Relay in Full Swing

Hello from the Den - It is just before 1 AM. We are having a great time at the event. It has been both entertaining and emotionally moving. The ball park has truly been transformed into an arena of hope. Here are some great shots:

Live from Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium..It's Saturday! (and Relay for Life)

The day has arrived - today, tonight, and tomorrow the Bears are playing host to the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. The field looks great! Head grounds keeper extraordinaire, Carlos, put a pattern of the Cancer ribbon in the outfield. Check back throughout the event for updates and highlights. The event is open to the public, so be sure to stop by.

Strike Out Cancer!

The Cancer Treatment Centers of America sponsored Strike Out Cancer day at the Den this past Sunday. It was a very touching event, and the Bears were proud to be apart of it. Following the game, the CTCA lead a survivors stroll around the bases. Here are a few words from the participants..



Also, don't forget you continue to help the Bears strike out cancer this coming weekend by participating in the Newark Relay for Life. It's not too late to sign up!

Congrats are in Order!

Big weekend at the ball park and many congratulations are in order. First, Bear's Pitcher Rich Scalamandre proposed to his girlfriend on the field after Friday's game. In case you missed it, Rich put together a special slide show for the video board, and then got down on one knee. Don't worry..she said yes!

After the June 18th game, Manager Wayne Krenchicki secured his 1,000th managerial win. 661 of those 1,000 wins have come in the Atlantic League. Finally, special congrats to former bears player Val Majewski - he was picked up by the Astros organization, and is now a member of the AA Corpus Christie Hooks. Congrats to all!

Did You Know?

The city of Newark is home to more then just Bears Baseball. Many famous Americans were born and raised in this great city (we are just saying...)

Just to name a few...Whitney Houston, Shaquille O'Neill, Randy Foye, Daisy Fuentes, and Queen Latifa all have Newark roots!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow...

ROY G BIV! The front office staff was on hand at the ball park last night hosting a private event for the Fresh Air Fund. After a brief rain shower in the midst of the event, a beautiful rainbow emerged over center field. Check it out!

Brrr...It's Cold In Here...

Attention Fans: Beginning at tonight's game, the concession stands will now be serving Icees! Icees will be available at the Cub Grub stand located along the 3rd base side. It's berry-licous!

A Very Special Farewell (for now)

Tonight's game marks the last for one of the Bear's most tenured and hilarious seasonal staffers. Steve Boland has served as the man behind the mic since 2001. He has announced not one, but two Atlantic League Championship games at The Den. He has coined numerous Newark Bear's favorites including: "Wear the Bear!" when promoting the merchandise store and referring to the team as "your Newark Bears." No one will ever forget his famous Cotton Eyed Joe introduction, or the time he spilled a gigantic cup of water on all the sound and video production equipment (oops!).

Steve, the Bears can not thank you enough for all of your hard work, commitment, and humor. The production booth will truly not be the same with out you!

The Bears will welcome back Steve to the Den for a more official farewell event later in the season. For now, if you are at tonight's game be sure to give a curtain call up to the box.

Behind the Mic...30 Hours with Ed Kalegi (and counting)

Hello again from the press box. It is a beautiful day for baseball in Newark, and we are currently in the middle of another 15+ hour shift working the NCAA Division III Regional tournament.

With yesterday's rain out, there is much to catch up on...in terms of our conversations. Here are some continued highlights...

Ed Kalegi:.....now batting, Giovannie Sanchez. Ya know, that is my favorite name of the tournament to announce. 

BB: Really? My favorite one is Mike Guadango or Joe Fanceschini - because it sounds like you are saying "Francis Skinny." Did you know he was a member of the Toms River Little League World Series Championship team?

Ed Kalegi: I did not. Regardless, it has seriously gotten to the point where this morning I put breakfast on the table and said: (announcer voice)"here's the starting breakfast, eggs and toast."

....hours later

BB: Are you seriously reading my women's magazine over there?

Production Guy: yeah, it's literature - is that a problem?

Ed Kalegi: He's learning. He is trying to figure out what women want - so he can offer that. Ya know every time I go to the supermarket, I am tempted to pick up a copy of Cosmo so I can finally find that one spot that "drives him crazy".

(silence)

The tournament continues tomorrow - so be sure to check back for more riveting updates!

No Minor Accomplishment

Hey fans, check out this new book by Bob Golon - No Minor Accomplishment.

Here is brief synopsis from the publishing company:

In No Minor Accomplishment, sports historian and New Jersey native Bob Golon tells the story of the state's baseball scene since the Trenton Thunder arrived in 1994. Drawing on interviews with team owners and employees, industry executives and fans, Golon goes behind the scenes to show how maintaining a minor league ball club can be a risky business venture. However for the fans, baseball in New Jersey is wholesome, exciting family entertainment.

Basically the Bears get a lot of shout outs!!! Bob Golon will be signing autographs and on hand to answer questions about his book at the Bears game on May 30th at 7:05

Behind the Mic...15 Hours with Ed Kalegi

Bears & Eagles Riverfront stadium is home to the NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Regional this week. With 4 games each day, the front office and game day staff has become pretty close, very quickly.

Ed Kalegi, Newark Bears PA announcer and on-field host has been on site working the tournament. No questions have gone unasked and no topics have been left undiscussed during yesterday's near 15 hour press box shift.

Here are some of the highlights....

BB: You do a lot of voice over work when you are not working for the Bears, what are some of your other current projects?

Ed Kalegi: In the off season I work for the NJ Ironmen (Save by Meola!). Right now I am the voice of weather phone as well appearing in two movies coming out later this summer and next winter.

..............hours later..

BB: I am really looking forward to seeing the new Sex & the City Movie!

Ed Kalegi: Ya know, it is always weird for me to catch that show, because I actually used to be classmates with Kristin Davis. We both attended Rutgers, and were actually scene partners in some acting classes. By the end of the semester, our friendship was on the fence of dating - but then, things got weird. Wait- don't post that, my wife might read this!

............hours later...

BB: How many outs to go?

Ed Kalegi:....177

Check back for more updates from the press box throughout the weekend. We'll be here, stop by!

Jerson Ravelo Stops By!

Jerson Ravelo, an Olympic Boxer who currently lives in Newark, NJ, stopped by the Den for last night's game. Jerson will be boxing undefeated Olympic Gold Medalist Andre Ward in the Cayman Islands on Showtime, June 20th. Jerson was a 2000 Olympian for the Dominican Republic. Ravelo is 18-2 as a professional and looks to gain steps to a Super Middleweight Championship bout.

Jerson is active with the youth of Newark and assists them daily letting them know that there are people out there that do care.

Jerson, thank you for stopping by, best of luck next month!

Join our Team!

The Newark Relay for Life, benefiting the American Cancer Society is taking place at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium on June 28- 29th - and fans, we need your help. Join the Newark Bears Relay team by clicking here.

The over night event is one of the largest fundraisers in the state, and the Newark Bears are proud to be apart of it. Stay tuned for updates on exciting performances and event highlights!

First Game in the Books!

Thanks to all the fans who came out to last night's home opener - it was a great success, and we hope that it is the first, of many great nights at The Den.

Here are some of our favorite pictures from the evening:

Starting line ups

Joanne Borgella singing the national anthem.

Rally & Ruppert

Let the season begin!

Newark's Baseball History

Check out today's NY Times for this great article about the rich history of black baseball in the Newark, and the surrounding regional areas.

The Newark Bears are incredibly proud to continue the legacy of both the original Newark Bears, as well as the Newark Eagles - a former member of the Negro Leagues. The Newark Eagles were one of the most successful teams in the league and in 1946, they won the Black World Series Championship. Future Hall-of-Famers Larry Doby, Monte Irvin, Ray Dandridge, Leon Day and Willie Wells were all Newark Eagles.

Last September, Monte Irvin came to the ballpark for the Newark Ring of Honor induction.

To learn more about the history of baseball in Newark, be sure to stop by the Newark Bears History room located on the concourse behind home plate next time you are at The Den!

New Outfield Signs Up!

With only a little over a week before the Bears open at home, some finishing touches are taking place all over the ball park. Currently a crew is outside updating some of the outfield signs. This new Prudential sign was hung in the newly named Prudential Picnic Den. Also, the at&t and Applebees signs in the outfield were replaced and are looking shiny and new.