Nashua Pride

The Nashua Pride was a professional baseball team based in Nashua, New Hampshire, in the United States, not affiliated with Major League Baseball. They played home games at Holman Stadium from 1998 through 2008, when they were sold and renamed the American Defenders of New Hampshire. In 2010 that team moved to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and became the Pittsfield Colonials. The franchise itself no longer exists, as the Colonials folded after the 2011 baseball season.[1]

Nashua Pride
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
LeagueCan-Am League (2006–2008)
LocationNashua, New Hampshire
BallparkHolman Stadium
Year founded1998
Year folded2011
League championships(2) 2000, 2007
Division championships(1) 2000
Former name(s)
  • Nashua Pride (1997-2008)
  • American Defenders of New Hampshire (2009)
  • Pittsfield Colonials (2010–11)
Former league(s)
ColorsBlue, Gold, White               
MascotShag the Tiger, Stitch the Baseball (possibly inspired by Mr. Met)
OwnershipJohn Stabile II
ManagerRick Miller
General ManagerChris Hall
MediaNashua Telegraph

History

The Nashua Pride was one of the founding members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball in 1998. The team name was based on the fact that Money magazine twice named Nashua the "best place to live" in the America.[2] The team's primary home uniform logo was the word "Pride" in script, and included the number "1" inside the capital "P."

In the 2000 season, the team swept the Somerset Patriots in three games to win the Atlantic League Championship Series. However, the Patriots answered that loss by defeating the Pride in the 2003 and 2005 championships. Despite their on-field success, the Pride suffered as a result of having one of the lowest average attendances and being the farthest team from the core of the league.

In 2006, the team moved to the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, (Can-Am League). As Nashua is closer in proximity to the teams of the Can-Am League than those of the Atlantic, the Pride was relieved of the expensive travel to away games.

In 2007, the Pride won the Can-Am League championship. After that season, long-time manager Butch Hobson left the Pride to take the managerial job with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the Atlantic League, while former Boston Red Sox outfielder Rick Miller was hired as manager in Nashua. Former Boston Red Sox firstbaseman/outfielder Brian Daubach was hired as the hitting coach midway through the 2008 season.

American skier Bode Miller played one home game each year for the team in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Former Red Sox reliever Rich "El Guapo" Garces appeared in the Pride bullpen in 2007 and 2008.

Sale of the Pride
Bode Miller playing for the Nashua Pride

Following the 2008 season, when the Pride lost an estimated $500,000,[3] former owner John Stabile sold the team to the American Defenders of New Hampshire, LLC. Stabile, a Nashua resident, had bought the team in January 2006 to prevent it from relocating, and got assurances from the new owners that they would keep the team in Nashua.

American Defenders of New Hampshire, LLC consisted of Nokona executives Buddy Lewis and Jerry O'Connor, former Boston Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette, and Terry Allvord.[4]

The new owners changed the club's name from the Nashua Pride to the American Defenders of New Hampshire, placing less of an emphasis on the Nashua market. They kept General Manager Chris Hall and promoted Brian Daubach from Hitting Coach to Manager.

The team was evicted from Holman stadium in Nashua midway through the 2009 season because of nonpayment of rent.

Nashua baseball history

The Pride was one of several professional teams to play in Nashua, and one of five to have played at Holman Stadium:

Notable Pride alumni
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gollark: > Did I even mention EU yet?You did LAST time.
gollark: I think it was just because you were talking about some sort of crackpot "electric universe" "theory" with no basis in reality, not some sort of paradigm thing.
gollark: YET.

References
  1. Berkshire Eagle: "Colonials won't return"
  2. Nashua Telegraph "Nashua looks to regain what twice made it ‘best place to live’ "
  3. Tom King (2008-08-29). "Pride back in limbo". Nashua Telegraph. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  4. About the American Defenders, LLC


Achievements
Preceded by
Québec Capitales
2006		 Can-Am League Champions
Nashua Pride
2007		 Succeeded by
Sussex Skyhawks
2008
Preceded by
Bridgeport Bluefish
1999		 Atlantic League Champions
Nashua Pride
2000		 Succeeded by
Somerset Patriots
2001
Achievements
Preceded by
Long Island Ducks
2004		 North Division Champions
Nashua Pride
2005		 Succeeded by
Bridgeport Bluefish
2006
Preceded by
Bridgeport Bluefish
2002		 North Division Champions
Nashua Pride
2003		 Succeeded by
Long Island Ducks
2004
Preceded by
North Division Created		 North Division Champions
Nashua Pride
2000		 Succeeded by
Newark Bears
2001
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