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, and spent three years in the Ocean State. When the Pawtucket Red Sox became a Triple-A team in 1973, the BoSox 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, owner Joe Buzas moved the team some ten miles east to New Britain. Then known as the New Britain Red Sox, the team played its home games at Beehive Field, which is still standing next to the current stadium. As Beehive Field became outdated and new facilities began to pop up in other cities around the league, Buzas was faced with the choice of staying in New Britain and building a new stadium, versus moving the franchise again. The Red Sox front office, led by Dan Duquette supported the idea of moving to Springfield, Massachusetts because it was closer to their fan base and closer to the Western Massachusetts home of Duquette. Ultimately, however, in August 1994, Buzas decided to keep the franchise in New Britain. The Red Sox promptly pulled their affiliation, and moved it to Trenton, New Jersey, which was actually farther away from the fan base. For the 1995 season, Buzas, who owned the Salt Lake Buzz (Minnesota triple A), signed a new development agreement with the Minnesota Twins, and this affiliation has continued since. During the 1995 season (their only season in Beehive Field), the team was known as the Hardware City Rock Cats, a reference to New Britain’s nickname “The Hardware City”. The current ballpark, New Britain Stadium, opened in 1996. The team name changed to the current “New Britain” Rock Cats in 1997. Stanley Works continues to be a significant sponsor of the team and ballpark. During 2003 and 2004, the team was involved in several lawsuits over its Friday night fireworks displays. A group of residents living near the stadium claimed the noise was disruptive, and the ash and debris damaged their cars and homes. In May 2005, Judge Marshall Berger allowed the shows to continue after attending one himself, but ruled that their frequency should be scaled back. The team is currently limited to only one show a month (generally held on the first Friday home game), and has added laser-light shows and other “quiet” promotions to replace the missing fireworks. On July 12, 2008, the Rock Cats established a franchise record for single game attendance. The crowd of 8,115 marked the first time the 8,000 mark was surpassed for a game at New Britain Stadium. This record was broken on June 27, 2009 with a crowd of 8,212. Rock Cats radio play-by-play voice Jeff Dooley is the brother-in-law of Red Sox TV play-by-play man Don Orsillo. Roster New Britain Rock Cats roster view talk edit Players Coaches/Other Pitchers — Tony Davis 15 Cole Devries 26 Matt Fox 20 Carlos Gutirrez 30 Mike McCardell 21 Ryan Mullins — Chris Province 16 Spencer Steedley 37 Kyle Waldrop Catchers 11 Danny Lehmann Infielders 12 Brian Dinkelman 17 Toby Gardenhire 32 Erik Lis 5 Yancarlos Ortiz 24 Whitney Robbins — Ramon Santana 2 Steve Singleton — Yangervis Solarte Outfielders — Angel Morales 4 Juan Portes 7 Brandon Roberts 19 Rene Tosoni Manager — Jeff Smith Coaches — Rudy Hernandez (batting) — Stu Cliburn (pitching) Disabled list * On Minnesota Twins 40-man roster Reserve list Suspended list Restricted list # Rehab assignment Roster updated 2009-12-16 Transactions The Rock Cats completed the 2009 season, with a record of 72-69, finishing in second place, in the Eastern League’s Northern Division. In the Cats’ first playoff berth since the 2003 season, and they lost to the Connecticut Defenders in the Northern Division finals. Notable alumni Third baseman Todd Walker (1995) Outfielder Torii Hunter (1996-98) Designated hitter David Ortiz (1997 and brief rehab in 2001) First baseman Doug Mientkiewicz (1997-98) Catcher A.J. Pierzynski (1998 and 2000) Outfielder Michael Cuddyer (2000-2001) Pitcher Juan Rincn (2000-2001) First baseman Justin Morneau (2001-2003) Catcher Joe Mauer (2003) Pitcher Francisco Liriano (2004-2005) Pitcher Pat Neshek (2003-2005) Third baseman Corey Koskie (1997) Mascot Hydration Man (2007-2008) Season records Season Manager W-L Win % Finish Playoffs Results 1995 Sal Butera 65-77 .458 5th 1996 Al Newman 61-81 .430 5th 1997 Al Newman 70-72 .493 3rd 1998 John Russell 83-59 .585 1st Won Semifinals Lost League Championship Series New Britain 3, Binghamton 1 Harrisburg 3, New Britain 1 1999 John Russell 59-82 .418 5th 2000 John Russell 51-91 .359 6th 2001 Stan Cliburn 87-55 .613 1st Won Semifinals League Championship Series Cancelled 1 New Britain 3, Norwich 1 New Britain 0, Reading 0 2002 Stan Cliburn 67-72 .482 4th 2003 Stan Cliburn 73-68 .518 2nd Lost Semifinals New Haven 3, New Britain 2 2004 Stan Cliburn 70-70 .500 3rd 2005 Stan Cliburn 70-71 .496 4th 2006 Riccardo Ingram 64-78 .451 6th 2007 Riccardo Ingram 69-72 .489 4th 2008 Bobby Cuellar 64-77 .454 5th 2009 Tom Nieto 65-61 .516 2nd 12001 League Championship was canceled due to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Mascots Game Mascots: Rocky the Rock Cat (main mascot) Rookie the Rock Cat (Rocky’s nephew) Sandy the Lion Blooper the Walrus Toner the Advance Copy’s Copy Cat Peanut the Elephant Baldy the Eagle South Paw the Inflatable Dog Sponsored Inning Mascots: The Dunkin’ Donuts Trio – Coffee, Iced Coffee, and Donut Crystal Rock’s Hydration Man External links New Britain Rock Cats official site New Britain Rock Cats’ MiLB Page Unofficial site for the old Bristol Red Sox club v d e Minnesota Twins Formerly the Washington Senators and the Washington Senators Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota (Twin Cities) The Franchise Franchise history Seasons Records Players Managers Broadcasters Draft history Ballparks American League Park National Park Griffith Stadium Metropolitan Stadium Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Target Field Spring Training: Plant Field Tinker Field Hammond Stadium Culture Homer Hanky Little Big League Major League: Back to the Minors Continental League “The Piranhas” Important Figures Walter Johnson Clyde Milan Bucky Harris Joe Judge Sam Rice Goose Goslin Joe Cronin Heinie Manush Mickey Vernon Eddie Yost Roy Sievers Harmon Killebrew Camilo Pascual Jim Kaat Tony Oliva Gary Gaetti Rod Carew Bert Blyleven Kent Hrbek Rick Aguilera Kirby Puckett Brad Radke Torii Hunter Johan Santana Frank Viola Jack Morris Corey Koskie Justin Morneau Carl Pohlad Tom Kelly Joe Mauer Ron Gardenhire Retired Numbers 3 6 14 29 34 42 Championships 1924 1987 1991 Pennants American League: 1924 1925 1933 1965 1987 1991 Other titles Western: 1969 1970 1987 1991 Central: 2002 2003 2004 2006 2009 Wild Card: none Seasons (110) 1900s 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910s 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920s 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930s 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940s 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950s 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960s 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970s 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980s 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990s 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000s 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010s 2010 v d e Minnesota Twins franchise Triple-A Double-A Class A Rookie Rochester Red Wings New Britain Rock Cats Fort Myers Miracle Beloit Snappers Elizabethton Twins GCL Twins v d e Eastern League Eastern Division Binghamton Mets New Britain Rock Cats New Hampshire Fisher Cats Portland Sea Dogs Reading Phillies Trenton Thunder Western Division Akron Aeros Altoona Curve Bowie Baysox Erie SeaWolves Harrisburg Senators Richmond Flying Squirrels v d e Sports teams based in Connecticut Baseball EL: New Britain Rock Cats ALPB: Bridgeport Bluefish NECBL: Bristol Nine Danbury Westerners Basketball WNBA: Connecticut Sun Football UFL: Hartford IWFL: Connecticut Crushers WFA: New England Nightmare Hockey AHL: Bridgeport Sound Tigers Hartford Wolf Pack NEPHL: Connecticut C-Dogs Inline Hockey PIHA: Connecticut Blaze Soccer W-League: Connecticut Passion WPSL: SoccerPlus Connecticut Rugby league AMNRL: Connecticut Wildcats New Haven Warriors Rugby Union NERFU: Connecticut Yankees RFC New Haven Old Black RFC Softball ASA: Connecticut Brakettes College athletics (NCAA Div. I) Central Connecticut State Blue Devils Connecticut Huskies Fairfield Stags Hartford Hawks Quinnipiac Bobcats Sacred Heart Pioneers Yale Bulldogs v d e New Britain Rock Cats Founded in 1995 Based in New Britain, Connecticut The Club History Roster Notable Alumni Season records Ballparks Beehive Field New Britain Stadium Twins Organization Minnesota Rochester Fort Myers Beloit Elizabethton GCL Twins Retired Numbers 42 Key Personnel Manager: Bobby Cuellar Eastern League Championships (1) 2001 Northern Division Championships (2) 1998, 2001 Seasons (14) 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 http://www.rockcats.com Categories: Sports clubs established in 1983 | Eastern League baseball teams | Sports in Connecticut | Professional baseball teams in Connecticut | New Britain, Connecticut | Minnesota Twins minor league affiliates
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