New Britain Rock Cats 672412 225396604 2008-07-13T13:37:40Z Johnny Spasm 7221235 /* Notable Alumni */ {{current sport-related|image=Baseball current event.png|mini=1|2008 New Britain Rock Cats season}} {{MiLB infobox |name = New Britain Rock Cats |founded = 1995 |city = New Britain, Connecticut |misc = |logo = NBrockcats.PNG |uniformlogo = RockCats.PNG |class level = Double-A (1995-Present) |past class level= |current league = [[Eastern League (baseball)|Eastern League]] (1995-Present) |conference = Northern Division |division = |past league = |majorleague = [[Minnesota Twins]] (1995-present) |uniform = |nickname = New Britain Rock Cats (1996-present) |pastnames = Hardware City Rock Cats (1995) |ballpark = [[New Britain Stadium]] (1996-Present) |pastparks = [[Beehive Field]] (1995) |leaguechamps = 2001 (co-champion) |divisionchamps = 1998, 2001 |misc6 = |owner = |manager = Bobby Cuellar |gm = }} The '''New Britain Rock Cats''' are a [[minor league baseball]] team based in [[New Britain, Connecticut]]. The team, which plays in the [[Eastern League (U.S. baseball)|Eastern League]], is the Double-A affiliate of the [[Minnesota Twins]] major-league club. The Rock Cats play in [[New Britain Stadium]]. The Cats have announced former Major League pitcher [[Bobby Cuellar]] as the team's new manager for the [[2008]] season. [http://www.rockcats.com/news/top/index.html?article_id=179] He replaces [[Riccardo Ingram]] who headed the club during the [[2006]] and [[2007]] campaigns. ==History== The franchise's timeline can be traced back to [[Pittsfield, Massachusetts]], which was the home of the Red Sox' Double-A affiliate from [[1965]] to [[1969]]. The franchise then moved to [[Pawtucket, Rhode Island]], in 1970, and spent two years in the Ocean State. When the [[Pawtucket Red Sox]] became a Triple-A team in [[1973]], the Sox moved their double-A franchise to [[Bristol, Connecticut]]. Known as the '''[[Bristol Red Sox]]''', the team played at '''[[Muzzy Field]]''' for ten seasons from 1973 to [[1982]]. Starting with the [[1983]] season, owner Joe Buzas moved the team some 10 miles east to New Britain. Then known as the '''New Britain Red Sox''', the team played its home games at '''Beehive Field''', which is still standing next to the current stadium. As Beehive Field became outdated and new facilities began to pop up in other cities around the league, Buzas was faced with the choice of staying in New Britain and building a new stadium, versus moving the franchise again. The Red Sox front office, led by Dan Duquette supported the idea of moving to [[Springfield, Massachusetts]], because it was closer to their fan base and closer to the Western Mass home of Duquette, but ultimately in August [[1994]], Buzas decided to stay. The Red Sox promptly pulled their affiliation, and moved it to [[Trenton, New Jersey]] (ironically, farther away from the fan base). For the [[1995]] season, Buzas, who owned the Salt Lake Buzz (Minnesota AAA) signed a new development agreement with the Minnesota Twins, and this affiliation has continued since. During the 1995 season (their only season in Beehive Field), the team was known as the '''Hardware City Rock Cats''', a reference to New Britain's nickname "The Hardware City". The current ballpark, New Britain Stadium, opened in 1996. The team name changed to the current "New Britain" Rock Cats in 1997. [[Stanley Works]] continues to be a significant sponsor of the team and ballpark. During [[2003]] and [[2004]], the team was involved in several lawsuits over its Friday night [[fireworks]] displays. A group of residents living near the stadium claimed the noise was disruptive, and the ash and debris damaged their cars and homes. In May [[2005]], Judge Marshall Berger allowed the shows to continue after attending one himself, but ruled that their frequency should be scaled back.[http://www.record-journal.com/articles/2005/05/06/sports/sports01.txt] The team is currently limited to only one show a month (generally held on the first Friday home game), and has added [[laser lighting display|laser-light shows]] and other "quiet" promotions to replace the missing fireworks. On July 12, 2008, the Rock Cats established a franchise record for single game attendance. The crowd of 8,115 marked the first time the 8,000 mark was surpassed for a game at New Britain Stadium. ==2008 roster== {{New Britain Rock Cats roster}} [[Image:JoeMauerSI.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Joe Mauer]] spent the second half of the 2003 season with the New Britain Rock Cats before appearing on the [[August 7]], [[2006]] cover of [[Sports Illustrated]].]] ==Notable Alumni== * [[Third baseman]] [[Todd Walker]] (1995) * [[Outfielder]] [[Torii Hunter]] (1996-98) * [[Designated hitter]] [[David Ortiz]] (1997 and brief rehab in 2001) * [[First baseman]] [[Doug Mientkiewicz]] (1997-98) * [[Catcher]] [[A.J. Pierzynski]] (1998 and 2000) * [[Outfielder]] [[Michael Cuddyer]] (2000-2001) * [[Pitcher]] [[Juan Rincon]] (2000-2001) * [[First baseman]] [[Justin Morneau]] (2001-2003) * [[Catcher]] [[Joe Mauer]] (2003) * [[Pitcher]] [[Francisco Liriano]] (2004-2005) * [[Pitcher]] [[Pat Neshek]] (2003-2005) ==Season records== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" !Season !! Manager !! W-L !! Win % !! Finish !! Playoffs !! Results |- ! 1995 | [[Sal Butera]] || 65-77 || .458 || 5<sup>th</sup> || || |- ! 1996 | [[Al Newman]] || 61-81 || .430 || 5<sup>th</sup> || || |- ! 1997 | [[Al Newman]] || 70-72 || .493 || 3<sup>rd</sup> || || |- ! 1998 | [[John Russell (baseball)|John Russell]] || 83-59 || .585 || 1<sup>st</sup> || Won Semifinals<br>Lost League Championship Series || New Britain 3, [[Binghamton Mets|Binghamton]] 1<br> [[Harrisburg Senators|Harrisburg]] 3, New Britain 1 |- ! 1999 | [[John Russell (baseball)|John Russell]] || 59-82 || .418 || 5<sup>th</sup> || || |- ! 2000 | [[John Russell (baseball)|John Russell]] || 51-91 || .359 || 6<sup>th</sup> || || |- ! 2001 | [[Stan Cliburn]] || 87-55 || .613 || 1<sup>st</sup> ||Won Semifinals<br> ''League Championship Series Cancelled'' <sup>1</sup> || New Britain 3, [[Connecticut Defenders|Norwich]] 1<br> New Britain 0, [[Reading Phillies|Reading]] 0 |- ! 2002 | [[Stan Cliburn]] || 67-72 || .482 || 4<sup>th</sup> || || |- ! 2003 | [[Stan Cliburn]] || 73-68 || .518 || 2<sup>nd</sup> ||Lost Semifinals ||[[New Hampshire Fisher Cats|New Haven]] 3, New Britain 2 |- ! 2004 | [[Stan Cliburn]] || 70-70 || .500 || 3<sup>rd</sup> || || |- ! 2005 | [[Stan Cliburn]] || 70-71 || .496 || 4<sup>th</sup> || || |- ! 2006 | [[Riccardo Ingram]] || 64-78 || .451 || 6<sup>th</sup> || || |- ! 2007 | [[Riccardo Ingram]] || 69-72 || .489 || 4<sup>th</sup> || || |} :<sup>1</sup>''2001 League Championship was canceled due to the [[September 11, 2001, attacks|9/11 terrorist attacks]].'' ==Trivia== *Rock Cats radio play-by-play voice Jeff Dooley is the brother-in-law of Boston Red Sox TV play-by-play man Don Orsillo. ==External links== * [http://www.rockcats.com/ New Britain Rock Cats official site] * [http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/clubs/ip_index.jsp?sid=milb&cid=t538 New Britain Rock Cats' MiLB Page] * [http://www.bristolredsox.com/ Unofficial site for the old Bristol Red Sox club] {{MLB Team Minnesota Twins}} {{US Eastern League}} {{Newenglandsports}} {{New Britain Rock Cats}} [[Category:Eastern League baseball teams]] [[Category:Sports in Connecticut]] [[Category:Baseball teams in Connecticut]] [[Category:New Britain, Connecticut|Rock Cats]]