419:
On
September 23, 2009, the Eastern League officially announced that the Defenders were leaving Norwich and moving to Richmond, where they will play in The Diamond while continuing to seek proposals for a new ballpark in the Richmond vicinity. Also, the "Defenders" nickname will not be retained,
361:
In
September 2008 the San Francisco Giants renewed their PDC with the Defenders until 2010. The following season, the Defenders won the Southern Division title and qualified for the Eastern League playoffs, defeating the
327:. With attendance figures declining, management announced an overhaul of the franchise's image and held a contest during the season allowing the public to select a new name submitted by Robert Schaub of
366:
three games to one in the ELDS to advance to the second
Eastern League Championship Series in franchise history. However, the Defenders fell short in the end, losing three games to one to the
59:
278:, and would be known as the Norwich Navigators. Ground was broken for a new stadium in Norwich on November 3 of that year, and the team began play on April 6, 1995, with a win over
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leading the way. On
September 14, 2002, the Navigators won their first and only Eastern League championship with a five-game series victory at home over
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The
Defenders were scheduled to host the Eastern League All-Star Game at Dodd Stadium on July 11, 2007, but the game was ultimately canceled due to
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reported that a
Virginia businessman Bryan Bostic, was interested in purchasing the franchise and relocating the team to
258:. The fan activities and home run derby went on as scheduled, with over 6,500 fans attending events throughout the day.
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The
Defenders were last managed by Steve Decker, who was announced as the team's new skipper on December 28, 2008.
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reported that the
Norwich City Council unanimously approved a request to transfer the lease on Dodd Stadium to
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412:(RMA) signed an agreement with the Richmond Baseball Club LC to allow a professional baseball team to play at
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354:. In 2005, the team sponsored several rallies in support of the sub base after it was placed on the
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from 1995 until
October 2005. Prior to the 2003 season, the Navigators had been an affiliate of the
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Norwich reached the
Eastern League playoffs four times in six years, with many current or former
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240:, located in Norwich; opened in 1995, it seats 6,275 fans. The Defenders had been known as the
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major-league club from 2003 until following the 2009 season, when the Defenders relocated to
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282:. The home opener occurred 11 days later and was another Navigators victory (this time over
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331:. and logo for the franchise. These were unveiled on November 14, and a new mascot (a
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On June 3, 1994, the Yankees announced they would move their double-A franchise from
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The "Defenders" name, and the bald eagle mascot, are a reference to the
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EASTERN LEAGUE ANNOUNCES RELOCATION TO RICHMOND FOR THE 2010 SEASON
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signed on as the new parent club, effective for the 2003 season.
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Within weeks, the Yankees announced that they were ending their
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Notable players to pass through the franchise include...
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list. The base was eventually removed from the list.
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1018:"Norwich council paves way for Defenders to go"
319:In 2005, the team was bought by a group led by
308:with the Navigators and beginning one with the
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731:(Place indicates finish in Northern Division)
999:"Defenders on way to Richmond, Va., for 2010"
1189:San Francisco Giants minor league affiliates
1179:Defunct Eastern League (1938–present) teams
1194:Professional baseball teams in Connecticut
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996:
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1199:New York Yankees minor league affiliates
297:, under the direction of rookie manager
420:rather the new team will be called the
238:Senator Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium
194:Senator Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium
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1214:Defunct baseball teams in Connecticut
1209:2009 disestablishments in Connecticut
1174:Baseball teams disestablished in 2009
1080:Official Eastern League Press Release
943:Professional baseball in Connecticut
741:: 70–71 (3rd), manager Jimmy Johnson
221:, was the Double-A affiliate of the
436:From years as a Yankees affiliate:
13:
1204:1995 establishments in Connecticut
1169:Baseball teams established in 1995
594:From years as a Giants affiliate:
402:On Wednesday, April 22, 2009, the
14:
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378:On Friday, February 13, 2009 the
340:United States Coast Guard Academy
270:, where it had been known as the
217:. The team, which played in the
164:Connecticut Defenders (2006–2009)
921:3–2 to win Eastern League title.
917:, 3–0, in first round; defeated
1092:Connecticut Defenders MiLB Page
928:, 3–1, in first round; lost to
424:after a name-the-team contest.
410:Richmond Metropolitan Authority
1184:Sports in Norwich, Connecticut
1039:
1009:
990:
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391:On Monday, March 16, 2009 the
342:located a short drive away in
167:Norwich Navigators (1995–2005)
1:
1016:Michael Gannon (2009-03-16).
953:
899:3–2, in first round; lost to
388:in time for the 2010 season.
1069:Defenders sale dead, for now
1047:"RMA has deal with new team"
356:Base Realignment and Closure
7:
936:
932:3–1, in championship round.
903:3–2, in championship round.
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399:, chaired by Bryan Bostic.
180:Tater the Gator (1995–2005)
10:
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16:Minor league baseball team
1151:Richmond Flying Squirrels
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836:As Connecticut Defenders
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422:Richmond Flying Squirrels
397:Richmond Baseball Club LC
329:East Hampton, Connecticut
231:Richmond Flying Squirrels
229:and are now known as the
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98:Major league affiliations
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66:Minor league affiliations
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26:
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1132:Shreveport Swamp Dragons
997:Joe Perez (2009-02-13).
851:: 63–78 (5th), managers
236:The Defenders played in
1051:Richmond Times-Dispatch
873:: 83–59 (1st), manager
864:: 68–73 (4th), manager
842:: 64–77 (5th), manager
828:: 71–72 (3rd), manager
819:: 69–74 (5th), manager
810:: 62–79 (6th), manager
801:: 76–64 (1st), manager
792:: 83–59 (2nd), manager
783:: 76–66 (3rd), manager
774:: 78–64 (2nd), manager
765:: 66–76 (4th), manager
756:: 73–69 (2nd), manager
747:: 71–70 (3rd), manager
405:Richmond Times-Dispatch
350:also located nearby in
312:. Later that fall, the
1103:Albany-Colonie Yankees
973:"D'S TAB STEVE DECKER"
924:2009 season: Defeated
913:2002 season: Defeated
895:1999 season: Defeated
855:(through July 21) and
735:As Norwich Navigators
374:Relocation to Richmond
272:Albany-Colonie Yankees
948:Sports in New England
910:, 3–1, in first round
906:2001 season: Lost to
892:, 3–2, in first round
888:1997 season: Lost to
364:New Britain Rock Cats
211:Minor League Baseball
207:Connecticut Defenders
22:Connecticut Defenders
1139:San Francisco Giants
276:Norwich, Connecticut
223:San Francisco Giants
215:Norwich, Connecticut
110:San Francisco Giants
74:Double-A (1995–2009)
47:Norwich, Connecticut
1142:Double-A affiliate
1113:Double-A Affiliate
348:U.S. submarine base
126:Minor league titles
408:reported that the
386:Richmond, Virginia
346:, and also to the
242:Norwich Navigators
227:Richmond, Virginia
178:Cutter (2006–2009)
1157:
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1148:Succeeded by
1119:Succeeded by
718:Madison Bumgarner
515:Darryl Strawberry
203:
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93:Northern Division
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1129:Preceded by
1110:New York Yankees
1100:Preceded by
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1072:Norwich Bulletin
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1024:. Archived from
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975:. Archived from
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709:Brandon Crawford
673:Nate Schierholtz
393:Norwich Bulletin
381:Norwich Bulletin
291:New York Yankees
268:Albany, New York
246:New York Yankees
143:
142:Division titles
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116:New York Yankees
71:Previous classes
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700:Travis Ishikawa
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551:Alfonso Soriano
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310:Trenton Thunder
274:since 1985, to
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1086:External links
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1053:. 2009-04-22.
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697:first baseman
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691:Eugenio Vélez
689:
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682:Alfredo Simón
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569:Andy Phillips
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560:Marcus Thames
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506:Dwight Gooden
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1074:May 29, 2009
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1030:. Retrieved
1026:the original
1021:
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1002:
992:
981:. Retrieved
977:the original
967:
958:
957:
875:Steve Decker
870:
861:
857:Shane Turner
848:
839:
825:
821:Shane Turner
816:
812:Shane Turner
807:
798:
789:
780:
776:Lee Mazzilli
771:
767:Trey Hillman
762:
758:Trey Hillman
753:
744:
738:
730:
637:Dan Ortmeier
542:Nick Johnson
533:Randy Flores
490:(1996, 1997)
461:Rubén Rivera
431:
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926:New Britain
908:New Britain
785:Dan Radison
587:Juan Rivera
562:(1999–2001)
535:(1999–2001)
524:Mike Lowell
470:Ricky Ledée
414:The Diamond
368:Akron Aeros
325:Lou DiBella
306:affiliation
196:(1995–2009)
118:(1995–2002)
112:(2003–2009)
85:(1995–2009)
1163:Categories
1145:2003–2009
1116:1995–2002
1032:2009-04-22
983:2009-07-17
954:References
919:Harrisburg
901:Harrisburg
749:Jim Essian
670:outfielder
646:Fred Lewis
643:outfielder
634:outfielder
616:outfielder
584:outfielder
557:outfielder
512:outfielder
497:David Cone
488:Tim Raines
485:outfielder
476:outfielder
467:outfielder
458:outfielder
443:Mike Figga
344:New London
333:bald eagle
295:Harrisburg
146:2002, 2009
915:New Haven
803:Luis Sojo
706:shortstop
702:(2006–08)
688:infielder
639:(2004–06)
630:(2004–05)
601:Matt Cain
571:(2000–02)
566:infielder
548:shortstop
323:promoter
299:Luis Sojo
151:Team data
937:See also
890:Portland
883:Playoffs
90:Division
1062:Sources
897:Trenton
715:pitcher
679:pitcher
625:catcher
607:pitcher
598:pitcher
575:pitcher
530:pitcher
503:pitcher
494:pitcher
449:pitcher
440:catcher
284:Reading
262:History
209:were a
36:–
720:(2009)
711:(2009)
693:(2007)
684:(2005)
675:(2006)
666:(2008)
657:(2008)
648:(2005)
621:(2006)
612:(2004)
603:(2004)
589:(1999)
580:(2002)
553:(1999)
544:(1999)
526:(1997)
517:(1996)
508:(1996)
499:(1996)
481:(1996)
472:(1996)
463:(1995)
454:(1995)
445:(1995)
428:Alumni
352:Groton
321:boxing
314:Giants
175:Mascot
79:League
959:Notes
930:Akron
280:Bowie
871:2009
862:2008
849:2007
840:2006
826:2005
817:2004
808:2003
799:2002
790:2001
781:2000
772:1999
763:1998
754:1997
745:1996
739:1995
205:The
136:2002
40:2009
32:1995
286:).
256:fog
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
