Newark Barge Bandits

Located in Newark, NY, the Newark Barge Bandits played in the North Atlantic League in its two years as an independent league. They won the pennant the first year with a 37-21 record under manager Dave Keylin. Their attendance of 15,005 was second in the league. The club had four All-Stars - C Rob Zachmann (.331, .513 slugging), 2B Erick Eckstein (.342, third in the NAL in average) and pitchers Jerry Hunter (8-2, 1.08, the pitching Triple Crown winner) and Tim McKenna. Stan Stewart (7-1, 1.89) also did a fine job on the mound.

The Barge Bandits were managed by Ken Gardner in 1996 and drew 12,676 fans, 5th in the six-team league. They finished 43-35 and in second place, but the Catskill Cougars protested a trade by Newark made after the trading deadline. The league ruled in favor of Catskill and added two forfeits to Newark, knocking them into third place and out of the playoff picture. Hunter (12-3, 1.76) led the league in strikeouts (116) and tied for the win lead but fell to second in ERA. He was the club's lone All-Star. Larry Collins (3-2, 13 Sv, 2.16) led the NAL in saves.

Sources: 1996-1997 Baseball Almanacs