2B Retired throughout professional baseball on April 15, 1997 |
[edit] References
- ^ "Bridgeport Renewal" (PDF). EPA. http://www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/success/bridge_ct.pdf. Retrieved 2006-05-26.
- ^ "Bridgeport's Renaissance" (PDF). EPA. http://www.epa.gov/ne/brownfields/pdfs/2001-Success.pdf. Retrieved 2006-05-26.
- ^ "Willie Upshaw". Bridgeport Bluefish. http://bridgeportbluefish.com/team/coaching/index.html?staff_id=31. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
- ^ "Tommy John Steps Down as Bluefish Manager". Bridgeport Bluefish. July 8, 2009. http://www.bridgeportbluefish.com/news/index.html?article_id=366. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
- ^ Atlantic League information
- ^ "Bluefish and Ducks introduce Ferry Cup". Bridgeport Bluefish. http://www.bridgeportbluefish.com/news/index.html?article_id=250. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
- ^ "Mascot Biographies". Bridgeport Bluefish. http://www.bridgeportbluefish.com/kids/mascot/. Retrieved October 2, 2008.
- ^ Roberto Clemente Night, Bridgeport Bluefish, August 14, 2008. Accessed March 5, 2009. "Roberto Clement Night."
[edit] External links
[edit] Official websites
[edit] Blogs
| 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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| Atlantic League of Professional Baseball | ||||
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| Freedom Division | Liberty Division | |||
| Lancaster Barnstormers | Bridgeport Bluefish | |||
| Somerset Patriots | Camden Riversharks | |||
| Sugar Land Skeeters | Long Island Ducks | |||
| York Revolution | Southern Maryland Blue Crabs | |||
| Expansion: Loudoun Hounds | ||||
| Annual events: Championship Series · All-Star Game | ||||
| Other: Alumni · Final standings · Records | ||||
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