BRIDGEPORT – In one of the many special events scheduled throughout the year to commemorate the team’s 20thh season in the Atlantic League, the Bridgeport Bluefish will be reviving a seven-inning exhibition contest between teams consisting of former major league stars and former Bluefish legends. The game, aptly named the “20th Anniversary Legends Game,” will be played at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard on Sat., Aug. 5.
The Bluefish team will consist of an array of notable ’Fish alumni, including Luis Lopez (2008-14), Willie Upshaw (manager, 1998-2000 and 2010-14), Mike Guilfoyle (1998-2003), Adam Greenberg (2008-11 and 2013), Mike Porzio (2005-08 and 2010), and Mike Moras (2011-12), among others. Upshaw, who managed the Bluefish to their only Atlantic League Championship in 1999, also had a notable major league career as a first baseman and DH with the Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians, as well as the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of the Japanese Pacific League, and first base coach for the San Francisco Giants. Little known fact: While with the Giants, Upshaw, coaching first, was the first person to shake Barry Bonds as he circled the bases after breaking Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record in
Greenberg, meanwhile, has long been known as the answer to a Trivia Pursuit question: Who is the only major leaguer to have never recorded an at-bat. As a member of the Chicago Cubs in 2005, Greenburg was hit in the head on the first big league pitch he ever saw from Miami Marlins left-hander Valerio De Los Santos, and was removed from the game. It was the shortest cup of coffee in major league history until the Marlins offered him another one-game shot against the Mets (and R.A. Dickey) in 2012. (Editor’s Note: As a member of the Bluefish in 2011, Greenberg, a Guilford, Conn. Native, singled against—you guessed it!—De Los Santos, who was pitching for the Long Island Ducks at the time.)
The MLB team will consist of several former major league stars with local ties, including Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez (Yankees, 1998-2002 and 2004; Mets, 2006-07), Dwight “Doc” Gooden (Mets, 1984-94; Yankees 1996-97 and 2000), Bill “Spaceman” Lee (Red Sox, 1969-78), Keith Foulke (Red Sox, 2004-06), Jeff Nelson (Yankees, 1996-2000 and 2003), and Carlos Baerga (Mets, 1996-98 and Red Sox 2002). For more information on all of the Bluefish and MLB legends scheduled to participate, CLICK HERE.
“This event will be a very special for the Bluefish as well as the city of Bridgeport as we celebrate our 20th anniversary at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard,” said Bluefish general manager Paul Herrmann. “We hosted a similar event in 2015 as a part of our All-Star celebration, and it was hugely successful. We expect to once again draw baseball fans from all over the region to our city for this one-of-a-kind exhibition game.”
There will be a special pregame “meet & greet” with all of game’s contestants at 5:30 p.m. Tickets for the meet & greet include a premium seat for the game, and can be purchased for $98 at the Bluefish ticket office during regular hours, by calling 203-210-BLUE, or by CLICKING HERE,
First pitch on Sat., Aug. 5, will be 7 p.m. General admission tickets will be available starting on Mon., Apr. 3, for $15. For the procrastinators among ye, tickets will cost $20 on the day of the game. Tickets can be purchased at www.bridgeportbluefish.com or by calling at 203-210-BLUE. In addition, sponsorship packages offering the chance to play on one of the Legends teams are available. For more information on becoming a sponsor, contact Bluefish GM Paul Herrmann at pherrmann@bridgeportbluefish.com or by calling 203-345-4800.
—With Staff Reports
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