2008 Newark Bears Roster
Team Record: 72-68
Finished 2nd in the AL's Freedom Division
Manager: Wayne Krenchicki (72-68)
Location: Newark, New Jersey
Ballpark: Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium
Attendance: 181,240, Avg. 2,746 in 66 home dates
The Newark Bears of the Atlantic League ended the 2008 season with a record of 72 wins and 68 losses, finishing second in the league's Freedom Division.
The Bears topped the league with 843 runs. Newark surrendered 814 runs. Keith Reed led the team with 26 home runs, while Rubén Mateo, Ramón Castro and José Herrera each walloped 15 or more also. Keith Reed and José Herrera each recorded 93 runs batted in. Ramón Castro paced batters with significant playing time with a .352 average. Mike Bumstead paced the squad with 14 wins, and Benito Báez recorded a 4.53 ERA, best among hurlers with significant time on the mound.
Ramón Castro, Will Cunnane, Ramón Nivar, Al Levine, José Herrera, Rubén Mateo, Raúl González, Keith Reed, Cory Aldridge, Steve Kent, Benito Báez, Randall Simon, Edwin Almonte, J. J. Trujillo, Val Majewski, Frank Gracesqui, Bobby Hill, Willis Otáñez and Frankie Rodriguez were all players from the 2008 Newark Bears who played in the Major Leagues during their careers.
Wayne Krenchicki served as manager.Click on column headings to sort.
| Player | Bats | Throws | Birth Date | Height | Weight | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cory Aldridge | L | R | June 13, 1979 | 6'0" | 210 | San Angelo, TX US |
| Edwin Almonte | R | R | December 17, 1976 | 6'3" | 200 | Santiago, Santiago DO |
| Shaun Babula | S | L | May 21, 1977 | 5'11" | 183 | Mount Holly, NJ US |
| Benito Báez | L | L | May 6, 1977 | 6'0" | 160 | Bonao, Monsenor Nouel DO |
| Jeffrey Blitstein | R | R | October 21, 1975 | 6'2" | 190 | Burbank, CA US |
| Mike Bumstead | R | R | July 8, 1977 | 6'4" | 225 | Loma Linda, CA US |
| Brian Burgamy | S | R | June 27, 1981 | 5'10" | 190 | Lawton, OK US |
| Ramón Castro | R | R | October 23, 1979 | 6'0" | 195 | Valencia, Carabobo VE |
| Jon Connolly | R | L | August 24, 1983 | 6'0" | 205 | Oneonta, NY US |
| Will Cunnane | R | R | April 24, 1974 | 6'1" | 200 | Suffern, NY US |
| Josh Fields | R | R | January 20, 1980 | 6'1" | 175 | Kalispell, MT US |
| Jose Garcia | R | R | June 2, 1981 | 6'1" | 160 | Barcelona, Anzoategui VE |
| Roberto Giron | R | R | March 24, 1976 | 6'2" | 203 | Villa Mella, Santo Domingo DO |
| Raúl González | R | R | December 27, 1973 | 5'8" | 190 | Santurce, PR |
| Frank Gracesqui | S | L | August 20, 1979 | 6'5" | 245 | Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional DO |
| Vic Gutierrez | R | R | December 23, 1977 | 5'9" | 171 | Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional DO |
| Gerard Haran | R | R | September 28, 1985 | 6'0" | 210 | Matawan, NJ US |
| José Herrera | L | L | August 30, 1972 | 6'0" | 165 | Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional DO |
| Bobby Hill | S | R | April 3, 1978 | 5'10" | 175 | San Jose, CA US |
| Mike Just | R | R | September 30, 1983 | 5'11" | 180 | Englewood, NJ US |
| Steve Kent | S | L | October 3, 1978 | 5'11" | 170 | Frankfurt, DE |
| Scott Knazek | R | R | November 4, 1984 | 6'1" | 215 | New London, CT US |
| Al Levine | L | R | May 22, 1968 | 6'3" | 180 | Park Ridge, IL US |
| Val Majewski | L | L | June 19, 1981 | 6'2" | 220 | New Brunswick, NJ US |
| Rubén Mateo | R | R | February 10, 1978 | 6'0" | 170 | San Cristobal, San Cristobal DO |
| Manny Mejia | R | R | November 5, 1978 | 6'2" | 190 | Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional DO |
| Carlos Mirabal | R | R | April 24, 1973 | 6'0" | 169 | |
| Ramón Nivar | R | R | February 22, 1980 | 5'10" | 185 | San Cristobal, San Cristobal DO |
| Willis Otáñez | R | R | April 19, 1973 | 6'1" | 200 | Vega Baja, PR |
| John Pachot | R | R | November 11, 1974 | 6'2" | 210 | Ponce, PR |
| Dave Pellegrine | L | R | November 4, 1985 | 6'4" | 215 | Boston, MA US |
| Matt Petrusek | R | R | August 15, 1982 | 6'2" | 205 | |
| Keith Reed | R | R | October 8, 1978 | 6'4" | 205 | Yarmouth Port, MA US |
| Frankie Rodriguez | R | R | December 11, 1972 | 6'0" | 193 | Brooklyn, NY US |
| Rich Scalamandre | R | R | August 20, 1980 | 5'11" | 195 | Brooklyn, NY US |
| Andy Shibilo | R | R | September 16, 1976 | 6'7" | 220 | Massapequa Park, NY US |
| Randall Simon | L | L | May 25, 1975 | 6'0" | 180 | Willemstad, CW |
| Matt Smith | L | L | December 1, 1976 | 5'10" | 160 | Newark, NJ US |
| Pat Stanley | R | R | January 4, 1983 | 6'7" | 200 | Ridgewood, NJ US |
| Matt Sweeney | R | R | February 25, 1983 | 6'2" | 195 | Trenton, NJ US |
| Tim Sweeney | R | R | August 3, 1980 | 6'3" | 190 | Denville, NJ US |
| J. J. Trujillo | R | R | October 9, 1975 | 6'0" | 180 | Corpus Christi, TX US |
| Cory Willey | L | L | April 22, 1981 | 6'0" | 185 | Cambridge, MD US |
Average attendance is based upon the number of actual home dates where known (most leagues from 1992 and later). Where the number of home dates is not known, the average is calculated using half the team's total games.
