# Blue Mountain Bears

The Blue Mountain Bears were a minor league baseball team located in Walla Walla, Washington. They were members of the Class A Short Season Northwest League for a single season in 1983.
The franchise was then purchased by Bob and Margaret Bavasi, who moved the team west to Everett and operated as the Everett Giants for eleven seasons. With a switch of affiliation to the Seattle Mariners in 1995, they became the AquaSox.

## History

From 1973 through 1982, the Walla Walla Padres were the Northwest League affiliate of the San Diego Padres, and the team was owned by Patrica Nelly. After years of declining attendance, the franchise was sold to New Jersey–based Big Six Sports. The new ownership group promptly moved the club west to Richland, and took the outfield fence with them. They rebranded as the Tri-Cities Triplets for 1983 and signed a player development contract with the Texas Rangers.
Seeking to enhance the Northwest League from six to eight teams to allow for improved travel, Commissioner Bob Freitas sought expansion. Along with Spokane, Walla Walla was tabbed as one of the expansion locations and Ohio businessman Peter C. Kern was awarded the franchise. In homage to Walla Walla baseball history, "Bears" was selected as the nickname. While that was familiar, the club elected the unique moniker "Blue Mountain" to provide a greater market appeal, a reference to the Blue Mountains that bisect the region. Due to the late finalization of the club, the Bears were unable to secure an affiliation with a major league team, and operated as an independent for the 1983 campaign.

## Ballpark

The Bears played at multi-sport Borleske Stadium, located at 409 West Rees Avenue; the vintage venue is still in use today.

## Team identity

The Blue Mountain Bears adopted a color scheme of Powder Blue, Red, Navy Blue, and White. On the field, the Bears were clad in powder blue uniforms. Unlike most teams who utilized powder blue as an alternative to road grey, the color was part of the Bears brand. Absent the traditional white and grey of baseball, the team donned the single powder blue uniform set for all games. Manufactured by Wilson, the jersey was a two button top with red/white/navy blue trim on the neck and sleeve ends. The jersey was embellished with a red on white on navy Blue script B applied in tackle twill. The back of the jersey featured a three-color number in Wilson block font.
In contrast to most teams wearing powder blue uniforms at the time, the Bears' pants utilized a belt similar to the Montreal Expos. The pants were trimmed with a navy blue/white/red stripe. The team wore red stirrups and belts, and capping off the uniform was a solid red hat with a two-color white, outlined in navy blue script B embroidered on the face.

## Regular season

1983 Blue Mountain Bears Game Log :
Regular Season :
| Date | Opponent | Score | Overall Record |
| June 22 | Tri-Cities | 4–3 (12) | 1–0 |
| June 23 | Tri-Cities | Rain Out | 1–0 |
| June 24 | at Tri-Cities | 2–5 | 1–1 |
| June 25 | at Tri-Cities | 4–1 | 2–1 |
| June 26 | at Tri-Cities | 6–11 | 2–2 |
| June 27 | Bellingham | 1–11 | 2–3 |
| June 28 | Bellingham | 2–4 | 2–4 |
| June 29 | Spokane | 3–8 | 2–5 |
| June 30 | Spokane | 1–0 | 3–5 |
| Date | Opponent | Score | Overall Record |
| July 1 | at Bellingham | 2–2 (7) | 3–5 |
| July 2 | at Bellingham | 0–2 | 3–6 |
| July 3 | at Bellingham | 2–3 | 3–7 |
| July 4 | at Spokane | 4–5 | 3–8 |
| July 5 | at Spokane | 3–1 | 4–8 |
| July 7 | Eugene | 6–5 | 5–8 |
| July 8 | Eugene | 7–6 (12) | 6–8 |
| July 9 | Eugene | 4–5 (10) | 6–9 |
| July 10 | Eugene | 12–13 (10) | 6–10 |
| July 11 | Salem | 2–4 (13) | 6–11 |
| July 12 | Salem | 6–4 | 7–11 |
| July 13 | Salem | Rain Out | 7–11 |
| July 14 | at Eugene | 6–5 | 8–11 |
| July 15 | at Eugene | 7–12 | 8–12 |
| July 16 | at Eugene | 6–11 | 8–13 |
| July 17 | at Salem (Make up from July 13) | 6–0 | 9–13 |
| July 17 | at Salem | 4–9 | 9–14 |
| July 18 | at Salem | 4–0 | 10–14 |
| July 19 | at Salem | 5–6 (12) | 10–15 |
| July 20 | at Salem | 6–3 | 11–15 |
| July 21 | at Tri-Cities | 3–4 | 11–16 |
| July 22 | at Tri-Cities | 11–7 | 12–16 |
| July 23 | Tri-Cities (Make up from June 22) | 5–1 | 13–16 |
| July 23 | Tri-Cities | 0–7 | 13–17 |
| July 24 | Tri-Cities | 7–2 | 14–17 |
| July 25 | Bellingham | 0–5 | 14–18 |
| July 26 | Bellingham | 2–3 | 14–19 |
| July 27 | Bellingham | 8–6 | 15–19 |
| July 28 | Spokane (Played in Lewiston, ID) | 11–3 | 16–19 |
| July 29 | Spokane (Played in Lewiston, ID) | 4–6 | 16–20 |
| July 30 | at Bellingham | 2–11 | 16–21 |
| July 31 | at Bellingham (Make up from July 1) | 5–6 | 16–22 |
| July 31 | at Bellingham | 4–5 | 16–23 |
| Date | Opponent | Score | Overall Record |
| August 1 | at Spokane | 4–3 | 17–23 |
| August 2 | at Spokane | 6–11 | 17–24 |
| August 3 | at Spokane | 10–0 | 18–24 |
| August 4 | Northwest League All-Star Game at Tri-Cities |
| August 5 | Medford | 3–9 | 18–25 |
| August 6 | Medford | 6–3 | 19–25 |
| August 7 | Medford | 5–6 | 19–26 |
| August 8 | Bend | 9–8 | 20–26 |
| August 9 | Bend | 4–3 | 21–26 |
| August 10 | Bend | 3–2 | 22–26 |
| August 11 | Bend | 11–4 | 23–26 |
| August 12 | at Medford | 19–1 | 24–26 |
| August 13 | at Medford | 2–5 | 24–27 |
| August 14 | at Medford | 0–3 | 24–28 |
| August 15 | at Medford | 0–7 | 24–29 |
| August 16 | at Bend | 0–6 | 24–30 |
| August 17 | at Bend | 5–4 | 25–30 |
| August 18 | at Bend | 10–9 (10) | 26–30 |
| August 19 | Spokane | 12–3 | 27–30 |
| August 20 | Spokane | 3–4 (10) | 27–31 |
| August 21 | Spokane | 1–6 | 27–32 |
| August 22 | Bellingham | 1–5 | 27–33 |
| August 23 | Bellingham | Rain Out | 27–33 |
| August 24 | Tri-Cities | 3–1 | 28–33 |
| August 25 | Tri-Cities | 0–3 | 28–34 |
| August 26 | Tri-Cities | 3–2 | 29–34 |
| August 27 | at Tri-Cities | 0–9 | 29–35 |
| August 28 | at Tri-Cities | 3–2 | 30–35 |
| August 29 | at Spokane | 7–2 | 31–35 |
| August 30 | at Spokane | 8–3 | 32–35 |
| August 31 | at Bellingham (Make up from August 23) | 2–3 | 32–36 |
| August 31 | at Bellingham | 4–1 | 33–36 |
| Date | Opponent | Score | Overall Record |
| September 1 | at Bellingham | Rain Out | 33–36 |

## Season-by-season record

| Season | PDC | Division | Finish | Wins | Losses | Win% | Post-season | Manager | Attendance |
| Blue Mountain Bears ||||||||||
| 1983 | | Washington | 2nd | 33 | 36 | .478 | | Ronald Mihal | 9,019 |