The Eau Claire Bears was the primary nickname of the minor league baseball teams from

Eau Claire, Wisconsin Eau Claire (; ) (French for "clear water") is a city mostly located in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, of which it is the county seat, and with a small portion in Chippewa County, Wisconsin. It had a population of 69,421 in 2020, making it the stat ...

. Eau Claire was a member of the Class C Northern League (1933-1942, 1946–62) and were affiliates of the

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eigh ...

(1936), Chicago Cubs (1937-1939) and the Boston Braves (1947-1962). The team played its home games at Carson Park in Eau Claire. Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees Hank Aaron,

Joe Torre Joseph Paul Torre (; born July 18, 1940) is an American professional baseball executive, serving as a special assistant to the Commissioner of Baseball since 2020. He previously served in the capacity of Major League Baseball's (MLB) chief baseb ...

and Ford C. Frick Award recipient Bob Uecker played for Eau Claire.

History

Originally named the Eau Claire Cardinals, the team adopted its most enduring nickname when new owners bought the team in July of its first season. Beginning in 1954, the Eau Claire Bears were renamed the Eau Claire Braves after the Boston Braves moved to Milwaukee. The Bears, along with the rest of the Northern League, did not play the 1943-45 seasons due to World War II. In 1998, an amateur team in Eau Claire began using the Bears name and has been a member of the Chippewa River Baseball League ever since. Along with many league titles, they also won the Wisconsin Baseball Association (WBA) state championship in 2005, 2008, and 2009.

Stadiums

From 1933-1938 Eau Claire played at Chappell Field, which seated 2,000 with temporary bleachers. From 1937-1962 teams played at Carson Park, which still exists today. Built in 1937, the park had a capacity of 3500. It is located at 1 Carson Park Drive. Today, Carson Park is home to the

Eau Claire Express The Eau Claire Express is a collegiate summer baseball team playing in the Northwoods League. Their home games are played at Carson Park, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. After two straight losing seasons in 2005 and 2006, the Eau Claire Express achiev ...

of the summer collegiate

Northwoods League The Northwoods League is a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league. All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate. The league is amateur, and players are not paid, so as to maintain their college el ...

and the new Eau Claire Bears of the Chippewa River Baseball League.

Hank Aaron

The most accomplished player in the team's history was Hall of Famer

Hank Aaron Henry Louis Aaron (February 5, 1934 – January 22, 2021), nicknamed "Hammer" or "Hammerin' Hank", was an American professional baseball right fielder who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), from 1954 through 1976. One of the gre ...

, who made his minor league début with the team in 1952. Aaron arrived to the team in mid June, 1952, after signing a contract with the Braves on June 15 for $350 per month. Aaron played shortstop and breaking from his cross-handed style of batting, was selected to play in the 1952 Northern League All-Star Game. He was selected as the league's Rookie of the Year at the conclusion of the season. Aaron hit .336 with 9 Home Runs for Eau Claire, helping the team to a 72-53 record. Today, there is a statue of Aaron and plaque in front of Carson Park to honor his achievements. Aaron was present for the statue dedication ceremonies on August 17, 1994.

Notable Eau Claire alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

(1952) Inducted, 1982 *

(1960) Inducted, 2014 * Bob Uecker (1956-1957) Inducted, Ford C. Frick Award (2003)

Notable alumni

Bill Robinson Bill Robinson, nicknamed Bojangles (born Luther Robinson; May 25, 1878 – November 25, 1949), was an American tap dancer, actor, and singer, the best known and the most highly paid African-American entertainer in the United States during the f ...

(1962) * Rico Carty (1961) MLB All-Star ; 1970 NL batting champion * Walt Hriniak (1961) * Denny Lemaster (1958) MLB All-Star * Tony Cloninger (1958) * Tommie Aaron (1958-1959) *

Lee Maye Arthur Lee Maye (December 11, 1934 – July 17, 2002) was an American Major League Baseball player. He played eleven seasons in the majors as an outfielder for the Milwaukee Braves (1959–1965), Houston Astros (1965–1966), Cleveland Indians ...

(1955) *

Charlie Root Charles Henry "Chinski" Root (March 17, 1899 – November 5, 1970) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher with the St. Louis Browns and the Chicago Cubs between 1923 and 1941. Root batted and threw right-handed. He holds the club record fo ...

(1954, MGR) * Wes Covington (1952) * Johnny Goryl (1952) *

Bill Bruton William Havon Bruton (November 9, 1925 – December 5, 1995) was a Major League Baseball (MLB) center fielder who played for the Milwaukee Braves (1953–1960) and Detroit Tigers (1961–1964). Bruton batted left-handed and threw right-handed. C ...

(1950) 3 × NL stolen base leader * Pete Whisenant (1947) *

Chuck Tanner Charles William Tanner (July 4, 1928February 11, 2011) was an American professional baseball player and manager. A left fielder and pinch hitter who appeared in 396 games in Major League Baseball between 1955 and 1962, he was known for his unwav ...

(1947-1948) Manager: 1979 World Series Champion - Pittsburgh Pirates * Jim Delsing (1946) (Father of Pro Golfer Jay Delsing) * Dave Garcia (1942) *

Rosy Ryan Wilfred Patrick Dolan "Rosy" Ryan (March 15, 1898 – December 10, 1980) was an American professional baseball pitcher. He played ten seasons in Major League Baseball between 1919 and 1933 for the New York Giants, Boston Braves, New York Yankees, ...

(1941-1942) 1961

King of Baseball King of Baseball was a ceremonial title awarded annually from 1951 to 2019 by Minor League Baseball to recognize an individual for their longtime dedication and service to professional baseball. It was awarded during baseball's Winter Meetings ...

Award * Wes Westrum (1941) 2 × MLB All-Star * Andy Pafko (1940) 5 × MLB All-Star * Stan Spence (1935) 4 × MLB All-Star * Hank Majeski (1935) * Johnny Mostil (1933-1937) 2 × AL stolen base leader {{Div col end

References

External links

Northern League team history

Official site of "Henry Aaron’s Summer Up North", documentary on Hank Aaron and the 1952 Bears
Defunct minor league baseball teams Sports in Eau Claire, Wisconsin 1933 establishments in Wisconsin 1962 disestablishments in Wisconsin Milwaukee Braves minor league affiliates Chicago Cubs minor league affiliates Boston Red Sox minor league affiliates Northern League (1902-71) baseball teams Boston Braves minor league affiliates Boston Bees minor league affiliates Baseball teams established in 1933 Baseball teams disestablished in 1962 Defunct baseball teams in Wisconsin