Bridgeport Bluefish facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bridgeport Bluefish
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
League	Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (Liberty Division)
Location	Bridgeport, Connecticut
Ballpark	Currently none
Year founded	1997
Year folded	2017
Nickname(s)	Park City Blues, Park City Nine, The Fish, Magic City
League championships	1 (1999)
Division championships	5 (1998, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2010)
Former ballparks	The Ballpark at Harbor Yard (1998–2017)
Colors	Navy blue, teal, silver, white
Retired numbers	42, 21, 1, 19
Ownership	Frank Boulton
General Manager	Paul Herrmann
Media	Connecticut Post

The Bridgeport Bluefish were a professional baseball team from Bridgeport, Connecticut. They played in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is a league not connected to Major League Baseball. The team played their home games at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard from 1998 to 2017.

The Bluefish team stopped playing after the 2017 season. A new team, the High Point Rockers, later started in High Point, North Carolina, but it's not related to the Bluefish.

Baseball in Bridgeport: A Look Back

Baseball has been played in Bridgeport, Connecticut, since after the American Civil War. A famous player from Bridgeport was James "Orator" O'Rourke. He was important because he signed the first African-American player to a professional team in 1895.

Big league teams, including those from the Negro league, often played games in Bridgeport. The last minor league team before the Bluefish was the Bridgeport Bees. They played from 1941 to 1950. Professional baseball then took a break in Bridgeport for almost 50 years until the Bluefish arrived in 1998.

The Bridgeport Bluefish Story

The Bridgeport Bluefish played their first game on May 21, 1998. They reached the Atlantic League Championship Series five times. They won the championship in 1999 against the Somerset Patriots. They lost in the finals in 1998, 2002, 2006, and 2010.

Many former Major League Baseball players wore the Bluefish jersey. Some of these players include Endy Chávez, Shea Hillenbrand, José Offerman, and Edgardo Alfonzo.

The Bluefish won their first league championship in 1999. Their first manager was Willie Upshaw, a former major league player. The Bluefish have won more games than any other team in Atlantic League history. The stadium where they played, The Ballpark at Harbor Yard, helped bring new life to the South End area of Bridgeport.

The Bluefish became the first team in the Atlantic League to win 1,000 games. This big win happened on June 27, 2012. They beat the York Revolution 2–1 at their home stadium.

In May 2016, Jennie Finch, a famous softball player, was a guest manager for one day. She became the first woman to manage a professional baseball team. The Bluefish won the game she managed!

On August 8, 2017, the Bluefish announced that the 2017 season would be their last in Bridgeport. Their final game at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard was on September 17, 2017. They lost 9–2 to the Somerset Patriots. Even though they had a great record that year, they just missed the playoffs.

The Ballpark at Harbor Yard was later turned into a place for concerts. It's now called the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater and opened in 2021.

Team Colors and Look

The Bridgeport Bluefish had official colors of navy blue, teal, and silver. Their main logo showed the word "Bluefish" in navy blue. It was placed over a cartoon bluefish holding a baseball bat.

Their main baseball cap was navy blue with a teal brim. The cap had a "B" that looked like a bluefish on the front. The home jersey was white with navy blue trim. The word "Bluefish" was across the front. The away jersey was grey with "Bridgeport" written on it. They also had a teal alternate jersey.

Bluefish Season Records

The table below shows how the Bridgeport Bluefish performed each season from 1998 to 2017.

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

The Ferry Cup Rivalry

The Bridgeport Bluefish had a fun rivalry with the Long Island Ducks. They played for the Ferry Cup, named after the ferry company that connects their areas. Both teams are near Long Island Sound, and many fans would cross the water to watch games. As of 2011, the Bluefish had a slight lead in the rivalry, with 114 wins to the Ducks' 112.

Team Mascots

The Bluefish had two official mascots who helped entertain fans.

• B.B. was a bluefish who looked like a person. He wore the team's jersey with the number 98 and black sneakers. B.B. was "born" on May 29, 1997, and joined the Bluefish soon after. His name, B.B., stood for the team's initials and nickname.
• Captain L.I Sounder was another mascot. He dressed like a sailor. His name referred to a captain and someone from the Long Island Sound area. Sounder would sometimes appear at Bluefish home games.

Retired Jersey Numbers

The Bluefish honored special players by retiring their jersey numbers. This means no other player on the team can wear that number again.

• 1 (Angel Espada)
• 19
• 21
• 42

Famous Guest Managers

On special nights, the Bluefish invited famous people to be guest managers for a game. These guests included former baseball stars and other celebrities.

See also

• Professional baseball in Connecticut