Newark Bears

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 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 in what is now known as the Ironbound section of Newark.

The Bears' original primary logo, used from 1998 to 2004

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 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.

• 2 Atlantic League Championships (2002, 2007)

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, they established the County Executives' Cup to formalize this geographical contest. [9]

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 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.

The Newark Bears' official mascots were 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.[10]

21 (Roberto Clemente)

OF, retired in 2009[11]

42 (Jackie Robinson)

2B, retired throughout professional baseball on April 15, 1997[11]

1 (Quentin Davis)

OF, retired in 2012[12]

• Edgardo Alfonzo
• Armando Benítez
• José Canseco
• Ozzie Canseco
• Ramón Castro
• Carl Everett
• Jay Gibbons
• Rickey Henderson
• José Herrera
• Bobby Hill
• Doug Jennings
• Danny Kanell
• Steve Kent
• Al Levine
• Jim Leyritz
• José Lima
• Rob Mackowiak
• Rubén Mateo
• Hensley Meulens
• Tim Raines, Jr.
• Jeriome Robertson
• Randall Simon
• Phil Weintraub

• Sports in Newark, New Jersey

• Official website