Mobile BayBears

The Mobile BayBears were a Minor League Baseball team based in Mobile, Alabama, United States. The team, which played in the Southern League, served as the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres (1997–2006), Arizona Diamondbacks (2007–2016), and Los Angeles Angels (2017–2019). The BayBears played in Hank Aaron Stadium, which opened in 1997 and is named after baseball's former all-time home run king and Mobile native Hank Aaron.

Mobile BayBears
1997–2019 Mobile, Alabama
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes	Double-A (1997–2019)
Previous leagues	Southern League (1997–2019)
Major league affiliations
Previous teams	Los Angeles Angels (2017–2019) Arizona Diamondbacks (2007–2016) San Diego Padres (1997–2006)
Minor league titles
League titles (4)	1998 2004* 2011 2012
Division titles (3)	1998 2004 2011 *Co-champions
Team data
Previous names	Mobile BayBears (1997–2019)
Colors	Navy, light blue, ecru, white
Mascot	Teddy (2001–2019) Bay B. Bear (1997–2019) BayBear (1997–2004) Kookie (2001–2019)
Previous parks	Hank Aaron Stadium (1997–2019)

"Teddy", mascot of the BayBears

In 2020, the BayBears relocated to Madison, Alabama, where they are now called the Rocket City Trash Pandas.^[1]

History

The BayBears franchise originated in 1976 in Charlotte, North Carolina, first as the Charlotte Orioles and then as the first incarnation of the Charlotte Knights. When Charlotte moved up to become a Triple-A franchise in 1993, the team found a temporary home in Nashville, Tennessee, as the Nashville Xpress from 1993 to 1994. It existed as the Port City Roosters in Wilmington, North Carolina, from 1995 to 1996. The franchise landed in Mobile in 1997.

The team's name was announced in July 1996, having been selected in a name-the-team contest.^[2] Mobile mayor Mike Dow announced the name at that year's Mobile Fourth of July fireworks display.^[3] In September 1996, the BayBears signed an affiliation agreement with the San Diego Padres.^[4]

In November 2017, BayBears owners Michael Savit and HWS Group, closed on the sale of the team to BallCorps LLC.^[5] The team will continue to play in Mobile through the 2019 season, but will relocate to Madison, Alabama, in 2020, where they will play in a newly-built ballpark.^[6][7] Upon relocation, the team will be called the Rocket City Trash Pandas.^[1] The name is a reference to both the area's association with the space industry and the determination and ingenuity of raccoons.^[1]

The BayBears played their final game on September 2, 2019.^[8] They were defeated by the Tennessee Smokies, 5–4, before a crowd of 1,554 people.^[9]

BayBears Hall of Fame

• Dusty Allen
• Ben Davis
• Buddy Carlyle
• Matt Clement
• Kevin Nicholson
• Brian Tollberg
• Wiki González
• Jake Peavy

Other notable alumni

• Emilio Bonifacio
• Craig Breslow
• Max Scherzer
• Justin Upton
• Paul Goldschmidt
• Mark Reynolds
• Trevor Bauer
• Tyler Skaggs

References

1. Ary, Patrick (September 5, 2018). "Rocket City Trash Pandas chosen as new Madison baseball team's name". WHNT. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
2. "Baseball Notes". Wilmington Star-News. 1996-07-06. p. 2C. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
3. "Baseball". Tuscaloosa News. 1996-07-05. p. 3C. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
4. "New Mobile team links with Padres". Wilmington Star-News. 1996-09-20. p. 2C. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
5. Stephenson, Creg (November 9, 2017). "Mobile BayBears confirm sale, will play 2018 season at Hank Aaron Stadium". AL.com. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
6. Reichard, Kevin (January 30, 2018). "New Madison Ballpark Approved; 2020 Opening Planned". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
7. "MiLB Approves Mobile BayBears Move to Madison". Ballpark Digest. May 30, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
8. Gattis, Paul (September 3, 2019). "BayBears bid farewell to Mobile to become Rocket City Trash Pandas". AL.com. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
9. "Smokies vs. BayBears Box Score | 09/02/19". MiLB.com. September 2, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2019.

External links