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| Autographed 2016 Inaugural New Britain Team Official Atlantic League Baseball |
Having 2016 as their inaugural season, the New Britain Bees
played their first regular-season home game at New Britain Stadium on April 21st,
vs. the York Revolution. New Britain joined and rebalanced the Atlantic League
following a season where the Camden Riversharks ceased operations in 2015.
Atlantic League-veteran skipper Stan Cliburn served as the
Bee’s first manager; making his way north from managing Southern Maryland in
2015 and returning to New Britain where he managed the affiliated Rock Cats
from 2001-05.
Cliburn led the Bees to a winning record 71-69 in their
first year as the Bees served as a pitching reservoir for affiliated scouts seeking
quality pitching. Many former-major-league hurlers on the Bees roster were signed during their opening
season including pitchers: Nick Greenwood (Twins), Eric Fornataro (Orioles),
Josh Outman (Pirates) and Josh Zeld (Mets). New Britian’s front office eye for
pitching talent also paid dividends to the team as RHP Kyle Simon earned the 2016 Atlantic
League ERA crown.
