- New Britain Rock Cats
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New Britain Rock Cats
Founded in 1983
New Britain, Connecticut
Team Logo
Cap InsigniaClass-level - Double-A (1983 – present)
Minor league affiliations - Eastern League (1983 – present)
- Eastern Division
Major league affiliations - Minnesota Twins (1995–present)
- Boston Red Sox (1983–1994)
Name - New Britain Rock Cats (1997–present)
- Hardware City Rock Cats (1995-1996)
- New Britain Red Sox (1983-1994)
Ballpark - New Britain Stadium (1996 – present)
- Beehive Field (1983–1995)
Minor league titles League titles 1983, 2001 (Co-Champion) Division titles 1998, 2001 Owner(s)/Operated by: RJ Parent Manager: Jeff Smith General Manager: {{{gm}}} The New Britain Rock Cats are the Double-A minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club. They compete in the Eastern League and play their home games at New Britain Stadium in New Britain, Connecticut.
Contents
History
The franchise's timeline can be traced back to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where they were a Boston Red Sox Double-A affiliate from 1965 to 1969. The franchise then moved to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, in 1970, and spent three years in the Ocean State. When the Pawtucket Red Sox became a Triple-A team in 1973, the BoSox moved their double-A franchise to Bristol, Connecticut. Known as the Bristol Red Sox, the team played at Muzzy Field for ten seasons from 1973 to 1982. Starting with the 1983 season, owner Joe Buzas moved the team some ten miles east to New Britain. Then known as the New Britain Red Sox, the team played its home games at Beehive Field, which is still standing next to the current stadium.
As Beehive Field became outdated and new facilities began to pop up in other cities around the league, Buzas was faced with the choice of staying in New Britain and building a new stadium, versus moving the franchise again. The Red Sox front office, led by Dan Duquette supported the idea of moving to Springfield, Massachusetts, because it was closer to their fan base and closer to the Western Massachusetts home of Duquette. Ultimately, however, in August 1994, Buzas decided to keep the franchise in New Britain. The Red Sox promptly pulled their affiliation, and moved it to Trenton, New Jersey, which was actually farther away from the fan base. For the 1995 season, Buzas, who owned the Salt Lake Buzz (Minnesota triple A), signed a new development agreement with the Minnesota Twins, and this affiliation has continued since. During the 1995 season (their only season in Beehive Field), the team was known as the Hardware City Rock Cats, a reference to New Britain's nickname "The Hardware City". The current ballpark, New Britain Stadium, opened in 1996. The team name changed to the current "New Britain" Rock Cats in 1997. Stanley Works continues to be a significant sponsor of the team and ballpark.
During 2003 and 2004, the team was involved in several lawsuits over its night game fireworks displays. A group of residents living near the stadium claimed the noise was disruptive, and the ash and debris damaged their cars and homes. In May 2005, Judge Marshall Berger allowed the shows to continue after attending one himself, but ruled that they should be limited to Friday nights only. This compromise seems to have worked, since the neighborhood group no longer complains, and the Friday night games are usually sold out, due in part to the post game Fireworks Displays.
On July 12, 2008, the Rock Cats established a franchise record for single game attendance. The crowd of 8,115 marked the first time the 8,000 mark was surpassed for a game at New Britain Stadium. This record was broken on June 27, 2009 with a crowd of 8,212. Rock Cats radio play-by-play voice Jeff Dooley is the brother-in-law of Red Sox TV play-by-play man Don Orsillo.
Pop Culture
The New Britain Rock Cats were featured in an episode of ESPN's `Mayne Street' short comedy series.
Roster
New Britain Rock Cats rosterPlayers Coaches/Other Pitchers
- -- Andrew Albers
- 39 David Bromberg *
- 17 Tony Davis
- 44 Deolis Guerra *
- 22 Steve Hirschfeld
- 19 Brett Jacobson
- 36 Bobby Lanigan
- 32 Blake Martin
- 45 Tyler Robertson
- -- Matt Schuld
- 16 Spencer Steedley
- 23 Deinys Suárez
- 51 Michael Tarsi
- 37 Dakota Watts
Catchers
Infielders
- 4 Chris Cates
- 11 Brian Dozier
- 10 Nathan Hanson
- 12 Mike Hollimon
- 27 Chris Parmelee *
- 7 Deibinson Romero
Outfielders
- 15 Joe Benson *
- 21 Evan Bigley
- 25 Mark Dolenc
- 5 Chris Herrmann
- 26 Yangervis Solarte
Manager
- 40 Jeff Smith
Coaches
- 24 Tom Brunansky (hitting)
- 33 Stu Cliburn (pitching)
7-day disabled list
* On Minnesota Twins 40-man roster
∞ Reserve list
§ Suspended list
‡ Restricted list
# Rehab assignment
Roster updated August 7, 2011
Transactions
→ More rostersNotable alumni
- Point Guard Victor Reid (2011)
- Outfielder Torii Hunter (1996–98)
- Third baseman Corey Koskie (1997)
- Designated hitter David Ortiz (1997 and 2001)
- First baseman Doug Mientkiewicz (1997–98)
- Catcher A.J. Pierzynski (1998 and 2000)
- Outfielder Michael Cuddyer (2000–01)
- Pitcher Juan Rincón (2000–01)
- First baseman Justin Morneau (2001–03)
- Catcher Joe Mauer (2003)
- Pitcher Pat Neshek (2003–05)
- Pitcher Francisco Liriano (2004–05)
- Third baseman Danny Valencia (2008)
Season records
Season Manager W-L Win % Finish Playoffs Results 1995 Sal Butera 65–77 .458 5th 1996 Al Newman 61–81 .430 5th 1997 Al Newman 70–72 .493 3rd 1998 John Russell 83–59 .585 1st Won Semifinals
Lost League Championship SeriesNew Britain 3, Binghamton 1
Harrisburg 3, New Britain 11999 John Russell 59–82 .418 5th 2000 John Russell 51–91 .359 6th 2001 Stan Cliburn 87–55 .613 1st Won Semifinals
League Championship Series Cancelled 1New Britain 3, Norwich 1
New Britain 0, Reading 02002 Stan Cliburn 67–72 .482 4th 2003 Stan Cliburn 73–68 .518 2nd Lost Semifinals New Haven 3, New Britain 2 2004 Stan Cliburn 70–70 .500 3rd 2005 Stan Cliburn 70–71 .496 4th 2006 Riccardo Ingram 64–78 .451 6th 2007 Riccardo Ingram 69–72 .489 4th 2008 Bobby Cuellar 64–77 .454 5th 2009 Tom Nieto 65–61 .516 2nd 2010 Jeff Smith 44–98 .310 6th 2011 Jeff Smith 72–70 .507 3th 2011 RJ Parent]] - 12001 League Championship was canceled due to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Mascots
Game Mascots:
- Rocky the Rock Cat (main mascot)
- Rookie the Rock Cat (Rocky's nephew)
- Sandy the Lion
- Blooper the Walrus
- Toner the Advance Copy's Copy Cat
- Peanut the Elephant
- Baldy the Eagle
- South Paw the Inflatable Dog
Sponsored Inning Mascots:
- The Dunkin' Donuts Trio – Coffee, Iced Coffee, and Donut
- Crystal Rock's Hydration Man
- Snuggle Bear
External links
- New Britain Rock Cats official site
- New Britain Rock Cats' MiLB Page
- Unofficial site for the old Bristol Red Sox club
Minnesota Twins franchiseTriple-A Double-A Class A Rookie Rochester Red Wings New Britain Rock Cats Fort Myers Miracle
Beloit SnappersElizabethton Twins
GCL Twins
DSL TwinsEastern League Eastern Division Binghamton Mets • New Britain Rock Cats • New Hampshire Fisher Cats • Portland Sea Dogs • Reading Phillies • Trenton ThunderWestern Division Akron Aeros • Altoona Curve • Bowie Baysox • Erie SeaWolves • Harrisburg Senators • Richmond Flying SquirrelsSports teams based in Connecticut Baseball EL: New Britain Rock Cats – NYPL: Connecticut Tigers – ALPB: Bridgeport Bluefish – NECBL: Danbury Westerners • Mystic Schooners – FCBL: Torrington TitansBasketball Football Ice hockey Soccer W-League: Connecticut Passion – WPSL: SoccerPlus ConnecticutRoller derby Rugby league Rugby union Softball College athletics
(NCAA Div. I)Central Connecticut State Blue Devils • Connecticut Huskies • Fairfield Stags • Hartford Hawks • Quinnipiac Bobcats • Sacred Heart Pioneers • Yale BulldogsNew Britain Rock Cats The Club Ballparks Twins Organization Retired Numbers Key Personnel Manager: Bobby CuellarEastern League
Championships (1)Northern Division
Championships (2)Seasons (14) 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008Categories:- Sports clubs established in 1983
- Eastern League baseball teams
- Professional baseball teams in Connecticut
- New Britain, Connecticut
- Minnesota Twins minor league affiliates
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