View source for Newark Bears

{{Short description|Former Minor League Baseball team}}
{{About|the Newark Bears of the Can-Am League|other Newark Bears teams|Newark Bears (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2017}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox Minor League Baseball
|name             = Newark Bears
|firstseason      = 1998
|lastseason       = 2013
|city             = Newark, New Jersey
|ballpark         = {{plainlist|
* [[Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium]] (July 1999–2013)
* [[Skylands Park]] (first half of 1999)
* [[The Ballpark at Harbor Yard]] (1998)
}}
|logo             = Newark Bears (logo).png
|cap_logo         = 
|class level = [[Independent baseball league|Independent]] (1998–2013)
|league           = {{plainlist|
*[[Atlantic League of Professional Baseball|Atlantic League]] (1998-2010)
*[[Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball|Can-Am League]] (2011-2013)
}}
|division         = 
|former_leagues   = 
|nickname     = Newark Bears (1998–2013)
|uniform          = 
|retired_numbers  = 
|colors           = Navy, white, light blue, black, gray<ref>{{cite web |title=Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball Official Colors (2005 through 2019) |url=https://www.trucolor.net/portfolio/canadian-american-association-of-professional-baseball-official-colors-2005-through-2019/ |website=TruColor.net |access-date=21 October 2025}}</ref><br>{{color box|#00205B}} {{color box|#FFFFFF}} {{color box|#6CACE4}} {{color box|#010101}} {{color box|#545859}}
|former_ballparks = 
|leaguechamps    = {{hlist|2002|2007}}
|leaguenum = 2
|divisionchamps  = 2001
|divnum = 1
|firsthalfchamps = 2007
|firsthalfnum = 1

}}

The '''Newark Bears''' were an American independent league professional baseball team based in [[Newark, New Jersey]].  They were a member of the [[Atlantic League of Professional Baseball]] and, later, the [[Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball]]. The Bears played their home games at [[Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium]]. The team folded after the 2013 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2014/04/newark_bears_officially_out_of_business_as_baseball_fades_from_city_again.html|title=Game over: Newark Bears officially out of business, as baseball fades from city again|date=April 2014|website=NJ.com|access-date=October 16, 2017}}</ref>

==History of Newark baseball==

{{Further|Newark Bears (1926-1949)}}

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 (1933-1948)|Negro National League]] in 1936. A Federal League team, the [[Newark Peppers]], 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 (Newark)|Ruppert Stadium]] in 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 new 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|Augusta]]. The Bears inaugurated their new park, [[Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium]], in Newark on July 16, 1999.

Over the years, the Bears attracted star talent to their club.  [[Ozzie Canseco]] played for the Bears in 2000 and 2001, and his brother [[José 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.<ref>{{cite web | title=Jose Lima Statistics - Transactions | work=baseballreference.com | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/l/limajo01.shtml#TRANS | access-date=July 11, 2006}}</ref>

Other notable alumni included [[Edgardo Alfonzo]], [[Billy Ashley]], [[Armando Benítez]], [[Wes Chamberlain]], [[Carl Everett]], [[Keith Foulke]], [[Jay Gibbons]], [[Brian Giles]], [[Pete Incaviglia]], [[Lance Johnson]], [[Jacque Jones]], [[Jim Leyritz]], [[Ramiro Mendoza]], [[Hensley Meulens]], [[Jamie Navarro]], [[Alonzo Powell]], [[Scott Spiezio]], [[Daryle Ward]], [[Scott Williamson]] and [[Craig Worthington]].

===Rescue from bankruptcy and possible demise===

The Newark Bears, under former owner Marc Berson, filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy on October 24, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bears declare bankruptcy |work=atlanticleaguebaseball.com |url=https://albnews.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html |access-date=November 13, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708022248/http://albnews.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html |archive-date=July 8, 2011 }}</ref>  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 and was 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ballparkdigest.com/201010063169/independent-baseball/news/its-official-bears-to-can-am-association|title=It's official: Bears to Can-Am Association|date=October 6, 2010|website=BallParkDigest.com|access-date=October 16, 2017}}</ref> 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.

In 2010, the Newark Bears were purchased by New Jersey radiologist Dr. Douglas Spiel and his partner, Danielle Dronet.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/sports/njsports/2011/07/newark_bears_ownership_changes.html|title=Newark Bears ownership changes hands once again|date=July 7, 2011}}</ref>

The Can-Am League announced on November 28, 2013, the Newark Bears would not operate in 2014, with the remaining four teams now a division in the American Association.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150923200222/http://www.canamleague.com/cgi-bin/dist/news_new.cgi?id=1385609943 CAN-AM LEAGUE TO PLAY AS DIVISION OF AMERICAN ASSOCIATION IN 2014]}}</ref>  An auction for the team's assets was held on April 26, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2014/04/newark_bears_officially_out_of_business_as_baseball_fades_from_city_again.html|title=Game over: Newark Bears officially out of business, as baseball fades from city again|website=NJ.com|date=April 27, 2014|access-date=October 16, 2017}}</ref>

==Logos and uniforms==
[[File:Newark Bears (logo, 1998-2004).png|thumb|right|The Bears' original primary logo, used from 1998 to 2004]]
[[File:Newark Bears (logo, 2005-2008).jpg|thumb|right|The Bears' primary logo used from 2005-2008]]
The Newark Bears went through three phases of logos and uniform colors.  When the franchise began, it had a purple, black and white color scheme.  In the mid-2000s, the team went to red, black, and white.  When the club ceased operations, its colors were navy blue and white.  The primary logo consisted of a stylized bear holding a baseball bat superimposed over a depiction of the Newark skyline over a baseball diamond.  The "Newark Bears" wordmark was centered at the base of the logo and included white accents and a black outline.

The Bears' uniforms were traditional in design.  The home cap was navy blue throughout with a white block "N"  centered on the front.  The home jerseys were white with traditional navy blue pinstripes.  A navy blue, block "N" was prominently displayed on the left breast. The road jersey was gray with the cursive "Newark" wordmark in navy blue, centered diagonally across the front.  Both home and away jersey sleeves sported the Bears' primary logo.  The Bears wore navy blue belts and socks with all uniforms.

==Season-by-season records==

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="6" style="background:#002147; color:white"|Newark Bears - 2004 to 2011<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nbpfaus.net/~pfau/al-info.html|title=Atlantic League Information|website=nbpfaus.net|access-date=October 16, 2017}}</ref>
|-
!Season
!W - L record
!Winning percentage
!Finish
!Result
!Manager
|-
|1998 || 35-65 || .350 || 6th ||Did not qualify for playoffs ||[[Tom O'Malley]]
|-
|1999 || 55-64 || .462 || 5th in 1st half, 3rd in 2nd half ||Did not qualify for playoffs ||Tom O'Malley
|-
|2000 || 74-66 || .529 || 4th in North Division ||Did not qualify for playoffs ||Tom O'Malley
|-
|2001 || 75-51 || .595 || 1st in South Division ||Lost to Somerset in Championship Series ||Tom O'Malley
|-
|2002 || 69-55 || .566 || 2nd in South Division ||Atlantic League Champions, defeated Bridgeport in Championship Series ||[[Marv Foley]]
|-
|2003 || 63-63 || .500 || 2nd in South Division ||Did not qualify for playoffs ||[[Bill Madlock]]
|-
|2004 || 63-63 || .500 || 2nd in South Division ||Did not qualify for playoffs ||Bill Madlock
|-
|2005 || 58-82 || .414 || 3rd in North Division ||Did not qualify for playoffs ||Chris Jones
|-
|2006 || 42-83 || .336 || 3rd in North Division ||Did not qualify for playoffs ||Chris Jones
|-
|2007 || 72-54 || .571 || 2nd in North Division || 2-0 (won championship)||[[Wayne Krenchicki]]
|-
|2008 || 72-68 || .514 || Last in Freedom Division ||Did not qualify for playoffs ||Wayne Krenchicki
|-
|2009 || 74-66 || .529 || 2nd in Freedom Division ||1-3 (lost to Somerset in Freedom Division Championship)||[[Tim Raines]]
|-
|2010 || 53-86 || .381 || 4th in Freedom Division ||Did not qualify for playoffs ||Tim Raines
|-
|2011 || 41-51 || .446 || 6th in Canadian-American Association ||Did not qualify for playoffs ||Tim Raines
|-
|2012 || 35-65 || .350 || 4th in Canadian-American Association ||Did not qualify for playoffs ||[[Ken Oberkfell]]
|-
|2013 || 37-63 || .370 || 5th in Canadian-American Association ||Did not qualify for playoffs ||[[Garry Templeton]]
|- style="background:#f2f2f2; font-weight:bold"
|Totals (1998–2013) || 902-1036 ||.471 ||-|| - ||
|- style="background:#f2f2f2; font-weight:bold"
|Playoffs || 7-3  || .700 ||-||- ||
|}

* '''2 Atlantic League Championships (2002, 2007)'''

==Rivalries==

Shortly after the Newark Bears joined the Can-Am League, they announced a formal rivalry with the [[New Jersey Jackals]].  Since both teams played in [[Essex County, New Jersey|Essex County]], they established the County Executives' Cup to formalize this geographical contest. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://ballparkbiz.wordpress.com/2010/10/30/bears-jackals-announce-rivalry-county-executives-cup/#more-11541|title=Bears, Jackals Announce Rivalry 'County Executive's Cup'|date=October 30, 2010|website=Wordpress.com|access-date=October 16, 2017}}</ref>

==Radio==

Bears games were aired on [[WSOU-FM]] 89.5 from 1999 to 2003, and again from 2007 to 2008. Previous announcers for the team include [[Seton Hall]] color commentator Dave Popkin, former [[WNEW-FM#WNEW-FM|WNEW-FM]] disc jockey Jim Monaghan, MLB Network host [[Victor Rojas]], [[Somerset Patriots]] announcer Brian Bender, former [[New York Islanders]] broadcaster Jim Cerny, Jason Page, Ray Alexander, and [[Erie Otters]] broadcaster Paul Roper.  In 2009, longtime New York sportscaster [[Spencer Ross]] served as both radio broadcaster and team on-field MC.

==Mascots==

The Newark Bears' official [[mascot]]s were [[Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] bears named Ruppert and Effa.  They wore the team's home jersey and cap.  Ruppert was named after [[Jacob Ruppert]], who owned the former Newark Bears team in the 1930s.  Effa alludes to [[Effa Manley]], the first woman to own and operate a professional baseball team (the Newark Eagles) and the only female member of the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|National Baseball Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Ruppert & Effa| work=Newark Bears| url=http://newarkbears.com/ruppertandeffa/bios/ | access-date=April 3, 2009}}</ref>

== Retired numbers ==

; 21 ([[Roberto Clemente]]): [[Outfielder|OF]], retired in 2009<ref name="Bears-2009summary"/>
; 42 ([[Jackie Robinson]]): [[Second baseman|2B]], retired throughout professional baseball on April 15, 1997<ref name="Bears-2009summary">{{Cite web | author = Newark Bears | title = 2009 Season Recap | publisher = Newark Bears | date = 2009-10-02 | url = http://www.newarkbears.com/news/index.html?article_id=1609 | access-date = 2010-11-04 }}</ref>
;1 ([[Quentin Davis]]): [[outfielder|OF]], retired in 2012<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://brickcitybears.com/?p=2068 |title=Davis Transitions from Star Player to Coach » Newark Bears |access-date=January 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525195400/http://brickcitybears.com/?p=2068 |archive-date=May 25, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Notable former players==
* [[Edgardo Alfonzo]]
* [[Armando Benítez]]
* [[Jose Canseco|José Canseco]]
* [[Ozzie Canseco]]
* [[Ramón Castro (third baseman)|Ramón Castro]]
* [[Carl Everett]]
* [[Jay Gibbons]]
* [[Rickey Henderson]]
* [[José Herrera (1990s outfielder)|José Herrera]]
* [[Bobby Hill (baseball)|Bobby Hill]]
* [[Doug Jennings (baseball)|Doug Jennings]]
* [[Danny Kanell]]
* [[Steve Kent (baseball)|Steve Kent]]
* [[Al Levine]] 
* [[Jim Leyritz]]
* [[José Lima]]
* [[Rob Mackowiak]]
* [[Rubén Mateo]]
* [[Hensley Meulens]]
* [[Tim Raines Jr.]]
* [[Jeriome Robertson]]
* [[Randall Simon]]

==See also==
*[[Sports in Newark, New Jersey]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{official website|http://www.newarkbears.com/}}

<!--Navigation boxes-->
{{S-start}}
{{s-ach|ach}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Lancaster Barnstormers]] <br>2006}}
{{s-ttl|title  = Atlantic League Champions<br>Newark Bears|years  = 2007}}
{{s-aft|after  = [[Somerset Patriots]] <br>2008}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Somerset Patriots]] <br>2002}}
{{s-ttl|title  = Atlantic League Champions<br>Newark Bears|years  = 2002}}
{{s-aft|after  = [[Somerset Patriots]] <br>2003}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-start-collapsible|header={{s-ach|ach}}}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Bridgeport Bluefish]]<br>2006}}
{{s-ttl|title  = North Division Champions<br>Newark Bears|years  = 2007}}
{{s-aft|after  = [[Camden Riversharks|Camden&nbsp;Riversharks]]<br>Liberty Division<br/>2008}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Somerset Patriots]]<br>2001}}
{{s-ttl|title  = South Division Champions<br>Newark Bears|years  = 2002}}
{{s-aft|after  = [[Somerset Patriots]]<br>2003}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Nashua Pride]]<br>2000}}
{{s-ttl|title  = North Division Champions<br>Newark Bears|years  = 2001}}
{{s-aft|after  = [[Bridgeport Bluefish]]<br>2002}}
{{S-end}}
{{Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball League}}
{{NewJerseysports}}
{{NewYorksports}}

[[Category:Newark Bears| ]]
[[Category:Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball teams]]
[[Category:Baseball teams in Newark, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Professional baseball teams in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Baseball teams in the New York metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Defunct Atlantic League of Professional Baseball teams]]
[[Category:Defunct baseball teams in New Jersey]]
[[Category:1998 establishments in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Baseball teams established in 1998]]
[[Category:Former Atlantic League of Professional Baseball teams]]
[[Category:2013 disestablishments in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Defunct independent baseball league teams]]
[[Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 2013]]