Denver Bears

• Location: Denver, CO
• League: Western League 1900, 1913-1917, 1922-1932, 1941, 1947-1954; American Association 1955-1962; Pacific Coast League 1963-1968; American Association 1969-1983
• Affiliation: St. Louis Cardinals 1932; New York Yankees 1947; Hollywood Stars 1948; Boston Braves 1949-1951; Pittsburgh Pirates 1952-1954; New York Yankees 1955-1958; Detroit Tigers 1960-1962; Milwaukee Braves 1963-1964; Minnesota Twins 1965-1969; Washington Senators 1970-1972; Houston Astros 1973-1974; Chicago White Sox 1975; Montreal Expos 1976-1981; Texas Rangers 1982; Chicago White Sox 1983
• Ballpark:

The Denver Bears played in the American Association from 1955 to 1962 and from 1969 to 1992, before the Colorado Rockies arrived in Denver. When the American Association folded after the 1962 season, the team moved to the Pacific Coast League until the American Association re-formed in 1969. Teams called the Denver Bears (and also the Denver Grizzlies) also played in the Western League from 1900 to 1917, 1922 to 1932, 1941 and 1947 to 1954. They first adopted the Bears nickname in 1900 - they won the title that year but changed their name the next year to the Grizzlies. They returned to the Bears name in 1913 and won another title then went almost a half-century before their next championship.

For many years, Mile High Stadium was their home ballpark. The club was also known as the Denver Zephyrs from 1984 to 1992 and kept this name when they moved to New Orleans beginning in 1993, after Denver was awarded a National League franchise.

Among the club's more famous alumni were Tim Raines Sr., Barry Larkin, Joe Tinker, Randy Bass and Greg Vaughn. Marv Throneberry won three home run titles in a row while playing for Denver in the 1950s.

The Bears name was first used because of the fame of Teddy Roosevelt, then serving as vice president of the USA.

[edit] Championships

• American Association Playoff Champions: 6 times (1957, 1971, 1976, 1977, 1981 and 1983)
• American Association Regular Season Champions: 1 time (1960)
• American Association Western Division Champions: 7 times (1970, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980 and 1981)
• Western League Regular Season Champions: 4 times (1900, 1913, 1952, 1954)
• Western League Playoff Champions: 1 time (1952)

[edit] Year-by-Year Record