(This story appeared in the Hunterdon Democrat newspaper)
The Somerset Patriots’ biggest rivals are back.
A judge approved the sale of the Newark Bears last Thursday to the Bases Loaded Group, LLC, a group of investors that includes former GM Tom Cetnar. The deal allows the Bears to return to the Atlantic League for the 2009 seasons.
“We’re very excited,” Cetnar said in his first interview after the deal was completed. “This is going to be a fresh start for the club and we’re very confident we can turn this thing around.”
On Oct. 24, former Bears owner Marc Berson decided he could no longer continue operating the team, citing financial reasons. He let go all but three employees and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The next day, Cetnar learned of the Bears’ demise from a local news report. He quickly put a group of investors together and called Berson. Within six days, BLG agreed to buy the Bears for $100,000 and to take over their nearly $5 million debt.
Last Friday, one day after the sale was approved, Cetnar moved into a conference room at Riverfront Stadium and began to get to work – there’s a lot of it to be done. He said many big changes are on the way, including new uniforms.
“We’re going back to the 1937 look when the Bears were the Yankees farm team,” Cetnar said. “They’re going to have a Bears patch on one arm, an Eagles logo on the other and will be gray and navy blue with pinstripes.”
Riverfront Stadium is also getting a facelift. The luxury suites are all being remodeled with top-of-the-line amenities (flat-screen TVs, computers), food at the ballpark will be upgraded and a year-round restaurant is in the works. It’s these types of changes that Cetnar hopes will wipe the slate clean with fans and the community.
“I know if we have the right help from the community, we can make this team a real success,” Cetnar said. “We have the opportunity to be a real great partner with Essex County and the city.”
The Bears are expected to name Tim Raines their latest manager. Raines, a future Hall of Famer, has experience in the league, having tried out for the Olympics as a member of the Somerset Patriots in 2000. I spoke with Raines during that four-game stint and believe he’ll be a great addition to the league.
Staying around also means the Bears will host next June’s All-Star Game, which the Patriots had the honor of doing last year. Cetnar hopes to have a celebrity softball game the day before and make the actual event unlike anything anyone’s ever seen.
The Patriots are coming off their league-record fourth league championship since the league formed in 1998. Newark, which won their second title just two years ago against the Patriots, now has the chance to steal the trophy back.
“Both Somerset and Newark are original Atlantic League franchises that have played each other in very meaningful games throughout their histories.” Patriots vice president of public relations Marc Russinoff said. “We look forward to continuing this great rivalry between the two teams in league history with multiple championships.”
Cetnar and his co-owners believe they’ll put a very competitive team on the field.
“We’re going to try to make this team like the great Yankee teams,” he said. “We want people to be proud to bring their families here. We think they’re going to love it.”
Notes: The Patriots 2009 schedule was released last week. They open the season April 23 at home against Camden. The Bears come in for the first time one series later, April 28-30. For tickets, call the Patriots ticket office at (908) 252-0700.
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