Hartford Yard Goats
Hartford Yard Goats Founded in 2016 Hartford, Connecticut | |||||
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Class-level | |||||
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Current | Double-A (1983–present) | ||||
Minor league affiliations | |||||
League | Eastern League (1983–present) | ||||
Division | Eastern Division | ||||
Major league affiliations | |||||
Current | Colorado Rockies (2015–present) | ||||
Previous |
Minnesota Twins (1995–2014) Boston Red Sox (1983–1994) | ||||
Minor league titles | |||||
League titles | 2 1983, 2001 (Co-Champion) | ||||
Division titles | 2 1998, 2001 | ||||
Team data | |||||
Nickname | Hartford Yard Goats | ||||
Previous names |
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Colors |
Navy blue, green, gray, khaki, white | ||||
Mascot | Chompers and Chew Chew | ||||
Ballpark |
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Previous parks |
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Owner(s)/ Operator(s) | Art Solomon | ||||
Manager | Darin Everson | ||||
General Manager | Tim Restall |
The Hartford Yard Goats are a Double-A minor league baseball team in Hartford, Connecticut in the Eastern League. The team was founded in 2016, when the New Britain Rock Cats, a Colorado Rockies affiliate, relocated to Hartford, Connecticut. The Yard Goats are scheduled to move to Dunkin' Donuts Park[1] when construction is completed.[2] Jonathan Cole, the stadium architect, said construction could resume in September 2016.[3]
History
The franchise's timeline can be traced back to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where they were a Boston Red Sox Double-A affiliate from 1965 to 1969. The franchise then moved to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, in 1970, where they spent three years. The Pawtucket Red Sox became a Triple-A team in 1973, and the Red Sox moved their Double-A franchise to Bristol, Connecticut. Known as the Bristol Red Sox, the team played at Muzzy Field for ten seasons from 1973 to 1982. Starting with the 1983 season, the team was moved ten miles east to New Britain, Connecticut. Then known as the New Britain Red Sox, the team played its home games at Beehive Field, which stands next to New Britain Stadium.
The nickname "Yard Goats" was selected as part of a "Name the Team" contest which drew over 6,000 submissions. "Yard goats" is rail-yard slang for the switch engines or terminal tractors that shuttle train cars between different locomotives, but the logo features a goat chomping on a baseball bat and the team makes heavy use of animal imagery and symbolism.[4]
Mascots
The team has two mascots, a green goat named Chompers and a blue goat named Chew Chew. The names were selected as part of a "Name the Mascot" contest. Chew Chew's name is designed to reflect both the railroad meaning of the nickname (as in choo choo train) and the goat logo, which is chewing on a baseball bat.[5]
On April 21, 2016, Hartford Police reported that an individual had tackled Chompers outside the Connecticut Science Center after an event there. The man inside the costume, who was not named, was uninjured. Police are unsure whether it was an intentional assault or a prank that went too far.[6]
Current roster
Hartford Yard Goats roster | ||||
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Players | Coaches/Other | |||
Pitchers
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Catchers Infielders
Outfielders
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Manager
Coaches
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References
- ↑ Polansky, Rob; Campbell, Matt; Naples, Kaitlyn (June 10, 2015). "Yard Goats name their new ballpark in Hartford 'Dunkin' Donuts Park'". WFSB-TV.
- ↑ "Courant Community". www.courant.com. Hartford Courant. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
- ↑ "Dunkin Donuts Park Architect Back On The Job". www.courant.com. Hartford Courant. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
- ↑ Doyle, Paul (March 18, 2015). "What's a Yard Goat? It's a baseball team coming to Hartford". Hartford Courant.
- ↑ Polansky, Rob; Dixon, Mark (October 30, 2015). "'Chew Chew' and 'Chompers' unveiled as Yard Goats mascots". WFSB-TV.
- ↑ "Hartford Police Investigating Incident Involving Yard Goats Mascot". NBC Connecticut. April 21, 2016.