Yakima Bears
Encyclopedia
The Yakima Bears are a minor league baseball
team in Yakima, Washington
. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League
and have been a farm team of the Arizona Diamondbacks
since 2001, formerly with the Los Angeles Dodgers
from the team's creation in 1990 when the Salem Dodgers were moved to Yakima. The Bears play home games at Yakima County Stadium
.
The history of baseball in Yakima stretches back to 1920 with the short-lived Yakima Indians in the Northwest League
's original form as the Northwest International League. The Indians lasted only two seasons, closing in 1921 as the NIL became the Western International League.
Yakima re-entered the WIL in 1937 as the Yakima Pippins, reflecting Washington's apple-growing heritage, lasting until the 1941 season due to World War II. In 1946, as the WIL resumed play, Yakima again fielded a team, this time named the Stars. Renaming themselves the Packers for the 1948 season, the team finally settled on the Bears in 1949, lasting through the reformation of the WIL into the Northwest League, as the Bears became a charter member of the NWL in the 1955 season.
The Bears' time in the early years of the NWL were fruitful, as they won six NWL titles in nine years (1956, 1958-'60, 1963, and 1964). In 1966, when the league converted to short-season, the team renamed itself for the last time as the Yakima Braves due to an agreement with the Atlanta Braves
, which they were affiliated with at the time, but the team was no longer in Yakima at the end of the 1966 season.
In 1990, Yakima again fielded a team in the Northwest League when the Dodgers moved from Salem after the 1989 season, bringing with them their affiliation with the Los Angeles Dodgers
. In 2001, the Bears changed their affiliation to the Arizona Diamondbacks
.
presented a proposal for a new ballpark to be built on the Clark College
campus, ready to host the Yakima Bears franchise for the 2012 season.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team in Yakima, Washington
Yakima, Washington
Yakima is an American city southeast of Mount Rainier National Park and the county seat of Yakima County, Washington, United States, and the eighth largest city by population in the state itself. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 91,196 and a metropolitan population of...
. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
and have been a farm team of the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
since 2001, formerly with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
from the team's creation in 1990 when the Salem Dodgers were moved to Yakima. The Bears play home games at Yakima County Stadium
Yakima County Stadium
Yakima County Stadium is a stadium in Yakima, Washington located in the Central Washington State Fairgrounds. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Yakima Bears minor league baseball team. Bob Dylan played the venue during the 2010 Never Ending Tour on September 3, 2010....
.
The history of baseball in Yakima stretches back to 1920 with the short-lived Yakima Indians in the Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
's original form as the Northwest International League. The Indians lasted only two seasons, closing in 1921 as the NIL became the Western International League.
Yakima re-entered the WIL in 1937 as the Yakima Pippins, reflecting Washington's apple-growing heritage, lasting until the 1941 season due to World War II. In 1946, as the WIL resumed play, Yakima again fielded a team, this time named the Stars. Renaming themselves the Packers for the 1948 season, the team finally settled on the Bears in 1949, lasting through the reformation of the WIL into the Northwest League, as the Bears became a charter member of the NWL in the 1955 season.
The Bears' time in the early years of the NWL were fruitful, as they won six NWL titles in nine years (1956, 1958-'60, 1963, and 1964). In 1966, when the league converted to short-season, the team renamed itself for the last time as the Yakima Braves due to an agreement with the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, which they were affiliated with at the time, but the team was no longer in Yakima at the end of the 1966 season.
In 1990, Yakima again fielded a team in the Northwest League when the Dodgers moved from Salem after the 1989 season, bringing with them their affiliation with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. In 2001, the Bears changed their affiliation to the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
.
Proposed Relocation
Recently the franchise has been frustrated by the lack of progress on a new stadium that would meet minor league standards, and a declining local economy. On May 13, 2011, the city of Vancouver, WashingtonVancouver, Washington
Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state with a 2010 census population of 161,791 as of April 1, 2010...
presented a proposal for a new ballpark to be built on the Clark College
Clark College (Washington)
Clark College is a community college located in Vancouver, Washington.The college, which celebrated its 75th anniversary on October 1, 2008, was founded as a private, two-year, junior college in 1933...
campus, ready to host the Yakima Bears franchise for the 2012 season.
Notable ex-Bears
- Todd HollandsworthTodd HollandsworthTodd Mathew Hollandsworth is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball. He played with the Los Angeles Dodgers , Colorado Rockies , Texas Rangers , Florida Marlins , Chicago Cubs , Atlanta Braves , Cleveland Indians , and Cincinnati Reds...
- Rookie of the Year for Los Angeles Dodgers - Conor JacksonConor JacksonConor Sims Jackson is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed. He is 6'2" and roughly 225 pounds. His father is actor John M...
- Oakland Athletics 1st baseman - Ted LillyTed LillyTheodore Roosevelt "Ted" Lilly III , is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He bats and throws left-handed...
- Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher - Damian RollsDamian RollsDamian Michael Rolls is a former Major League Baseball player. He was the hitting coach for the Kansas City T-Bones....
- MLB 3rd baseman drafted by Los Angeles Dodgers - Scott ProctorScott ProctorScott Christopher Proctor is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a Free Agent.-Minor leagues:Proctor was drafted in the 17th round of the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft by the New York Mets out of Martin County High School, but decided to attend Florida State University,...
- Atlanta Braves reliever - Dan UgglaDan UgglaDaniel Cooley Uggla is an American professional baseball second baseman with the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball....
- Second baseman for Atlanta Braves - Paul KonerkoPaul KonerkoPaul Henry Konerko is an American professional baseball first baseman who has played for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball since 1999. He previously played with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds . Konerko helped the Chicago White Sox win the 2005 World Series, the...
- Chicago White Sox 1st baseman, 4-time All-Star - Pedro AstacioPedro AstacioPedro Julio Astacio is a Major League Baseball pitcher. He has played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , Colorado Rockies , Houston Astros , New York Mets , Boston Red Sox , Texas Rangers , the San Diego Padres and the Washington Nationals...
- 14-year MLB pitcher - Peter BergeronPeter BergeronPeter Francis Bergeron is a former professional baseball outfielder. Bergeron appeared 308 Major League games, all of which were played with the Montreal Expos over five different seasons. He was known as primarily being a leadoff hitter, with above average speed and defensive skills...
- Fourth-round draft pick by Los Angeles Dodgers in 2004 - Joe ThurstonJoe ThurstonJoseph William Thurston is an American professional baseball utility player for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball. He has previously played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, St...
- Journeyman MLB infielder - Shane VictorinoShane VictorinoShane Patrick Victorino is an outfielder in Major League Baseball who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies. He is a switch-hitter and throws right-handed.-Career:...
- Philadelphia Phillies center fielder, 2-time Gold Glove winner - Mark ReynoldsMark Reynolds (baseball)Mark Andrew Reynolds is a third baseman/first baseman in Major League Baseball who plays for the Baltimore Orioles. He is known both for his power-hitting abilities and for his record-breaking strike out totals...
- Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles 3rd baseman - Chris CarterChris Carter (left-handed hitter)William Christopher "Chris" Carter , nicknamed "Animal", is an American professional baseball infielder and outfielder.-High school:...
- New York Mets 1st baseman - Koyie HillKoyie HillKoyie Dolan Hill is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Chicago Cubs.-Baseball career:While attending Wichita State University, Hill compiled a .355 batting average and 186 RBI primarily as a third baseman....
- Chicago Cubs catcher - Chad TracyChad TracyChad Austin Tracy is a Major League Baseball third baseman, who is currently with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.-College & draft:...
-- Infielder for Diamondbacks, Cubs - Carlos GonzalezCarlos González (baseball)Carlos Eduardo González is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Colorado Rockies.-Minor leagues:...
- Colorado Rockies outfielder