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The Bridgeport Bluefish are an Atlantic League team based in Bridgeport, Connecticut . Since the 1998 season, they have played in the North Division of the Atlantic League Of Professional Baseball , which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball . The Bluefish won their first league championship in 1999 , and have won the most games in Atlantic League history. The team's stadium is called The Ballpark At Harbor Yard . The land under the stadium 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.1In many ways, the renaissance of Bridgeport was started by the Bluefish.2 The original founders of the Bluefish were Mickey Herbert, Jack McGregor, Mary-Jane Foster, and Bridgeport Waterfront Investors. Herbert brought control prior to the 2000 season and 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 (a group 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 over in his place. "Bluefish" refers to the kind of Fish that resides in the Long Island Sound , on which the city of Bridgeport is located. Sometimes the team is called by the unofficial nicknames, the '''Park City Blues''' or the '''Park City Nine''', in reference to the city of Bridgeport's nickname. 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 , and Mariano Duncan . Another interesting part about visiting Bluefish games are at every game, two bearded Bluefish season-ticket holders, also known as the "Sign Guys," walk around the ballpark and hold up signs that support the Bluefish, and encourage their fans to sign it. They have been rumored to do this at every game and most Bluefish fans would say they are the most die-hard Bluefish fans ever. QUICK FACTS :Current Uniform colors: White vest with navy piping for home games and grey for away games. The home jersey has the word "Bluefish" across the front and number on the back. Navy blue hats with the letter "B" in white with aqua outline. :Current logo design: The word "Bluefish" in script in navy with aqua and white outline superimposed over the depiction of a bluefish holding a baseball bat. The city name is centered above the wordmark "Bluefish." :'''Current (1998-present). :Current Broadcasters: Radio: Jeff Holtz, Carl Lombardi, Chris Elsesser :Current Radio Station: WVOF 88.5 fm :Current TV Station: (stub) CURRENT ROSTER Retired Numbers 42, Jackie Robinson , retired throughout baseball. 21, Roberto Clemente REFERENCES
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