The Connecticut Defenders are a minor league baseball team based in Norwich, Connecticut. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major-league club. The Defenders play in Senator Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium, located in Norwich; opened in 1995, it seats 6,275 fans. The Defenders were known as the Norwich Navigators from 1995 until October 2005. Prior to the 2003 season, the Navigators were an affiliate of the New York Yankees. The Defenders are currently managed by Steve Decker, who was announced as the team's new skipper on December 28, 2008. 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 fog. The fan activities and home run derby went on as scheduled, with over 6500 fans attending events throughout the day.

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History

On June 3, 1994, the Yankees announced they would move their double-A franchise from Albany, New York, where it had been known as the Albany-Colonie Yankees since 1985, to Norwich, Connecticut, 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 Bowie. The home opener occurred 11 days later and was another Navigators victory (this time over Reading).

Norwich reached the Eastern League playoffs four times in six years, with many current or former New York Yankees 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 Harrisburg, under the direction of rookie manager Luis Sojo.

Within weeks, the Yankees announced that they were ending their affiliation with the Navigators and beginning one with the Trenton Thunder. Later that fall, the Giants signed on as the new parent club, effective for the 2003 season.

In 2005, the team was bought by a group led by boxing promoter Lou DiBella. 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 East Hampton, Ct. and logo for the franchise. These were unveiled on November 14, and a new mascot (a bald eagle) debuted eight days later. Another contest was held to name the mascot, and on February 11, 2006, "Cutter" was christened.

The "Defenders" name, and the bald eagle mascot, are a reference to the United States Coast Guard Academy located a short drive away in New London, and also to the U.S. submarine base also located nearby in Groton. In 2005, the team sponsored several rallies in support of the sub base after it was placed on the Base Realignment and Closure list. The base was eventually removed from the list.

In September of 2008 the San Francisco Giants renewed their PDC with the Defenders until 2010. Rumors have it that 2009 will be the last year the Defenders will be in Norwich as they will probably be relocated to Richmond, VA.

Alumni

Notable players to pass through the franchise include...

• From years as a Yankees affiliate:
• * outfielder Bernie Williams (1989-90)
• * shortstop Derek Jeter (1994)
• * catcher Mike Figga (1995)
• * pitcher Ramiro Mendoza (1995)
• * outfielder Ricky Ledee (1996)
• * outfielder Shane Spencer (1996)
• * outfielder Tim Raines (1996, 1997)
• * pitcher David Cone (1996)
• * pitcher Dwight Gooden (1996)
• * outfielder Darryl Strawberry (1996)
• * third baseman Mike Lowell (1997)
• * pitcher Randy Flores (1999-2001)
• * first baseman Nick Johnson (1999)
• * shortstop Alfonso Soriano (1999)
• * outfielder Marcus Thames (1999-2001)
• * infielder Andy Phillips (2000-02)
• * pitcher Roger Clemens (2002)
• From years as a Giants affiliate:
• * pitcher Matt Cain (2004)
• * pitcher Brad Hennessey (2004)
• * outfielder Brian Horwitz (2006)
• * catcher Justin Knoedler (2004-05)
• * outfielder Dan Ortmeier (2004-06)
• * outfielder Fred Lewis (2005)
• * third baseman Ryan Rohlinger (2008)
• * catcher Pablo Sandoval (2008)
• * outfielder Nate Schierholtz (2006)
• * infielder Eugenio Velez (2007)
• * first baseman Travis Ishikawa (2006-08)

2009 roster

Players				Coaching staff
Pitchers 29 Garrett Broshuis 34 Nate Bump †  6 Adam Cowart 51 Justin Hedrick 49 Daryl Maday 16 Joseph Martinez 17 Dave McKae 47 Paul Oseguera 43 Kelvin Pichardo 22 Ronnie Ray 50 Josh Sharpless 21 Ben Snyder 15 Jason Waddell † disabled list ‡ temporary inactive list updated October 13, 2008		Catchers 48 Adam Witter Infielders 33 Kyle Haines 28 Simon Klink 18 David Maroul 50 Olmo Rosario Outfielders 14 Ben Copeland  8 Eddy Martinez-Esteve 41 Antoan Richardson 32 Carlos Sosa		Manager 10 Bien Figueroa Coaches  7 Víctor Torres (hitting) 46 Bob Stanley (pitching)

Season records

(Place indicates finish in Northern Division)

• As Norwich Navigators
• *1995 : 70-71 (3rd), manager Jimmy Johnson
• *1996 : 71-70 (3rd), manager Jim Essian
• *1997 : 73-69 (2nd), manager Trey Hillman
• *1998 : 66-76 (4th), manager Trey Hillman
• *1999 : 78-64 (2nd), manager Lee Mazzilli
• *2000 : 76-66 (3rd), manager Dan Radison
• *2001 : 83-59 (2nd), manager Stump Merrill
• *2002 : 76-64 (1st), manager Stump Merrill
• *2003 : 62-79 (6th), manager Shane Turner
• *2004 : 69-74 (5th), manager Shane Turner
• *2005 : 71-72 (3rd), manager Dave Machemer
• As Connecticut Defenders
• *2006 : 64-77 (5th), manager Dave Machemer
• *2007 : 63-78 (5th), managers Dave Machemer (through July 21) and Shane Turner
• *2008 : 68-73 (4th), manager Bien Figueroa
• *2009 : 0-0 (TBD), manager Steve Decker

Playoffs

• 1997 season: Lost to Portland, 3-2, in first round
• 1999 season: Defeated Trenton 3-2, in first round; lost to Harrisburg 3-2, in championship round.
• 2001 season: Lost to New Britain, 3-1, in first round
• 2002 season: Defeated New Haven, 3-0, in first round; defeated Harrisburg 3-2 to win Eastern League title.

Potential Relocation

On Friday, 13 February 2009 the Norwich Bulletin reported that a Virginia businessman Bryan Bostic, was interested in purchasing the franchise and relocating the team to Richmond, Virginia in time for the 2010 season. ^[1]

On Monday, 16 March, 2009 the Norwich Bulletin reported that the Norwich City Council unanimously approved a request to transfer the lease on Dodd Stadium to Richmond Baseball Club LC, chaired by Bryan Bostic. ^[2]

On Wednesday, 22 April 2009, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that the Richmond Metropolitan Authority (RMA) has signed a two-year agreement with the Richmond Baseball Club LC to allow a professional baseball team to play at The Diamond, Richmond's current baseball venue, which is owned by the RMA. The agreement also includes an option for 2012. ^[3]

References

1. Defenders on way to Richmond, Va., for 2010
2. Norwich council paves way for Defenders to go
3. RMA has deal with new team