Bears sign Jersey City native Willie Banks
Published on August 3, 2005 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Newark Bears News Release
NEWARK, NJ, August 3-The Newark Bears today announced four player transactions, including the signing of former major league right-handed pitcher Willie Banks, a Jersey City native who briefly played with the Bears in 2004. The Bears also signed right-handed pitcher Nick Maness and released right-handed pitcher Giancarlo Alvarado and infielder Teuris Olivares.
The 36 year-old Banks was a first round selection (third overall) of the Minnesota Twins in the 1987 draft. He reached the big leagues with the Twins in 1991 and went on to appear in 181 career major league games for the Twins, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks and Boston Red Sox.
Banks, who also has pitched in Japan during his 17-year career, appeared in 5 games (3 starts) for the Bears in 2004. He posted a 1-3 record before leaving the team to attend to personal matters
Maness, a 26 year-old right-hander from North Carolina, was originally selected by the New York Mets in the 12th round of the 1997 draft. He spent all or parts of four seasons at double-A Binghamton and appeared in three games at triple-A Norfolk in 2002, posting a 2-0 record and 3.50 ERA.
In 2003 Maness pitched briefly for Camden in the Atlantic League; and he has spent the past year-plus pitching in the Can-Am League.
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