Bridgeport Bluefish

Independent baseball team
name = Bridgeport Bluefish
founded = 1998
city = Bridgeport, Connecticut

cap
current league = Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
current division= Liberty Division
past league =
currentname = Bridgeport Bluefish (1998-present)
nicknames = Park City Blues, Park City Nine
pastname =
colors = Navy Blue, Aqua, Silver, White
ballpark = The Ballpark at Harbor Yard
leaguechamps = 1 (1999)
divisionchamps = 4 (1998, 1999, 2002, 2006)
owner = Get Hooked LLC
manager = Tommy John
gm = Todd Marlin
media = Connecticut Post
website = http://www.bridgeportbluefish.com www.bridgeportbluefish.com

The Bridgeport Bluefish are a professional baseball team based in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in the United States. They 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 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. [cite web | title=Bridgeport Renewal | work=EPA | url=http://www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/success/bridge_ct.pdf | accessdate = 2006-05-26] In many ways, the renaissance of Bridgeport was started by the Bluefish. [cite web | title=Bridgeport's Renaissance | work=EPA | url=http://www.epa.gov/ne/brownfields/pdfs/2001-Success.pdf | accessdate = 2006-05-26]

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 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 the helm for 2007.

History of Bridgeport baseball

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.

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.

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.

eason-by-season records

References

External links

Official websites

* [http://www.bridgeportbluefish.com Bridgeport Bluefish]
* [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=156470797 Bridgeport Bluefish page on MySpace]
* [http://www.atlanticleague.com Atlantic League of Professional Baseball]

Blogs

* [http://forum.connpost.com/bluefish/ Bridgeport Bluefish at Connecticut Post Online]
* [http://www.atlanticleaguebaseball.com Atlantic League Baseball]
* [http://www.alindependent.com Atlantic League Independent]

Media

* [http://www.oursportscentral.com/sports/?t_id=530 Bluefish page at OurSports Central]

succession box
title = Atlantic League Champions
Bridgeport Bluefish
years = 1999
before = Atlantic City Surf
1998
after = Nashua Pride
2000succession box
title = North Division Champions
Bridgeport Bluefish
years = 1998, 1999, 2002, 2006
before = Nashua Pride
2005
after = Newark Bears
2002