Blue Mountain Bears

Blue Mountain Bears
(1983) Walla Walla, Washington
Minor league affiliations
Class	Class A Short Season
League	Northwest League
Division	Washington
Major league affiliations
Team	Independent (1983)
Team data
Colors	Powder blue, red, navy blue, white
Ballpark	Borleske Stadium
Owner(s)/ Operator(s)	Peter C. Kern
Manager	Ronald Mihal

The Blue Mountain Bears were a minor league baseball team located in Walla Walla, Washington. They were members of the Class A Short Season Northwest League for a single season in 1983.

The franchise was then purchased by Bob and Margaret Bavasi, who moved the team west to Everett and operated as the Everett Giants for eleven seasons. With a switch of affiliation to the Seattle Mariners in 1995, they became the AquaSox.

History

From 1973 through 1982, the Walla Walla Padres were the Northwest League affiliate of the San Diego Padres, and the team was owned by Patrica Nelly. After years of declining attendance, the franchise was sold to New Jersey–based Big Six Sports. The new ownership group promptly moved the club west to Richland, and took the outfield fence with them. They rebranded as the Tri-Cities Triplets for 1983 and signed a player development contract with the Texas Rangers.

Seeking to enhance the Northwest League from six to eight teams to allow for improved travel, Commissioner Bob Freitas sought expansion. Along with Spokane, Walla Walla was tabbed as one of the expansion locations and Ohio businessman Peter C. Kern was awarded the franchise. In homage to Walla Walla baseball history, "Bears" was selected as the nickname. While that was familiar, the club elected the unique moniker "Blue Mountain" to provide a greater market appeal, a reference to the Blue Mountains that bisect the region. Due to the late finalization of the club, the Bears were unable to secure an affiliation with a major league team, and operated as an independent for the 1983 campaign.

Ballpark

The Bears played at multi-sport Borleske Stadium, located at 409 West Rees Avenue; the vintage venue is still in use today.

Team identity

The Blue Mountain Bears adopted a color scheme of Powder Blue, Red, Navy Blue, and White. On the field, the Bears were clad in powder blue uniforms. Unlike most teams who utilized powder blue as an alternative to road grey, the color was part of the Bears brand. Absent the traditional white and grey of baseball, the team donned the single powder blue uniform set for all games. Manufactured by Wilson, the jersey was a two button top with red/white/navy blue trim on the neck and sleeve ends. The jersey was embellished with a red on white on navy Blue script B applied in tackle twill. The back of the jersey featured a three-color number in Wilson block font.

In contrast to most teams wearing powder blue uniforms at the time, the Bears' pants utilized a belt similar to the Montreal Expos. The pants were trimmed with a navy blue/white/red stripe. The team wore red stirrups and belts, and capping off the uniform was a solid red hat with a two-color white, outlined in navy blue script B embroidered on the face.

Regular season

1983 Blue Mountain Bears Game Log
Regular Season
June Date Opponent Score Overall Record June 22 Tri-Cities 4–3 (12) 1–0 June 23 Tri-Cities Rain Out 1–0 June 24 at Tri-Cities 2–5 1–1 June 25 at Tri-Cities 4–1 2–1 June 26 at Tri-Cities 6–11 2–2 June 27 Bellingham 1–11 2–3 June 28 Bellingham 2–4 2–4 June 29 Spokane 3–8 2–5 June 30 Spokane 1–0 3–5
July Date Opponent Score Overall Record July 1 at Bellingham 2–2 (7) 3–5 July 2 at Bellingham 0–2 3–6 July 3 at Bellingham 2–3 3–7 July 4 at Spokane 4–5 3–8 July 5 at Spokane 3–1 4–8 July 7 Eugene 6–5 5–8 July 8 Eugene 7–6 (12) 6–8 July 9 Eugene 4–5 (10) 6–9 July 10 Eugene 12–13 (10) 6–10 July 11 Salem 2–4 (13) 6–11 July 12 Salem 6–4 7–11 July 13 Salem Rain Out 7–11 July 14 at Eugene 6–5 8–11 July 15 at Eugene 7–12 8–12 July 16 at Eugene 6–11 8–13 July 17 at Salem (Make up from July 13) 6–0 9–13 July 17 at Salem 4–9 9–14 July 18 at Salem 4–0 10–14 July 19 at Salem 5–6 (12) 10–15 July 20 at Salem 6–3 11–15 July 21 at Tri-Cities 3–4 11–16 July 22 at Tri-Cities 11–7 12–16 July 23 Tri-Cities (Make up from June 22) 5–1 13–16 July 23 Tri-Cities 0–7 13–17 July 24 Tri-Cities 7–2 14–17 July 25 Bellingham 0–5 14–18 July 26 Bellingham 2–3 14–19 July 27 Bellingham 8–6 15–19 July 28 Spokane (Played in Lewiston, ID) 11–3 16–19 July 29 Spokane (Played in Lewiston, ID) 4–6 16–20 July 30 at Bellingham 2–11 16–21 July 31 at Bellingham (Make up from July 1) 5–6 16–22 July 31 at Bellingham 4–5 16–23
August Date Opponent Score Overall Record August 1 at Spokane 4–3 17–23 August 2 at Spokane 6–11 17–24 August 3 at Spokane 10–0 18–24 August 4 Northwest League All-Star Game at Tri-Cities August 5 Medford 3–9 18–25 August 6 Medford 6–3 19–25 August 7 Medford 5–6 19–26 August 8 Bend 9–8 20–26 August 9 Bend 4–3 21–26 August 10 Bend 3–2 22–26 August 11 Bend 11–4 23–26 August 12 at Medford 19–1 24–26 August 13 at Medford 2–5 24–27 August 14 at Medford 0–3 24–28 August 15 at Medford 0–7 24–29 August 16 at Bend 0–6 24–30 August 17 at Bend 5–4 25–30 August 18 at Bend 10–9 (10) 26–30 August 19 Spokane 12–3 27–30 August 20 Spokane 3–4 (10) 27–31 August 21 Spokane 1–6 27–32 August 22 Bellingham 1–5 27–33 August 23 Bellingham Rain Out 27–33 August 24 Tri-Cities 3–1 28–33 August 25 Tri-Cities 0–3 28–34 August 26 Tri-Cities 3–2 29–34 August 27 at Tri-Cities 0–9 29–35 August 28 at Tri-Cities 3–2 30–35 August 29 at Spokane 7–2 31–35 August 30 at Spokane 8–3 32–35 August 31 at Bellingham (Make up from August 23) 2–3 32–36 August 31 at Bellingham 4–1 33–36
September Date Opponent Score Overall Record September 1 at Bellingham Rain Out 33–36

Season-by-season record

Season	PDC	Division	Finish	Wins	Losses	Win%	Post-season	Manager	Attendance
Blue Mountain Bears
1983		Washington	2nd	33	36	.478		Ronald Mihal	9,019

External links

• Stats Crew Blue Mountain Bears 1983
• Baseball Reference Walla Walla Teams
• Minor League Geek Unsolved Mystery