A record-breaking week for the Newark Bears
July 1, 2004 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Newark Bears News Release
NEWARK, NJ, July 1âIt seems lately as though every time the Newark Bears play a baseball game, they establish another new franchise record.
On Sunday afternoon the 27th of June, in a game played between the Bears and the Nashua Pride at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium in Newark, NJ, reliever Dave Richards appeared in his 20th game of the season, and 124th of his Newark Bears career. With that one batter appearance (he struck out the only batter he faced, Nashua's Jeff Hastings), Richards passed Frank Thompson as the club's all-time games pitched leader.
"It has been an honor to stay healthy and pitch in front of these great fans in Newark," said Richards, who has spent all, or parts, of the 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2004 seasons with the Bears. "The most important thing for me, though, is to help my team reach the common goal of the playoffs and win a championship here in Newark."
A sixteen year veteran in professional baseball, Richards tossed a pair of scoreless innings on Tuesday, June 29th against the Pennsylvania Road Warriors, appearing in his 125th game in a Bears uniform and further extending his own team mark.
On Monday, the 28th of June one team record was broken and another tied in a 9-4 Bears victory over the Road Warriors at The Den. In that contest, the Bears stole seven bases as a team, breaking the old franchise mark of six which was originally set on July 13, 2000 in a contest against the Bridgeport Bluefish and was, ironically, equaled the day before on the 27th of June against the Nashua Pride.
Also in the June 28th game, Bears teammates Rickey Henderson and Mike Piercy tied the club record for most stolen bases by an individual in a game with three apiece. Henderson, Major League Baseball's all-time stolen base leader, swiped three bags in three attempts. Piercy, who had also stolen three bases in a game for Newark in a 2003 contest against Pennsylvania, was safe on three of his four attempts in the June 28th game.
"We knew about the record and we were pushing each other," said Piercy. "Rickey would say during the game that he was going to break the record that night and I'd say that I was going to do it. It was a lot of fun."
The following night, during the Bears 14-7 victory over Pennsylvania, the Bears hit six home runs in the contest, establishing a new franchise record for most home runs hit in a single game. Former New York Mets outfielder Chris Jones hit a pair of home runs, a three-run blast in the first inning and a solo shot in the third, which came as part of a back-to-back-to-back barrage of home runs by Keith Maxwell, Danny Clyburn and Jones.
Shortstop Jack Joffrion hit the Bears fifth home run of the game, a solo homer in the seventh inning, to tie the previous high-water mark for the club, which had been accomplished six times before in franchise history.
Centerfielder Chris Van Rossum unloaded a two-run blast in the eighth inning to establish the new team record, the Bears sixth home run of the game.
The Newark Bears return to Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium on Sunday, July 4th to host the Somerset Patriots at 1:35 PM. The following night, Monday, July 5th, the Bears and Patriots play at 7:05 PM and following the game there will be a fireworks show presented by IDT. Tuesday, July 6th is Camp Day at The Den with a special start time against the Patriots of 12:05 PM.
Bears tickets may be purchased by calling (973) 483-6900 or online at www.NewarkBears.com.
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Atlantic League Stories from July 1, 2004
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- Patriots' and Ducks' game suspended - Somerset Patriots
- Warriors snap losing streak, beat Surf 5-1 - Atlantic City Surf
- Pride "Coach's Show" set to take flight - American Defenders of New Hampshire
- Joe Piscopo to help Newark Bears celebrate Italian Heritage Night - Newark Bears
- A record-breaking week for the Newark Bears - Newark Bears
- Barnstormers add two to front office - Lancaster Stormers
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