Game Date: Mar 2nd, 2067
Scranton Bears
Team: Scranton Bears [ID #562] 
Location: Scranton, PA (Northeast)
League: Legends - East
Owner:
buffmckagan
[since December 22nd 2013 | last seen November 22nd 2024]
Manager: Matias Consuegra
Ballpark: Dunder-Mifflin Stadium
Rank: #2 - Rating: 297.74
Fan Mood: 111.81
Prestige: 96
Color: Black Pinstripes
Team Notes:
• Feb 19 2067: Federico Sáenez was claimed off of waivers.• Feb 03 2067: Eduardo Agosto was inducted into the team Hall of Fame.
• Jan 13 2067: Jackie Thomason was selected to the national team of Virgin Islands.
• Jan 13 2067: Seung Min Seen was selected to the national team of South Korea.
• Jan 13 2067: Koen Van Dijk was selected to the national team of Netherlands.
• Jan 13 2067: Otis Heard was released.
• Nov 02 2066: Pedro Dominquez was released.
• Nov 02 2066: Yuto Andou was released.
• May 03 2066: Juan Manuel Reyes was released.
• Jan 13 2066: Santiago Tejeda was claimed off of waivers.
League Record:
Wins: 0 Losses: 0 Pct: .000 Last10: 0-0 Streak: -Ave: 0.0 - 0.0 RS: 0 RA: 0 DIFF: 0 Power Index: 105.7
Cup:
Group 85 [0 | Still Alive]Press Releases:
Feb 19 2067: Bears cap off 50th anniversary season with Legends title - by buffmckagan on November 22nd, 2024SCRANTON, Pa. — It was a run no one could have seen coming in the small city of Windam Park, Iowa, in 2016: Two trips to the top of the mountain in three years.
In their 50th season under the current ownership, the Bears upset the Western Division champion Tombstone Pistoleros to win the Legends League championship, winning all three road games in the series. Local media had it the same as Broken Bat commissioner Steve Muller - Iokua Tupuola was Series MVP, leading the Bears to two wins in as many starts.
"I know many of us in the clubhouse felt counted out because of how things looked on paper, but we knew our tough regular season schedule and past experience prepared us," Tupuola told reporters after the Game 6 win. "Coach told me we were going to ride the hot arms, and I was just glad to help out in a positive way down the stretch."
"It can be hard to tell guys they're getting moved down the totem pole when we have fewer starters, especially when we had guys on the way out, but our rotation really came through for us," pitching coach Toby Scott said.
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The Early Years (2016-23)
The Bears opened play in 2016 as the Windam Park Colts, a League VI team, narrowly winning their first division title that season. Due to an aging core and inefficient defensive play, the team failed to maintain momentum, stuck between IV and V play for almost a decade.
The Big Move, With Bats Far From Broken (2023-33)
It wasn't until 2023 a change was made, with the team saying goodbye to its original home for greener pastures -- in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Staff at the flailing Dunder-Mifflin Paper Company, Inc. had opted to buy a minority stake in the team, seeing it as more lucrative an opportunity than a new printer, or new office chairs, especially in an increasingly digital world. Regional manager Michael Scott had realized he had pulled one over on them in the previous year when pocketing unspent funds to give himself a bonus, and relented.
Salesman Dwight Schrute, looking to expand his interests and frustrated with his lack of mobility in the office, immediately named himself chairman of the minority group. He demanded the team name itself the Bears, in honor of his favorite animal, and the others gave in without any public vote.
In the decades since, the minority ownership has faded into more of a factoid part of the team lore, as Bears owner buffmckagan outranked all other characters on the hit NBC mockumentary sitcom.
The brand quickly began to grow on its own. After a rocky first year in northeastern Pennsylvania that featured more antics involving the new minority group and Bears rookies, the team won 100 games in three straight seasons, achieving new heights as a League III member, but quickly stagnating after.
It wasn't for the lack of offensive star power, as Mark "Bruisin'" Bruzzone and Benito Cardenal each hit 300 home runs, an accomplishment not reached by a pair of teammates, let alone a single player, in the decades since. 2026 was an especially prolific season, with Bruzzone, Cardenal, and Mateo Almeida each hitting 40 home runs and 130 RBI. Bruzzone hit 53 home runs two seasons later, a record that is nowhere close to being challenged in today's game. Cardenal also had a 2026 that nearly ended with a Triple Crown.
In 2033, what was a contract year for manager Billy Bob "Danger" Roberts, the team finally got over the hump, advancing to League II. The team was never in serious contention to get to Legends, despite his strong leadership, and Roberts was ultimately ousted in favor of Bud Biddle.
Pitching Excellence (2034-2044)
Biddle made like the managers before him, and built on what was left for him. Pitching became a greater focus of the team's needs. To better complement the team's strengths, Dunder-Mifflin Stadium was remodeled after Fenway Park (which, coincidentally, also has ties to regional paper company W.B. Mason.)
The investments paid off, with "Swole" Cole Burk, Andrew Long, and Ricky Winter each winning a Cy Young over a four year period (2045-48). Burk remains the franchise leader in virtually all major categories, including starts, quality starts, wins, innings pitched, and, of course, strikeouts.
Closer Gorman Farrell was a near certainty to finish a game with a late lead, earned his nickname, "Mr. Automatic," earning six All-League nods that decade. His highlights included a near perfect 2044 (56/57), and a 63-save season in 2045, retiring with more than 400 saves.
The First Peak (2045-2057)
Scranton first made it to the promised land, surprising even team ownership, with another three-year span of 100+ win seasons. That healthy skepticism was eventually proven true.
After a season worthy of a league title in 2049, the team once again began to fall off, especially on offense, finding themselves back in League IV within a decade. Year after year, the team was unable to truly hit on early draft picks, causing their downfall. Seen as unable to lead in an evolving game, Biddle was fired with just six games left in the 2057 season, and thanked for his service.
Unparalleled Success (2058-present)
The decision may have been the most consequential in team history, with a fresh face, up to date on teaching hitting, pitching, and fielding, Matias Consuegra set a new bar in Scranton. Regardless of the competition, he found ways to win. He has yet to have a sub-.500 full season in Scranton, leading the Bears to five league titles in five championship series.
The scouting also improved for Scranton, with stalwarts like Bart Kelly, Mathew Ransom, Ramon Murillo, and Miguel Razo each the result of wise drafting in the early rounds. The team also lucked out on the waiver wire, winning claims on players like slugger Dan “Big Daddy” Briggs, relief ace Pedro Dominquez, and starter Koen Van Dijk.
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"For me to stick with this game for 11 years and 11 months, let alone a couple of weeks, is a testament to the replay-ability and ongoing improvements within it," owner buffmckagan said in a press conference, about a week after the post-championship celebration had died down.
"I’ve met some great people on here who have also helped double-check my roster and farm system over the years, and I can’t take up your time and not mention them." He also thanked his real-life friends who took an interest in the Bears and Broken Bat over the years, with even some trying it out for a spell.
The Bears look to defend their title, with much of the core of the 2064 and 2066 title teams still intact, and more talent almost ready to introduce themselves. Ownership still has greater hopes: the team pulling off a treble - division, league, and Cup championships, all in the same season; it's an achievement few have pulled off (2037 Kalamazoo Tigers, 2049 Boulder Free Zoners, 2063 Belleville Leprechauns).
"If Bart Kelly and Troy Walker don’t become the second coming of Benito and Bruzzone, I’ll do worse things than what that Florida State football fan chickened out of," buff jokingly told reporters.
The 50-year All-Time Team will be honored at the team's home regular season opener in 2067.
2065 50-Year Anniversary Team
Catcher
Akira Suzuki
First Baseman
Mark Bruzzone
Second Baseman
Antonio Frias
Shortstop
Joe Clark
Julian Garza
Left Field
Bart Kelly
Alex Tyree
Center Field
Ricky Meadows
Right Field
Eduardo Agosto
Dan Briggs
Designated Hitter
Benito Cardinal
Starting Pitcher
Francisco Becerra
Cole Burk
Richard Curran
Andrew Long
Young Nam Park
Ricky Winter
Closer
Gorman Farrell
Miguel Razo
Mar 14 2063: Bears land generational prospect with first-round pick - by buffmckagan on January 26th, 2024
SCRANTON — The Bears selected shortstop/second baseman Troy Walker, a 17-year-old from Moncton, New Brunswick, with their first-round pick in the 2063 Draft. He now becomes the first prospect in team history to have a 17 potential.
A-five-tool player, he already demonstrates incredible contact, and is very rangy. He is capable of developing more power, with a 1.019 OPS in his high school career. Walker was named Canada's Most Outstanding Youth Player in 2062, his senior season, on the way to a provincial championship.
The team's most highly-touted prospect of all time, and certainly the most anticipated Canadian national in a half-century, Walker still has some work to do in his fielding ability, but ultimately projects on the major-league level as a second baseman, the position he was announced as by the team.
He will join the team later this afternoon to participate in spring training before beginning the season in Rookie ball. Team officials hope he can weather the high expectations at such a young age; Walker will begin his career as the top prospect in all of Broken Bat, with local media already dubbing him "The Chosen One."
Feb 19 2048: Bears brass: "Don't crown us yet" - by buffmckagan on November 19th, 2020
SCRANTON — Fresh off a second league title in two years, the Scranton Bears' management says they're taking nothing for granted just yet.
The club is appearing in Legends League play for the first time in franchise history, something owner buffmckagan has sought since the 2016 season -- where the then-Windam Park (IA) Colts began play in League VI.
"100 wins in three straight seasons is quite an accomplishment, but this should be the hardest schedule we'll have ever had," buffmckagan said in a pre-season press conference via Zoom on the eve of Spring Training. "We were all proud to finish number one in the overall rankings, but it's the team who wins the Legends League that truly is atop the game. We haven't done anything yet; don't crown us yet."
The Bears have a shot at five of the game's top 20 teams this season in division play - the 2046 champion Minneapolis Tigers; the Murfreesboro Moo Cows, back for a second stint, and with experience defeating Scranton in league play; two-time division champion Bloomington, and second-year squads Concord and Saratoga.
The black stripes plan to rely heavily on the starting rotation, headlined by ace Andrew Long. The former eighth-round pick-turned Cy Young winner has had a sub-3 ERA the past two seasons, with 17+ wins and 150+ strikeouts both years. He hopes to become the first two-time winner in club history this year.
"The competition's going to be harder, but I'm ready for it," Long said at the press conference. "Hanging 20 wins on these guys would be really special."
Ricky Winter, Julio Sierra, Darius Maddox, and Marcos Tejada round out the starting-five, with future Hall of Fame closer Gorman "Mr. Automatic" Farrell looking to live up to his nickname more commandingly this season after posting a career-worst 3.96 ERA last year.
Offensively, the team looks to see major strides from right fielder Eddie Merchant, who took home a Rookie of the Year award last year. Center fielder Eduardo Agosto, second baseman Nathan Humphreys, designated hitter Oscar Herrera, and first baseman Levi Cowan all have high hopes for this season.
The Bears open league play with a four-game series against the Murfreesboro Moo Cows. Scranton native and president-elect Joseph R. Biden, Jr. is expected to throw out the first pitch on Opening Day, as Bears fans and Americans alike hope for greater things to come.
Oct 02 2044: Farrell's historic save streak ends at 58 - by buffmckagan on March 18th, 2020
WESTON, FL — Scranton Bears closer and Cy Young candidate Gorman Farrell's unbelievable save streak came to an end during tonight's game vs. the Weston Wranglers.
"Mr. Automatic" set a franchise record with 58 consecutive save attempts without blowing a save.
The streak began at the end of the 2043 season on his way to his first All-League selection. His prolific streak has all but guaranteed his second straight year with an All-Star appearance and a spot on the All-League squad.
"We had really hoped to be talking about this at the end of the year with an intact streak headed into next year," owner buffmckagan said at the press conference after the game. "Gorman is the best closer in all of Broken Bat. Even the best guys can't always get it done."
Farrell was poised to make it #59 after some late-game heroics from Donnie Tyree, who put the Bears back on top with a two-run double in the top of the ninth. Wranglers' veteran Adrian Storm did the unthinkable, hitting a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the inning. Scranton went on to win the game in 13 innings.
"You can't depend on your teammates to get it done for you," Farrell said. "I had the chance to put the game away and put the pitch in the wrong place."
Farrell remains atop the III.2 leaderboard with 50 saves on the season, as the only Bear to ever earn 50 saves twice.
The team is set to face longtime rival Fall River in a four-game series, as both clubs look to overtake Hilton Head for the division crown.
Jul 21 2041: Bears announce "I'm Gonna Get a Burger" Night - by buffmckagan on July 11th, 2019
SCRANTON — IT’S B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-BURGER TIME IN SCRANTON!!!!!!!
Star pitcher “Big Dick” Curran shocked the baseball world when he lost a perfect game in the top of the ninth against the Brownsville Bulldogs by giving up a walk, and was able to overcome the call to finish with a no-hitter. Nonetheless, team officials say they're fed up with umpiring -- and are using fans to voice their displeasure at the result.
The team announces it will sell its concession stand burgers at half-price at his next home start on July 26th to commemorate the performance on the mound.
Concession officials promise you will intentionally be served a burger cooked so poorly you either get a raw patty that’s still bleeding so badly, it’ll ruin your team jersey; or overcook your meat so badly it’ll break your teeth off.
The team will pass the butthurt onto you by pulling all other food options for the entirety of the game, with the only drinks flat beer and sodas and water that’s sat out in the sun all day.
Fans are encouraged to show their displeasure with Big Dick’s disappointing finish by harassing the home plate empire, and hissing and booing at anything that’s not a strike right down the middle.
"First, he's prevented from going to the All-Star Game for the umpteenth time, and now this??" owner buffmckagan said during a postgame Twitter tirade. "When I said Big Dick would get a**, I meant the love of a woman, not god awful umpiring!"
buffmckagan is expected to serve a three-game suspension on Aug. 3-5.