Bridgeport Bluefish

The game of baseball was first played in Bridgeport, Connecticut soon after the Civil War ended. Teams that called the city home included the Victors, Soubrettes, Orators, Crossmen, Mechanics, Hustlers, Bolts, Americans, Bees, and 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 the shadow of the Bridgeport's smokestacks. The last affiliated minor league baseball team, the Bridgeport Bees, played in the Interstate League and the Colonial League from 1941 to 1950. Professional baseball was not played in Bridgeport for about another half-century, until the arrival of the Bluefish in 1998.

The first game of the Bridgeport Bluefish was May 21, 1998. The team has been to five Atlantic League Championship Series. 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.

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.

The Bluefish won their first league championship in 1999, led by their inaugural manager, and long time major leaguer – Willie Upshaw. The Bluefish have won the most games in Atlantic League history.{{Cite web|url=http://www.atlanticleague.com/about/history/|title=Atlantic League Professional Baseball: History|website=www.atlanticleague.com|language=en|access-date=May 16, 2018}}{{cite book|author=Eric D. Lehman|title=Insiders' Guide® to Connecticut|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TEV9CAAAQBAJ|date=March 7, 2015|publisher=Globe Pequot Press|isbn=978-1-4930-1618-1}} 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 demolished to make way for the stadium. 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.{{cite web | title=Bridgeport Renewal | work=EPA | url=http://www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/success/bridge_ct.pdf | format=PDF | access-date=May 26, 2006 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060624001833/http://www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/success/bridge_ct.pdf | archive-date=June 24, 2006 }}

The 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 included McGregor and Foster. 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. The Bluefish were purchased by Frank Boulton, who is also the owner of the Long Island Ducks and the founder of the Atlantic League.

The Bluefish became the first team in Atlantic League history to record 1,000 victories as a franchise in 2012. On June 27, 2012, the team defeated the York Revolution 2–1 at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard to capture the victory.{{Cite web|url=http://bridgeportbluefish.com/news/index.html?article_id=1033|title=Bluefish Win # 1,000|website=Bridgeportbluefish.com|access-date=April 8, 2016}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscore.html?gameid=76514|title=Bridgeport Bluefish vs. York Revolution – Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Clubs – boxscore|website=Pointstreak Sports Technologies|access-date=April 8, 2016}}

For 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.{{cite web|last=Eisenberg |first=Matt |url=https://www.espn.com/espnw/culture/the-buzz/story/_/id/15809795/guest-manager-jennie-finch-leads-bridgeport-bluefish-win |title=Guest manager Jennie Finch leads Bridgeport Bluefish to win |publisher=Espn.go.com |date=July 16, 2013 |access-date=May 31, 2016}} The team played and won one game that day.

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 stadium was expected to be the new home for the Bluefish in 2019. It had yet to be determined where (or if) the Bluefish would play in 2018.{{cite web |last=Speddon |first=Zach |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2017/09/18/bridgeport-bluefish-play-ballpark-at-harbor-yard-finale/ |title=Bridgeport Bluefish Play Ballpark at Harbor Yard Finale |publisher=Ballpark Digest|date=September 18, 2017 |access-date=September 18, 2017}}

On August 8, 2017, the Bluefish announced that the 2017 season would be the team's last in Bridgeport. 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.{{Cite web |url=http://bridgeportbluefish.com/news/?article_id=2295 |title=Archived Document |access-date=September 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918202137/http://bridgeportbluefish.com/news/?article_id=2295 |archive-date=September 18, 2017 |url-status=dead }} 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.{{cite web|url=http://atlanticleague.com/about/newswire/?article_id=836|title=2017 Atlantic League Playoffs Complete|website=Atlanticleague.com|access-date=May 15, 2018}}

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. High Point got an expansion franchise that is not connected to the Bluefish (the High Point Rockers).

The Ballpark at Harbor Yard was converted to a concert venue known as Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater.{{cite web |url=http://bridgeportbluefish.com/news/?article_id=2233 |title=City To Turn Bluefish Ballpark Into Concert Venue |website=bridgeportbluefish.com |publisher=Bridgeport Bluefish |date=August 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808235847/http://bridgeportbluefish.com/news/?article_id=2233|archive-date=August 8, 2017|access-date=August 8, 2017}}{{cite news |title=Bridgeport amphitheater gets new name ahead of reopening |url=https://connecticut.news12.com/bridgeport-amphitheater-gets-new-name-ahead-of-reopening |access-date=October 10, 2021 |work=News 12 Connecticut |date=February 25, 2021}} A groundbreaking ceremony for the replacement amphitheater was held in July 2018.{{cite news |title=Groundbreaking for amphitheater at former Ballpark at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport |url=https://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/fairfield/groundbreaking-for-amphitheater-at-former-ballpark-at-harbor-yard-in-bridgeport/1299393965 |access-date=April 24, 2019 |work=WTNH |publisher=Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. |date=July 13, 2018}} The amphitheater opened July 28, 2021.{{cite news |last1=Naples |first1=Kaitlyn |last2=Passmore |first2=Shawnte |title=Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater is officially open |url=https://www.wfsb.com/news/hartford-healthcare-amphitheater-is-officially-open/article_3462e0da-efad-11eb-980e-432b9624f8b5.html |access-date=October 10, 2021 |work=WFSB |date=July 28, 2021 |language=en}}

The official colors of the Bridgeport Bluefish were navy blue, teal, and silver. The primary logo consisted of the "Bluefish" wordmark in navy blue with white and teal outline superimposed over a depiction of a cartoon bluefish holding a baseball bat.

The primary cap was navy blue with a teal brim and button, with the cap logo depicting a bluefish interwoven with a capital "B" centered on the front. The home jersey was 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 white outline and teal drop shadow. The away jersey is grey with navy blue piping, and the "Bridgeport" wordmark centered across the front in navy blue with a white and teal outline. The Bluefish also have a teal alternate jersey, with navy piping with the "fishhook" wordmark centered across the front.

• 1 Atlantic League Championship (1999)
• 5 Division Championships (1998, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2010)

The Bridgeport Bluefish contend with the Long Island Ducks over the Ferry Cup, which is sponsored by the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company. The two teams border on Long Island Sound, and many fans of both teams regularly cross it to support them. The Ducks currently hold the Ferry Cup by winning the 2011 season series 12–6. As of 2011 the Bluefish-Ducks rivalry record is 114–112, in favor of Bridgeport.{{cite web | title=Bluefish and Ducks introduce Ferry Cup | work=Bridgeport Bluefish | url=http://www.bridgeportbluefish.com/news/index.html?article_id=250 | access-date=May 12, 2009 }}

One of the Bridgeport Bluefish official mascots is an anthropomorphic bluefish named B.B. He wears the team's alternate jersey (number 98) with black sneakers. B.B. was born on May 29, 1997, in Cape Hatteras. He later migrated to the Long Island Sound and joined the Bluefish soon after. The mascot's name alludes to the initials of the team and its nickname.{{cite web | title=Mascot Biographies | work=Bridgeport Bluefish | url=http://www.bridgeportbluefish.com/kids/mascot/ | access-date=October 2, 2008 }}

Captain L.I Sounder is another source of entertainment at the Harbor Yard. He wears a uniform of a sailor. L.I Sounder's name referred to the nautical rank of captain and a name for a Long Island Sound resident. Sounder occasionally appears at Bluefish home games.

; 42 (Jackie Robinson): 2B, Retired throughout professional baseball on April 15, 1997

; 21 (Roberto Clemente): RF, Retired by the Bluefish in 2006[http://www.bridgeportbluefish.com/news/index.html?article_id=150 Roberto Clemente Night], Bridgeport Bluefish, August 14, 2008. Accessed March 5, 2009. "Roberto Clement Night."

; 19 (Luis Lopez): 3B, Retired by the Bluefish on September 19, 2015,

On several occasions, the Bluefish had promotional nights in which former baseball players and managers, as well as other celebrities, have been enlisted to serve as guest managers.

• Professional baseball in Connecticut

{{Reflist}}

{{S-start}}

{{s-ach|ach}}

{{s-bef|before = Atlantic City Surf
1998}}

{{s-ttl|title = Atlantic League Champions
Bridgeport Bluefish|years = 1999}}

{{s-aft|after = Nashua Pride
2000}}

{{s-end}}

{{s-start-collapsible|header={{s-ach|ach}}}}

{{s-bef|before = Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
2009}}

{{s-ttl|title = Liberty Division Champions
Bridgeport Bluefish|years = 2010}}

{{s-aft|after = Long Island Ducks
2011}}

{{s-bef|before = Nashua Pride
2005}}

{{s-ttl|title = North Division Champions
Bridgeport Bluefish|years = 2006}}

{{s-aft|after = Newark Bears
2007}}

{{s-bef|before = Newark Bears
2001}}

{{s-ttl|title = North Division Champions
Bridgeport Bluefish|years = 2002}}

{{s-aft|after = Nashua Pride
2003}}

{{s-bef|before = New League}}

{{s-ttl|title = Atlantic League
Best Regular Season Record
Bridgeport Bluefish|years = 1998, 1999}}

{{s-aft|after = Nashua Pride 
North Division 2000
Somerset Patriots
South Division 2000}}

{{s-end}}

{{Atlantic League}}

Category:Sports in Bridgeport, Connecticut

Category:Tourist attractions in Fairfield County, Connecticut

Category:Professional baseball teams in Connecticut

Category:Defunct Atlantic League of Professional Baseball teams

Category:1997 establishments in Connecticut

Category:Baseball teams established in 1997

Category:2017 disestablishments in Connecticut

Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 2017

Category:Defunct baseball teams in Connecticut