Denver Bears

• Location: Denver, CO
• League: Western League 1900, 1913-1917, 1922-1932, 1941, 1947-1954; American Association 1955-1962; Pacific Coast League 1963-1968; American Association 1969-1983
• Affiliation: St. Louis Cardinals 1932; New York Yankees 1947; Hollywood Stars 1948; Boston Braves 1949-1951; Pittsburgh Pirates 1952-1954; New York Yankees 1955-1958; Detroit Tigers 1960-1962; Milwaukee Braves 1963-1964; Minnesota Twins 1965-1969; Washington Senators 1970-1972; Houston Astros 1973-1974; Chicago White Sox 1975; Montreal Expos 1976-1981; Texas Rangers 1982; Chicago White Sox 1983
• Ballpark:

The Denver Bears played in the American Association from 1955 to 1962 and from 1969 to 1983, when they became the Denver Zephyrs. When the American Association folded after the 1962 season, the team moved to the Pacific Coast League until the American Association re-formed in 1969. Teams called the Denver Bears (and also the Denver Grizzlies) also played in the Western League from 1900 to 1917, 1922 to 1932, 1941 and 1947 to 1954. They first adopted the Bears nickname in 1900 - they won the title that year but changed their name the next year to the Grizzlies. They returned to the Bears name in 1913 and won another title then went almost a half-century before their next championship.

For many years, Mile High Stadium was their home ballpark.

Among the club's more famous alumni were Tim Raines Sr., Barry Larkin, Joe Tinker, Randy Bass and Greg Vaughn. Marv Throneberry won three home run titles in a row while playing for Denver in the 1950s.

The Bears name was first used because of the fame of Teddy Roosevelt, then serving as vice president of the USA.

Championships

• American Association Playoff Champions: 6 times (1957, 1971, 1976, 1977, 1981 and 1983)
• American Association Regular Season Champions: 1 time (1960)
• American Association Western Division Champions: 7 times (1970, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980 and 1981)
• Western League Regular Season Champions: 4 times (1900, 1913, 1952, 1954)
• Western League Playoff Champions: 1 time (1952)

Year-by-Year Record

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Playoffs
1900	61-44	1st	George Tebeau	none League Champs
1913	104-62	1st	Jack Hendricks	none League Champs
1914	96-72	2nd	Jack Coffey	none
1915	82-55	2nd	Jack Coffey / Larry Spahr	none
1916	78-75	4th	Rebel Oakes	none
1917	62-86	7th	Rebel Oakes / Roy Hartzell	none
1922	63-105	7th	Joe Dunn / C.H. Adkins / Bill Rodgers	none
1923	59-107	8th	Billy Gilbert	none
1924	100-67	2nd	Joe Berger	none
1925	97-71	2nd	Joe Berger	none
1926	88-80	5th	Joe Berger	none
1927	77-75	4th	Joe Berger	none
1928	81-84	5th	Jack Knight
1929	73-81	5th	Eddie Palmer	none
1930	74-74	6th	Eddie Palmer	none
1931	64-77	6th	Johnny Butler
1932	83-64	2nd	Earl Smith
1941	42-68	6th	Cobe Jones
1947	54-75	5th	Marty McManus
1948	70-67	2nd	Mike Gazella	Lost in 1st round
1949	71-68	2nd	Mike Gazella (41-49) / William DeCarlo (4-2) / Earl Browne (26-17)	Lost in 1st round
1950	75-79	5th	Earl Browne
1951	88-66	2nd	Andy Cohen	Lost League Finals
1952	88-66	1st	Andy Cohen	League Champs
1953	94-60	2nd	Andy Cohen	Lost League Finals
1954	94-56	1st	Andy Cohen	Lost League Finals
1955	83-71	3rd	Ralph Houk	Lost in 1st round
1956	87-67	2nd	Ralph Houk	Lost League Finals
1957	90-64	2nd	Ralph Houk	League Champs
1958	78-71	4th	Andy Cohen	Lost League Finals
1959	76-86	8t	Stan Hack
1960	88-66	1st	Charlie Metro	Lost League Finals
1961	75-73	3rd	Charlie Metro	Lost in 1st round
1962	79-71	3rd	Frank Skaff	Lost League Finals
1963	71-87	9th	Jack Tighe
1964	80-78	8t	Bill Adair
1965	83-62	2nd	Cal Ermer
1966	79-68	5th	Cal Ermer
1967	69-76	9th	Cal Ermer (21-25) / Johnny Goryl (48-51)
1968	73-72	6th	Johnny Goryl (8-22) / Billy Martin (65-50)
1969	58-82	6th	Don Heffner	none
1970	70-69	4th	Whitey Kurowski (28-36) / Art Fowler (2-0) / Dick Gernert (40-33)	Lost League Finals
1971	73-67	2nd	Del Wilber	League Champs
1972	61-79	6th (t)	Del Wilber
1973	61-75	8th	Jimmy Williams
1974	62-74	7th	Frank Verdi
1975	81-55	1st	Loren Babe	Lost League Finals
1976	86-50	1st	Vern Rapp	League Champs
1977	71-65	3rd	Jim Marshall	League Champs
1978	64-71	6th	Doc Edwards
1979	62-73	7th	Jack McKeon
1980	92-44	1st	Billy Gardner	Lost League Finals
1981	76-60	2nd	Felipe Alou	League Finals
1982	68-67	7th	Rich Donnelly
1983	73-61	2nd	Jim Mahoney	League Champs