GENERAL INFORMATION
Address........................... Bowen Field, Stadium Drive, ..........................................................Bluefield, WV 24701 Phone:...................................................... (304) 324-1326 Website: ...... mlb.com/appalachian-league/bluefield TW/IG: ..................................................@goridgerunners Facebook: ............................. Bluefield Ridge Runners League Championships.........1949, 1950, 1954, 1957, ...........................................1962, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1982, .......................................................1992,1996, 1997, 2001 Stadium......................................................... Bowen Field Stadium Built...............................................................1939 Stadium Capacity................................................... 2,250 Stadium Dimensions (LF-CF-RF)............335-399-335
FRONT OFFICE STAFF
Operated By................... Bluefield Baseball Club, Inc. Farm Director.........................Charlie Wilson (Toronto) President........................................ George McGonagle Vice President............................................David Kersey General Manager............................ Rocky Malamisura Treasurer.........................................................Bill Looney Secretary...............................................Madeline Clarke Counsel......................................................Brian Cochran Head Groundskeeper..................................Mike White
GAME INFORMATION
PA Announcer............................................................ TBD Broadcast Announcer................................Zack Helton Broadcast Network................................................ online No. of Games Broadcast .............................Home - 34 Official scorer: ..........................................Vonda Wilson Standard Game Times............................ Mon-Sat 6:30 .............................................................................. Sun 5:30 Newspaper........................... Bluefield Daily Telegraph Sports Editor...........George Thwaite, (304) 327-2813
NOTABLE ALUMNI
Mark Belanger............................................................1962 Don Baylor..................................................................1967 Bobby Grich................................................................1967 Johnny Oates.............................................................1967 Enos Cabell.................................................................1969 Doug DeCinces..........................................................1970 Eddie Murray.............................................................. 1973 Cal Ripken Jr..............................................................1978 Mark Leiter..................................................................1983 8
Pete Harnisch.............................................................1987 Arthur Rhodes............................................................1988 Gregg Zaun................................................................ 1990 Armando Benitez.......................................................1992 John Parrish................................................................1996 Luis Matos...................................................................1997 Daniel Cabrera......................................................... 2002 Kevin Pillar....................................................................2011 Aaron Sanchez............................................................2011 Noah Syndergaard.....................................................2011 Daniel Norris...............................................................2012 Roberto Osuna...........................................................2012 Vladimir Guerrero Jr................................................ 2016
ABOUT
The 97-year history of baseball in Bluefield continues this summer as the club joins the newly revamped Appalachian League. Most recently an affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays organization since 2011, Bluefield will sport a new identity this summer as the Ridge Runners. Reflective of the rich railroad history of the Bluefield area, the name references the fact that historic Bowen Field at Peters Park straddles the state line of Virginia and West Virginia, as did the original namesake of the team. Beginning in 1964, the original Ridge Runner locomotive circumnavigated a one-mile loop atop East River Mountain, half in Virginia and half in West Virginia. The little train now resides just outside the right field wall of Bowen Field. On warm summer days, you can see and hear the excited passengers as the train makes its loop throughout Lottio Park. A 13-time Applachian league champion, Bluefield most recently won the title in 2001. Notable alumni of the club include Hall of Famers Cal Ripken, Jr. and Eddie Murray, as well as current Major Leaguers Kevin Pillar, Daniel Norris, Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., and Noah Syndergaard. Leading the Ridge Runners into the new Appy League will be manager Joe Oliver who has spent the past six seasons coaching in the Boston Red Sox organization following a 13-year MLB career. Joining him on the bench will be pitching coach Dennis Rasmussen, hitting coach Angel Sanchez and player development coach Garrett Schilling.
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