![]() High Point got an expansion franchise that is not connected to the Bluefish (the High Point Rockers). Though it had been planned for the Bluefish to relocate to High Point, later the team ceased operations at the end of the 2017 season. ![]() Despite having the best overall record in the Liberty Division, the Bluefish missed the playoffs, as they finished one game back of the Patriots in the first–half standings and two games back of their cross-sound rival Long Island Ducks in the second half. On September 17, the Bluefish played the final game in their 20-year history at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard, losing 9–2 to the Somerset Patriots. On August 8, 2017, the Bluefish announced that the 2017 season would be the team's last in Bridgeport. It had yet to be determined where (or if) the Bluefish would play in 2018. The stadium was expected to be the new home for the Bluefish in 2019. In April 2017, the City of High Point, North Carolina, approved $15 million from the city budget to begin land acquisition and engineering studies for a new $45 million, publicly funded stadium to be financed through limited-obligation tax bonds. The team played and won one game that day. įor one day in May 2016, Jennie Finch was a guest manager for the Bluefish, thus becoming the first woman to manage a professional baseball team. On June 27, 2012, the team defeated the York Revolution 2–1 at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard to capture the victory. The Bluefish became the first team in Atlantic League history to record 1,000 victories as a franchise in 2012. The Bluefish were purchased by Frank Boulton, who is also the owner of the Long Island Ducks and the founder of the Atlantic League. 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. ![]() 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. Herbert anchored the team through a mayoral scandal and difficult financial circumstances. The founders of the Bluefish were Mickey Herbert, Jack McGregor, Mary–Jane Foster, and the Bridgeport Waterfront Investors. The success of the Bluefish led to redevelopment of the South End, including construction of the Arena at Harbor Yard and a multiuse parking garage. The Jenkins Valve plant was demolished to make way for the stadium. 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 Bluefish have won the most games in Atlantic League history. The Bluefish won their first league championship in 1999, led by their inaugural manager, and long time major leaguer – Willie Upshaw. Some of the former major leaguers who have worn Bluefish jerseys include Endy Chávez, Shea Hillenbrand, Alex Hinshaw, José Offerman, Edgardo Alfonzo, Deivi Cruz, Junior Spivey, Quinton McCracken, Antonio Alfonseca, Willy Mo Pena, Joey Gathright, Adam Greenberg, and Mariano Duncan. It won in 1999 against the Somerset Patriots and lost to Atlantic City in 1998, Newark in 2002, Lancaster in 2006, and York in 2010. The team has been to five Atlantic League Championship Series. The first game of the Bridgeport Bluefish was May 21, 1998. Professional baseball was not played in Bridgeport for about another half-century, until the arrival of the Bluefish in 1998. The last affiliated minor league baseball team, the Bridgeport Bees, played in the Interstate League and the Colonial League from 1941 to 1950. Visiting Major League and Negro league teams often played exhibition games in the shadow of the Bridgeport's smokestacks. 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. Teams that called the city home included the Victors, Soubrettes, Orators, Crossmen, Mechanics, Hustlers, Bolts, Americans, Bees, and Bears. The game of baseball was first played in Bridgeport, Connecticut soon after the Civil War ended. In its place, a new franchise not connected to the Bluefish began play in High Point called the High Point Rockers. The franchise had announced it would relocate to High Point, North Carolina, in 2019, but ceased operations instead. ![]() They played their home games at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard from 1998 to 2017. The team was a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which was not affiliated with Major League Baseball. The Bridgeport Bluefish were an American minor league baseball team based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Park City Blues, Park City Nine, The Fish, Magic City ![]() Minor league professional baseball team in Bridgeport, Connecticut, United StatesĪtlantic League of Professional Baseball (Liberty Division) ![]()
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