Jersey City A's

From BR Bullpen


The most recent minor league team (as of 2008) to play in Jersey City, NJ was an Oakland A's farm club in the 1978 Eastern League named the Jersey City Indians. In 1977 the team had been named the Jersey City Indians as an affiliate of Cleveland and the name stuck. The 1978 team went 30-39 in the first half, fifth in the six-team league - then they got worse, finishing last in the second half at 24-44. Their overall mark of 54-83 was the worst record in the league even though they were only outscored by 26 runs over the course of the season. They also drew the fewest fans in the circuit, with an attendance of 28,969.

The club, managed by John Kennedy, had one of the league's All-Stars; he went on to arguably the best career of anyone playing in the Eastern League that year. OF Rickey Henderson hit .310/~.420/.358 and led the EL in OBP (17 points ahead of OBP machine Wade Boggs), steals (81) and times caught stealing (28). He was second in walks (83) and runs (81) and fourth in batting average. Rickey failed to hit a homer. Amazingly, one of Henderson's teammates showed comparable or better speed stats- Darrell Woodard was 53 for 67, a better success rate and a similar percentage of steals per time on base.

The team also featured Mike Norris (2-6, 3.41) and Rick Lysander (9-6, 2.55, 2nd in the EL in ERA).

The Indians played in Roosevelt Stadium.

The next season the team moved to Waterbury, CT and became the Waterbury A's.

As Henderson's career wound down, he returned to New Jersey to play for the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League.

Year-by-Year Record[edit]

Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs
1978 54-83 6th John Kennedy