Blue Mountain Bears
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass A Short Season
LeagueNorthwest League
DivisionWashington
Major league affiliations
TeamIndependent (1983)
Team data
ColorsPowder blue, red, navy blue, white
       
BallparkBorleske Stadium
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Peter C. Kern
ManagerRonald Mihal

The Blue Mountain Bears were a minor league baseball team located in Walla Walla, Washington. They were members of the Class A Short Season Northwest League for a single season in 1983.

The franchise was then purchased by Bob and Margaret Bavasi, who moved the team west to Everett and operated as the Everett Giants for eleven seasons. With a switch of affiliation to the Seattle Mariners in 1995, they became the AquaSox.[1]

History

From 1973 through 1982, the Walla Walla Padres were the Northwest League affiliate of the San Diego Padres, and the team was owned by Patrica Nelly. After years of declining attendance, the franchise was sold to New Jersey-based Big Six Sports.[2] The new ownership group promptly moved the club west to Richland, and took the outfield fence with them.[3] They rebranded as the Tri-Cities Triplets for 1983 and signed a player development contract with the Texas Rangers.

Seeking to enhance the Northwest League from six to eight teams to allow for improved travel, Commissioner Bob Freitas sought expansion. Along with Spokane, Walla Walla was tabbed as one of the expansion locations and Ohio businessman Peter C. Kern was awarded the franchise. In homage to Walla Walla baseball history, "Bears" was selected as the nickname. While that was familiar, the club elected the unique moniker "Blue Mountain" to provide a greater market appeal,[4] a reference to the Blue Mountains that bisect the region. Due to the late finalization of the club, the Bears were unable to secure an affiliation with a major league team, and operated as an independent for the 1983 campaign.

Ballpark

The Bears played at multi-sport Borleske Stadium, located at 409 West Rees Avenue; the vintage venue is still in use today.[5]

Team identity

The Blue Mountain Bears adopted a color scheme of Powder Blue, Red, Navy Blue, and White. On the field, the Bears were clad in powder blue uniforms. Unlike most teams who utilized powder blue as an alternative to road grey, the color was part of the Bears brand. Absent the traditional white and grey of baseball, the team donned the single powder blue uniform set for all games. Manufactured by Wilson, the jersey was a two button top with red/white/navy blue trim on the neck and sleeve ends. The jersey was embellished with a red on white on navy Blue script B applied in tackle twill. The back of the jersey featured a three-color number in Wilson block font.

In contrast to most teams wearing powder blue uniforms at the time, the Bears' pants utilized a belt similar to the Montreal Expos. The pants were trimmed with a navy blue/white/red stripe. The team wore red stirrups and belts, and capping off the uniform was a solid red hat with a two-color white, outlined in navy blue script B embroidered on the face.

Regular season

1983 Blue Mountain Bears Game Log
Regular Season

June

Date Opponent Score Overall Record
June 22Tri-Cities4–3 (12)1–0
June 23Tri-CitiesRain Out1–0
June 24at Tri-Cities2–51–1
June 25at Tri-Cities4–12–1
June 26at Tri-Cities6–112–2
June 27Bellingham1–112–3
June 28Bellingham2–42–4
June 29Spokane3–82–5
June 30Spokane1–03–5

July

Date Opponent Score Overall Record
July 1at Bellingham2–2 (7)3–5
July 2at Bellingham0–23–6
July 3at Bellingham2–33–7
July 4at Spokane4–53–8
July 5at Spokane3–14–8
July 7Eugene6–55–8
July 8Eugene7–6 (12)6–8
July 9Eugene4–5 (10)6–9
July 10Eugene12–13 (10)6–10
July 11Salem2–4 (13)6–11
July 12Salem6–47–11
July 13SalemRain Out7–11
July 14at Eugene6–58–11
July 15at Eugene7–128–12
July 16at Eugene6–118–13
July 17at Salem (Make up from July 13)6–09–13
July 17at Salem4–99–14
July 18at Salem4–010–14
July 19at Salem5–6 (12)10–15
July 20at Salem6–311–15
July 21at Tri-Cities3–411–16
July 22at Tri-Cities11–712–16
July 23Tri-Cities (Make up from June 22)5–113–16
July 23Tri-Cities0–713–17
July 24Tri-Cities7–214–17
July 25Bellingham0–514–18
July 26Bellingham2–314–19
July 27Bellingham8–615–19
July 28Spokane (Played in Lewiston, ID)11–316–19
July 29Spokane (Played in Lewiston, ID)4–616–20
July 30at Bellingham2–1116–21
July 31at Bellingham (Make up from July 1)5–616–22
July 31at Bellingham4–516–23

August

Date Opponent Score Overall Record
August 1at Spokane4–317–23
August 2at Spokane6–1117–24
August 3at Spokane10–018–24
August 4Northwest League All-Star Game at Tri-Cities
August 5Medford3–918–25
August 6Medford6–319–25
August 7Medford5–619–26
August 8Bend9–820–26
August 9Bend4–321–26
August 10Bend3–222–26
August 11Bend11–423–26
August 12at Medford19–124–26
August 13at Medford2–524–27
August 14at Medford0–324–28
August 15at Medford0–724–29
August 16at Bend0–624–30
August 17at Bend5–425–30
August 18at Bend10–9 (10)26–30
August 19Spokane12–327–30
August 20Spokane3–4 (10)27–31
August 21Spokane1–627–32
August 22Bellingham1–527–33
August 23BellinghamRain Out27–33
August 24Tri-Cities3–128–33
August 25Tri-Cities0–328–34
August 26Tri-Cities3–229–34
August 27at Tri-Cities0–929–35
August 28at Tri-Cities3–230–35
August 29at Spokane7–231–35
August 30at Spokane8–332–35
August 31at Bellingham (Make up from August 23)2–332–36
August 31at Bellingham4–133–36

September

Date Opponent Score Overall Record
September 1at BellinghamRain Out33–36

Season-by-season record

Season PDC Division Finish Wins Losses Win% Post-season Manager Attendance
Blue Mountain Bears
1983 Washington 2nd 33 36 .478 Ronald Mihal 9,019

References

  1. ↑ "Bob & Margaret Bavasi". Seattle NorthCountry. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  2. ↑ "NWL approves owner for Walla Walla team". Walla Walla Union Bulletin. Feb 9, 1983. p. 6. Retrieved 2020-07-24 – via Newspaper Archive.
  3. ↑ "Walla Walla Union Bulletin Newspaper Archives | Sep 12, 1982, p. 9". newspaperarchive.com. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  4. ↑ "Stadium board sets contract talks with baseball franchise". Walla Walla Union Bulletin. March 14, 1983. p. 2. Retrieved 2020-07-24 – via Newspaper Archive.
  5. ↑ "Borleske Stadium". Walla Walla Sweets. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
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