430:
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,
372:
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
338:. 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
377:
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
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289:, 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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346:) debuted eight days later. Another contest was held to name the mascot, and on February 11, 2006, "Cutter" was christened.
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reported that a
Virginia businessman Bryan Bostic, was interested in purchasing the franchise and relocating the team to
269:. 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
423:(RMA) signed an agreement with the Richmond Baseball Club LC to allow a professional baseball team to play at
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365:. 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
237:
251:, 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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293:. The home opener occurred 11 days later and was another Navigators victory (this time over
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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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1029:"Norwich council paves way for Defenders to go"
330:In 2005, the team was bought by a group led by
319:with the Navigators and beginning one with the
742:(Place indicates finish in Northern Division)
1010:"Defenders on way to Richmond, Va., for 2010"
8:
1200:San Francisco Giants minor league affiliates
1190:Defunct Eastern League (1938–present) teams
1205:Professional baseball teams in Connecticut
1107:
68:
1210:New York Yankees minor league affiliates
308:, under the direction of rookie manager
975:
431:rather the new team will be called the
249:Senator Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium
205:Senator Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium
29:
1225:Defunct baseball teams in Connecticut
1220:2009 disestablishments in Connecticut
1185:Baseball teams disestablished in 2009
1091:Official Eastern League Press Release
7:
954:Professional baseball in Connecticut
752:: 70–71 (3rd), manager Jimmy Johnson
232:, was the Double-A affiliate of the
447:From years as a Yankees affiliate:
1215:1995 establishments in Connecticut
1180:Baseball teams established in 1995
605:From years as a Giants affiliate:
413:On Wednesday, April 22, 2009, the
25:
389:On Friday, February 13, 2009 the
351:United States Coast Guard Academy
281:, where it had been known as the
228:. The team, which played in the
175:Connecticut Defenders (2006–2009)
932:3–2 to win Eastern League title.
928:, 3–0, in first round; defeated
1103:Connecticut Defenders MiLB Page
939:, 3–1, in first round; lost to
435:after a name-the-team contest.
421:Richmond Metropolitan Authority
1195:Sports in Norwich, Connecticut
402:On Monday, March 16, 2009 the
353:located a short drive away in
178:Norwich Navigators (1995–2005)
1:
1027:Michael Gannon (2009-03-16).
910:3–2, in first round; lost to
399:in time for the 2010 season.
1080:Defenders sale dead, for now
1058:"RMA has deal with new team"
367:Base Realignment and Closure
943:3–1, in championship round.
914:3–2, in championship round.
410:, chaired by Bryan Bostic.
191:Tater the Gator (1995–2005)
1241:
27:Minor league baseball team
1162:Richmond Flying Squirrels
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1147:
1139:
1129:
1118:
1110:
847:As Connecticut Defenders
433:Richmond Flying Squirrels
408:Richmond Baseball Club LC
340:East Hampton, Connecticut
242:Richmond Flying Squirrels
240:and are now known as the
109:Major league affiliations
77:Minor league affiliations
67:
37:
1143:Shreveport Swamp Dragons
1008:Joe Perez (2009-02-13).
862:: 63–78 (5th), managers
247:The Defenders played in
1062:Richmond Times-Dispatch
884:: 83–59 (1st), manager
875:: 68–73 (4th), manager
853:: 64–77 (5th), manager
839:: 71–72 (3rd), manager
830:: 69–74 (5th), manager
821:: 62–79 (6th), manager
812:: 76–64 (1st), manager
803:: 83–59 (2nd), manager
794:: 76–66 (3rd), manager
785:: 78–64 (2nd), manager
776:: 66–76 (4th), manager
767:: 73–69 (2nd), manager
758:: 71–70 (3rd), manager
416:Richmond Times-Dispatch
361:also located nearby in
323:. Later that fall, the
1114:Albany-Colonie Yankees
984:"D'S TAB STEVE DECKER"
935:2009 season: Defeated
924:2002 season: Defeated
906:1999 season: Defeated
866:(through July 21) and
746:As Norwich Navigators
385:Relocation to Richmond
283:Albany-Colonie Yankees
959:Sports in New England
921:, 3–1, in first round
917:2001 season: Lost to
903:, 3–2, in first round
899:1997 season: Lost to
375:New Britain Rock Cats
222:Minor League Baseball
218:Connecticut Defenders
33:Connecticut Defenders
1150:San Francisco Giants
287:Norwich, Connecticut
234:San Francisco Giants
226:Norwich, Connecticut
121:San Francisco Giants
85:Double-A (1995–2009)
58:Norwich, Connecticut
1153:Double-A affiliate
1124:Double-A Affiliate
359:U.S. submarine base
137:Minor league titles
419:reported that the
397:Richmond, Virginia
357:, and also to the
253:Norwich Navigators
238:Richmond, Virginia
189:Cutter (2006–2009)
18:Norwich Navigators
1168:
1167:
1159:Succeeded by
1130:Succeeded by
729:Madison Bumgarner
526:Darryl Strawberry
214:
213:
104:Northern Division
16:(Redirected from
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1140:Preceded by
1121:New York Yankees
1111:Preceded by
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1083:Norwich Bulletin
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1035:. Archived from
1033:Norwich Bulletin
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1014:Norwich Bulletin
1005:
999:
998:
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986:. Archived from
980:
720:Brandon Crawford
684:Nate Schierholtz
404:Norwich Bulletin
392:Norwich Bulletin
302:New York Yankees
279:Albany, New York
257:New York Yankees
154:
153:Division titles
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127:New York Yankees
82:Previous classes
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711:Travis Ishikawa
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562:Alfonso Soriano
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321:Trenton Thunder
285:since 1985, to
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1097:External links
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738:Season records
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224:team based in
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1064:. 2009-04-22.
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1039:on 2012-09-04
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864:Dave Machemer
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855:Dave Machemer
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708:first baseman
706:
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702:Eugenio Vélez
700:
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693:Alfredo Simón
691:
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672:third baseman
670:
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663:third baseman
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630:Brian Horwitz
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589:Roger Clemens
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580:Andy Phillips
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571:Marcus Thames
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550:first baseman
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532:third baseman
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517:Dwight Gooden
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1085:May 29, 2009
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1071:
1061:
1052:
1041:. Retrieved
1037:the original
1032:
1022:
1013:
1003:
992:. Retrieved
988:the original
978:
969:
968:
886:Steve Decker
881:
872:
868:Shane Turner
859:
850:
836:
832:Shane Turner
827:
823:Shane Turner
818:
809:
800:
791:
787:Lee Mazzilli
782:
778:Trey Hillman
773:
769:Trey Hillman
764:
755:
749:
741:
648:Dan Ortmeier
553:Nick Johnson
544:Randy Flores
501:(1996, 1997)
472:Rubén Rivera
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937:New Britain
919:New Britain
796:Dan Radison
598:Juan Rivera
573:(1999–2001)
546:(1999–2001)
535:Mike Lowell
481:Ricky Ledée
425:The Diamond
379:Akron Aeros
336:Lou DiBella
317:affiliation
207:(1995–2009)
129:(1995–2002)
123:(2003–2009)
96:(1995–2009)
1174:Categories
1156:2003–2009
1127:1995–2002
1043:2009-04-22
994:2009-07-17
965:References
930:Harrisburg
912:Harrisburg
760:Jim Essian
681:outfielder
657:Fred Lewis
654:outfielder
645:outfielder
627:outfielder
595:outfielder
568:outfielder
523:outfielder
508:David Cone
499:Tim Raines
496:outfielder
487:outfielder
478:outfielder
469:outfielder
454:Mike Figga
355:New London
344:bald eagle
306:Harrisburg
157:2002, 2009
926:New Haven
814:Luis Sojo
717:shortstop
713:(2006–08)
699:infielder
650:(2004–06)
641:(2004–05)
612:Matt Cain
582:(2000–02)
577:infielder
559:shortstop
334:promoter
310:Luis Sojo
162:Team data
948:See also
901:Portland
894:Playoffs
101:Division
1073:Sources
908:Trenton
726:pitcher
690:pitcher
636:catcher
618:pitcher
609:pitcher
586:pitcher
541:pitcher
514:pitcher
505:pitcher
460:pitcher
451:catcher
295:Reading
273:History
220:were a
47:–
731:(2009)
722:(2009)
704:(2007)
695:(2005)
686:(2006)
677:(2008)
668:(2008)
659:(2005)
632:(2006)
623:(2004)
614:(2004)
600:(1999)
591:(2002)
564:(1999)
555:(1999)
537:(1997)
528:(1996)
519:(1996)
510:(1996)
492:(1996)
483:(1996)
474:(1995)
465:(1995)
456:(1995)
439:Alumni
363:Groton
332:boxing
325:Giants
186:Mascot
90:League
970:Notes
941:Akron
291:Bowie
882:2009
873:2008
860:2007
851:2006
837:2005
828:2004
819:2003
810:2002
801:2001
792:2000
783:1999
774:1998
765:1997
756:1996
750:1995
216:The
147:2002
51:2009
43:1995
297:).
267:fog
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