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The New Jersey Jackals are an American professional baseball team based in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. The team was founded in 1998 by Floyd Hall and is owned by Al Dorso, a businessman who also owns the
Sussex County Miners The Sussex County Miners are a professional independent league baseball team based in the Augusta section of Frankford Township in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. The Miners are members of the East Division of the Frontier League, an ...
, Skylands Stadium, and State Fair Superstore. The Jackals are a member of the East Division of the
Frontier League The Frontier League is a professional independent baseball league with teams in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Eastern Canada. Formed in 1993, it is the oldest currently running independent league in the United States. The le ...
, an
independent baseball Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independen ...
league which is a Partner League of Major League Baseball. They were previously members of the
Northeast League The Northeast League was a professional independent baseball league that operated in the Northeastern United States from 1995 until 1998 and from 2003 until 2004. Between 1999 and 2002, the league was part of the Northern League after the two leag ...
, Northern League,
Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball The Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, commonly known as the Can-Am League, was a professional, independent baseball league with teams in the Northeast United States and Eastern Canada, founded in 2005 as a reorganization of ...
, and All-American Baseball Challenge. Beginning with the 2023 season, the Jackals will play their home games at former Negro leagues ballpark
Hinchliffe Stadium Hinchliffe Stadium () is a 10,000-seat stadium located in Paterson, New Jersey. The venue was completed in 1932 and sits on a dramatic escarpment above Paterson's National Historic Landmark Great Falls, surrounded by the city's national landmark ...
in Paterson, New Jersey.


Team history


1998: Inaugural season

The Jackals were founded in 1998 and replaced the Bangor Blue Ox in the Northeast League after that franchise folded. Kash Beauchamp was named the team's first manager and they began play on May 30, 1998, against the Waterbury Spirit, where they won both games of a doubleheader. The Jackals' first home game was played at a yet-to-be-finished
Yogi Berra Stadium Yogi Berra Stadium is a baseball stadium in Little Falls, New Jersey, on the campus of Montclair State University. The stadium is home to the Montclair State Red Hawks baseball team, which competes in NCAA Division III; and the Yogi Berra Museum ...
on June 5. Facing the
Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs The Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs were an independent baseball league team based in Albany, New York from 1995 to 2002. The team played at Heritage Park in Colonie. The Diamond Dogs competed in the Northeast League from 1995–98 and then in the ...
, New Jersey went to extra innings before winning 2–1 in the thirteenth on a home run by Gary Collum. The Jackals finished the regular season with 53 wins, most in the league, and won the first half championship, which ensured a place in the Northeast League playoffs. They would defeat the
Allentown Ambassadors The Allentown Ambassadors were an independent baseball team that competed in the Northeast League and the Northern League from 1997 until 2003. They played their home games at Bicentennial Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania. History In 1996, Al ...
in their first playoff series, then face Albany-Colonie again for the league championship. The Jackals defeated the Diamond Dogs 2–0 in a best of three series to win their first league championship.


1999–2000: Entering a new league

The Jackals became members of the Northern League for the 1999 season after the league decided to absorb the Northeast League. The Jackals became part of the new Northern League East Division. The Jackals won 45 games in 1999 and again qualified for the playoffs, knocking off Allentown in their first playoff matchup before falling to Albany-Colonie in a rematch of their league championship series from 1998. The Jackals received the honor of hosting the Northern League All-Star Game in 2000. 4,211 fans showed up to watch the game, which saw the East defeat the Central Division 10–5. It was one of the year's highlights, but there were not many others as the Jackals struggled throughout the season. A 31–52 record placed the team last in the division, and following the season Kash Beauchamp announced his resignation after three seasons.


2001–2004: Champions

George Tsamis was hired to take over the Jackals for 2001. He had lost his job as manager in Waterbury following the 2000 season when the Spirit suspended operations. The Jackals again found struggles, but managed to pull together 45 victories against 45 losses. They qualified for the Northern League playoffs for the second time in three years as a wild card and once again won their first round series, sweeping Albany-Colonie. Shortly after the Jackals' win over the Diamond Dogs, the
September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. That morning, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commer ...
occurred and threw the rest of the playoffs into doubt. After discussion the Northern League determined that they would continue to play and the Jackals resumed their championship quest against the Elmira Pioneers on September 17. In a five-game series, New Jersey emerged victorious and advanced to the Northern League Championship Series against the Winnipeg Goldeyes, whom they defeated in four games to win their second league championship.


2002

The 2002 Jackals season was historic on two fronts. The first historic moment came when Jeremy Callier threw a no-hitter on August 28 against the Berkshire Black Bears, requiring a home run by Ryan Kane in the bottom of the ninth inning to make it official. The second piece of team history saw the Jackals set a team record for victories, finishing with 62 to lead the league. In the playoffs, however, the Jackals had problems. In the first round, they took the first two against Elmira before the Pioneers won the next two to tie the series. The Jackals emerged victorious in five games. Then, in the Northern League East Championship Series against Adirondack, the Jackals were down to their final out in Game 5 trailing 2–1 when Dave Callahan hit a double with the bases loaded to score all three runners and give the team a 4–2 victory. The Jackals capped it off with their second straight victory over Winnipeg in the Northern League Championship Series, defeating the Goldeyes 3 games to 1.


2003

2003 saw two major changes for the Jackals. First George Tsamis resigned to take the managerial position with the St. Paul Saints, New Jersey hired Gary SouthShore RailCats manager Joe Calfapietra to take his place. The second saw the end of the merger with the Northern League, as the Northeast League once again became its own entity. The Jackals finished 52–37 and returned to the playoffs for a third consecutive year by winning both halves of the season in their division, but were dispatched in the first round by the eventual league champion
Brockton Rox The Brockton Rox are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Brockton, Massachusetts, United States. Formerly a professional baseball franchise, the Rox were a member of the independent Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, fr ...
.


2004

In 2004, New Jersey improved their record to what was then the team's second-best showing in its history, winning 54 games and losing 29. However, the first half of the season required saw the Jackals end in a tie with the New Haven County Cutters, requiring a one-game playoff which New Jersey won for their fifth consecutive half-season victory. The Jackals pulled away in the second half with a 28–18 record, winning both halves for a third straight year. The Jackals beat the
Bangor Lumberjacks The Bangor Lumberjacks were an independent minor league baseball team in the Northeast League that was based in Bangor, Maine. Prior to 2003, the Lumberjacks played in Glens Falls, New York and were known as the Adirondack Lumberjacks. The team ...
in the opening round of the playoffs, then found themselves in trouble against the
North Shore Spirit The North Shore Spirit was a minor-league baseball team based in Lynn, Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007. The Spirit played in the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball (the "Can-Am League," also known as the Northeast League), an ...
in the league championship series. Trailing two games to none and down late in the third game, the Jackals rallied for an extra inning victory. They duplicated the feat the next day in Game 4 to tie the series, and then won the fifth and deciding game to take the Northeast League Championship. It would be the fourth league championship for the Jackals, but would be their last for over a decade.


2005

In 2005 the Jackals joined the 8-team
Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball The Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, commonly known as the Can-Am League, was a professional, independent baseball league with teams in the Northeast United States and Eastern Canada, founded in 2005 as a reorganization of ...
League but failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2000 despite posting a winning record of 48–44. Outfielder Zach Smithlin led the league with 135 hits and a .358 batting average, while second baseman Ricardo Cordova also topped .350 and was named to the All-Star team. Pitcher Joel Bennett recorded a 2.68 ERA and an 11–2 record in his abbreviated season and also garnered All-Star consideration.


2006

2006 saw another history-making performance as Aaron Myers threw the second no-hitter in team history, but New Jersey again missed the playoffs and—with a 43–48 record—finished with only their second losing record in team history. The Jackals’ major bright spot was veteran minor league John Lindsey, who led the team in home runs but was signed away from the team in the second half of the season. Joel Bennett and Raul Valdes both led the Jackals in wins with seven, while Isaac Pavlik and Joe Orloski each recorded six.


2007

The Jackals returned to the playoffs as they won the Can-Am League First Half Championship in 2007 with a 31–15 record, guaranteeing them a spot in the playoffs. Their 31 wins in the first half still mark a franchise best in the first half, and second most in a half (32 in 2002). The Jackals' second half was not as strong, as they finished in last place with an 18–29 record. New Jersey took the Nashua Pride to a fifth game at Yogi Berra Stadium in their best-of-five series before losing and getting knocked out. The Jackals’ leading hitter was returning catcher Sandy Madera, who hit .364 with 21 home runs and 75 RBI. Zach Smithlin stole 33 bases, marking the fourth consecutive year where he recorded at least 25. After the season, Joel Bennett retired from professional baseball. He finished his final season with a 3–2 record.


2008

The Jackals missed the playoffs in 2008, finishing 43–51. In a ceremony prior to their game on August 22 vs. the Brockton Rox, the Jackals retired pitcher Joel Bennett’s number 28. The Jackals total attendance in 2008 was 103,817. Averaging 2,209 per game.


2009

New Jersey was able to ride a CanAm League record 14 game winning streak to a First Half Championship in 2009 with a 28–19 record, once again guaranteeing the team a playoff spot. The Jackals won 27 games in the second half for a total of 55, the second most in team history. Despite that, New Jersey was eliminated from the playoffs by the
Worcester Tornadoes The Worcester Tornadoes were a professional baseball team based in Worcester, Massachusetts, in the United States. The Tornadoes were a member of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, an independent baseball league which wa ...
.


2010

In 2010, the Jackals slipped in the first half, finishing fourth with a 19–27 record. The team battled back to a 23–23 record in the second half, beating out the Worcester Tornadoes by 0.5 game for the fourth and final playoff spot. The Jackals were swept by Quebec three games to none in the opening round.


2011

The Jackals finished the regular season 57–36, the second most season wins in franchise history behind the 62 wins the 2002 team put up. Despite an impressive record, the Jackals were unable to win either half of the regular season (Quebec won both halves), and finished second of the eight teams. On July 30, the Jackals retired Zack Smithlin's #4 jersey in a pregame ceremony. Jackals pitcher Isaac Pavlik made a close run for the pitching triple crown, finishing the regular season atop the league in wins and strikeouts, but third in ERA. The Jackals defeated the Pittsfield Colonials to advance to the Can-Am League Championship Series, losing again to Quebec.


2012

The Jackals completed the season second overall with a 59–41 record. They once again faced Les Capitales in the championship series, which was extended to a best-of-seven, but again lost. Jackals 3B Nick Giarraputo was named the Can-Am League's 2012 Player of the Year.


2013

The Jackals finished at 55–44, in second place. Quebec loomed in the league championship series again, and the Jackals rallied from three games to one down to force a seventh game which Les Capitales won.


2014

With the
Newark Bears The Newark Bears were an American minor league professional baseball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They were a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and, later, the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball. T ...
ceasing operations after the 2013 season, the Can-Am League was down to just 4 teams for 2014. The New Jersey Jackals,
Rockland Boulders The New York Boulders are an American Independent baseball league, independent professional baseball team playing in the Frontier League based in Pomona, New York, Pomona, Rockland County, New York (state), New York. The team was founded as a mem ...
,
Trois-Rivières Aigles The Aigles de Trois-Rivières (English: ''Three Rivers Eagles'') were a Canadian Minor League Baseball team of the Eastern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds from 1971 to 1977. They were located in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, ...
, & Quebec Capitales. More inter-league play with American Association kept the Can-Am afloat, while allowing the league to maintain its own separate identity. The Jackals hosted the St. Paul Saints, Winnipeg Goldeyes, &
Lincoln Saltdogs The Lincoln Saltdogs are a professional baseball team based in Lincoln, Nebraska, in the United States. The Saltdogs are in the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major League Baseball. Since the 2001 sea ...
going 4–5. The Winnipeg Goldeyes returned to Yogi Berra Stadium on June 17, 2014, for the first time since losing the Northern League Championship to NJ on September 21, 2002. A span of 4,287 days between games. Jackals manager Joe Calfapietra recorded his 700th managerial win on July 7, a 4–3 victory over Les Capitales de Québec at Le Stade Municipal. NJ visited the Sioux Falls Canaries, St. Paul Saints, & Winnipeg Goldeyes in August. Going 5–4 on the road trip. On August 25, the Jackals eliminated rival Quebec Capitales (winners of 5 consecutive League Championships) & earned themselves a 13th postseason appearance in 17 years with a 7–3 home victory. The Jackals finished one game behind the Boulders with a 55–41 record. New Jersey lost its fourth consecutive league championship series, falling in six games to Rockland after winning the first two at home. 9/3 – Jackals 3, Boulders 2 9/4 – Jackals 3, Boulders 2 9/5 – Boulders 5, Jackals 4 9/6 – Boulders 8, Jackals 7 10 Innings 9/7 – Boulders 14, Jackals 4 9/8 – Boulders 4, Jackals 0 (Rockland wins series 4–2) The Jackals total attendance in 2014 was 76,423. Averaging 1,661 per game.


2015

In 2015 the
Sussex County Miners The Sussex County Miners are a professional independent league baseball team based in the Augusta section of Frankford Township in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. The Miners are members of the East Division of the Frontier League, an ...
& the
Ottawa Champions The Ottawa Champions Baseball Club (french: link=no, Les Champions d'Ottawa) were a professional baseball team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The Champions made their debut as a member of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseb ...
were added to the Can-Am League. The Garden State Grays played 60 games, & the
Shikoku Island League The is an independent professional baseball league on the island of Shikoku in Japan. (None of the teams in Nippon Professional Baseball are based in Shikoku.) The league currently has four teams, and has its league headquarters in Takamatsu. Th ...
All-Stars played 16 games. The Jackals finished third in the league with a 54–43 in 2015, earning a playoff spot for the 7th consecutive season. New Jersey defeated Quebec for the first time in a post season series. 9/9 Jackals 4, Quebec 3 9/11 Quebec 4, Jackals 3 9/12 Quebec 11, Jackals 5 9/13 Jackals 5, Quebec 2 9/15 Jackals 5, Quebec 4 (NJ wins series 3–2) NJ earns a fifth straight trip to the League Championship Series. The Jackals fell to Trois-Rivières in 5 games, losing their fifth straight CanAm League championship series. 9/16 Aigles 12, Jackals 0 9/17 Jackals 8, Aigles 6 9/18 Aigles 7, Jackals 3 9/19 Jackals 7, Aigles 5 9/20 Aigles 2, Jackals 1 (Aigles wins series 3–2) Despite winning 4 of the franchise's first five trips to a league championship, the Jackals were winless in their last five. On July 17, 2015, the Jackals participated in the 1st ever Can-Am League Cooperstown Classic at Historic
Doubleday Field Doubleday Field is a baseball stadium in Cooperstown, New York named for Abner Doubleday and located two village blocks from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. The grounds have been used for baseball since 1920, on what was Elihu Ph ...
in Cooperstown, NY. New Jersey defeated the host Rockland Boulders 9–1. Winning pitcher, Brian Ernst. Combining the regular & post seasons, NJ plays a team record 107 games in 2015. The Jackals total attendance in 2015 was 78,913. Averaging 1,578 per game.


2016

In the 2016 season, the Jackals finished in first place with a 62–38 record, which tied the team record for victories in a season. However, they lost in the opening round to the
Ottawa Champions The Ottawa Champions Baseball Club (french: link=no, Les Champions d'Ottawa) were a professional baseball team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The Champions made their debut as a member of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseb ...
: 9/7 – Jackals 11, Ottawa 2 9/8 – Ottawa 4, Jackals 3 9/9 – Ottawa 8, Jackals 3 9/10 – Ottawa 7, Jackals 2 (Ottawa wins series 3–1) First baseman Art Charles, however, set league records in slugging percentage,
extra base hit In baseball, an extra-base hit (EB, EBH or XBH), also known as a long hit, is any base hit on which the batter is able to advance past first base without the benefit of a fielder either committing an error or opting to make a throw to retire ano ...
s and
total bases In baseball statistics, total bases is the number of bases a player gains with hits. It is a weighted sum with values of 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run. For example, three singles is three total bases, whil ...
en route to being named the 2016 '' Baseball America'' Independent Leagues Player of the Year. Jackals manager Joe Calfapietra recorded his 800th managerial win on June 6, a 19–3 victory over the Sussex County Miners at Skylands Stadium. Jackals played the  Cuban National Team in a 3-series at Yogi Berra Stadium, on June 27–29. G1 Cuba 9 Jackals 4 (7inning game) G2 Jackals 3 Cuba 1 G3 Jackals 5 Cuba 3 New Jersey sets a Can-Am Team record with 46 triples in a season. The Jackals total attendance in 2016 was 74,335. Averaging 1,652 per game. The lowest ever for the NJ franchise. After the 2016 season, manager Joe Calfapietra announced he was leaving the team after fourteen seasons to take over the managerial position with the American Association's
Kansas City T-Bones The Kansas City Monarchs are a professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Kansas. Formerly known as the Kansas City T-Bones, they are members of the American Association of Professional Baseball; which, in 2020, became designated as a Majo ...
.


2017

The team's bench coach, Matt Padgett, was promoted to manager in February 2017. Al Dorso purchases the Jackals franchise in May 2017. To be operated as University Sports and Entertainment, LLC. The Jackals begin their 20th season on May 18, 2017, with an 8–4 victory over Quebec at Yogi Berra Stadium. NJ swept a 3-game series from a Dominican Republic squad in June. They also swept 4 from the Cuban National Team in their second appearance at Yogi Berra Stadium. The Jackals finished at 55–45 & qualified for the playoffs for the 16th time in 20 seasons, but were eliminated by the Rockland Boulders in the opening round: 9/7 – Boulders 3, Jackals 1 9/8 – Boulders 5, Jackals 0 9/9 – Jackals 7, Boulders 1 9/10 – Boulders 9, Jackals 1 (Rockland wins series 3–1) During the 2017 season, pitcher Johnny Hellweg signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates and first baseman Conrad Gregor signed with the Boston Red Sox organization. On July 20, 2017, the Jackals recorded their 1,000th regular season win. A 9–3 victory over Trois-Rivieres. Winning pitcher, Isaac Pavlik. On August 2, 2017, Isaac Pavlik records his 1,000th career strikeout as a Jackal, during an 8–2 victory over Ottawa. The Jackals total attendance in 2017 was 91,892. Averaging 1,767 per game. After the 2017 season, Jackals Manager Matt Padgett announced he was not returning in 2018. The team announced on December 18, 2017, that his replacement would be Brooks Carey, who had spent the previous five seasons managing the Normal CornBelters of the
Frontier League The Frontier League is a professional independent baseball league with teams in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Eastern Canada. Formed in 1993, it is the oldest currently running independent league in the United States. The le ...
.


2018

In 2018 the Jackals finished the year with a 50–52 record. Their first losing season since 2010 ending their run of 9 consecutive post season appearances. In a game started on May 31 and completed on July 5, NJ hits a CanAm record 7 home runs en route to a 23–8 victory over Ottawa. On August 7, in game starting at 8:51pm, Eduar Lopez tossed the 3rd no-hitter in franchise history as the Jackals defeated the Ottawa Champions, 5–0. He faced 28 batters, 1BB, 4K's, 92 pitches. The Jackals total attendance in 2018 was 83,610. Averaging 1,706 per game.


2019

The CanAm League commemorated its 15th season in 2019. The Jackals opened their 22nd season in Ottawa on May 17, with a 10 inning 6–5 victory. They won their 2019 Home opener on May 24 vs. the
Trois-Rivières Aigles The Aigles de Trois-Rivières (English: ''Three Rivers Eagles'') were a Canadian Minor League Baseball team of the Eastern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds from 1971 to 1977. They were located in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, ...
by a score of 4–1. The Can-Am International Series continued in 2019. NJ played the Shikoku Island Independents & Cuban National Team for the 3rd time. On July 3 the Jackals played in their 2,000th regular season game. Recording a 12–8 victory over Quebec @ YBS. Following their August 23 victory over Ottawa, the Jackals qualified for their 17th post season appearance in their 22-year history. In a ceremony before their game on August 24 the Jackals officially unveiled their POW/MIA Chair of Honor. A POW/MIA Chair of Honor is an empty seat that serves as a symbol to remind everyone to never forget our servicemen who made the ultimate sacrifice. The team partnered with Rolling Thunder, Inc. in the dedication. In a ceremony prior to their August 29 game, vs. the Sussex County Miners, the Jackals officially retired Isaac Pavlik's number 7. Jackals OF Alfredo Marte was named the Can-Am League's 2019 Player of the Year. Conrad Gregor had 49 stolen bases & 82 Walks during the 2019 season, both new team records. NJ set a new team record with 142 Stolen Bases in 2019. NJ finished the Can-Am regular season in 3rd place with a record of 48–46. In the opening round of the playoffs, the Jackals defeated the
Trois-Rivières Aigles The Aigles de Trois-Rivières (English: ''Three Rivers Eagles'') were a Canadian Minor League Baseball team of the Eastern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds from 1971 to 1977. They were located in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, ...
. 9/4 Jackals 3, Aigles 0 @ YBS 9/5 Aigles 5, Jackals 0 @ YBS 9/6 Jackals 7, Aigles 2 @ TR 9/7 Aigles 17, Jackals 4 @ TR 9/8 Jackals 4, Aigles 3, 10 Innings @ TR (NJ wins series 3–2) Jackals advanced to the Can-Am League Championship Series vs. the
Sussex County Miners The Sussex County Miners are a professional independent league baseball team based in the Augusta section of Frankford Township in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. The Miners are members of the East Division of the Frontier League, an ...
and defeated them 3–1 to earn their first championship in 15 years. 9/10 Jackals 3, Miners 2, 10 Innings @ YBS 9/12 Miners 12, Jackals 3 @ YBS 9/13 Jackals 2, Miners 0 @ Skylands Stadium 9/14, Jackals 8, Miners 7 @ Skylands Stadium Win 1st Can-Am League Championship, 5th team Championship. The New Jersey Jackals franchise now has won championships in 3 different independent leagues: (2) Northeast League 1998, 2004 (2) Northern League 2001, 2002 (1) Can-Am League 2019 The Jackals total attendance in 2019 was 76,658. Averaging 1,742 per game.


2020

In 2020, the New Jersey Jackals joined the 14 team
Frontier League The Frontier League is a professional independent baseball league with teams in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Eastern Canada. Formed in 1993, it is the oldest currently running independent league in the United States. The le ...
, along with the
New York Boulders The New York Boulders are an American independent professional baseball team playing in the Frontier League based in Pomona, Rockland County, New York. The team was founded as a member of the Can-Am League, beginning play in the 2011 season as t ...
,
Québec Capitales The Québec Capitales (French: ''Les Capitales de Québec'') are a professional baseball team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Capitales have been members of the Frontier League since the 2020 season after a merger between the Can-Am Lea ...
,
Sussex County Miners The Sussex County Miners are a professional independent league baseball team based in the Augusta section of Frankford Township in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. The Miners are members of the East Division of the Frontier League, an ...
and
Trois-Rivières Aigles The Aigles de Trois-Rivières (English: ''Three Rivers Eagles'') were a Canadian Minor League Baseball team of the Eastern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds from 1971 to 1977. They were located in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, ...
. They planned to play in the 7 team Can-Am Division with the
Lake Erie Crushers The Lake Erie Crushers are a professional baseball team based in Avon, Ohio, a city near the southern shore of Lake Erie. They are members of the West Division of the Frontier League, an independent baseball league which is not affiliated with Ma ...
and
Washington Wild Things The Washington Wild Things are a professional baseball team based in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The Wild Things are a member of the Frontier League, an independent baseball league which, as of 2020, is an official Partner Le ...
. This merger creates the largest league in all of Independent Professional Baseball. The Jackals were scheduled to open their inaugural Frontier League season on the road May 14 vs. the Florence Y'alls, with their home opener was scheduled for May 22 vs. the Québec Capitales. On April 1, 2020, the Frontier League officially delayed the scheduled start of their 2020 season, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On June 24, 2020, the Frontier League announced that the 2020 championship season was suspended due to ongoing gathering and travel restrictions in many locations. On July 14, 2020, the Jackals announced the 6-team All-American Baseball Challenge for the 2020 season, with a 28-game regular season schedule featuring the New Jersey Jackals and the Jersey Wise Guys playing at Yogi Berra Stadium, Sussex County Miners and Skylands Cardinals at Skylands Stadium, Rockland Boulders and New York Brave playing at Palisades Credit Union Park. The Jackals opened the season with a 10–3 victory over the Jersey Wise Guys on July 23. The team finished the season in 3rd place with a 12–10 record. They won their first playoff game in Rockland over Boulders by a score of 11–2. The Jackals won the Championship by defeating the New York Brave 3–2 at Yogi Berra Stadium on September 12.


2021

In 2021, the New Jersey Jackals played their 24th consecutive season, their first as a member of the 14 team Frontier League. They were one of three teams in the Northeast Division of the Can-Am Conference along with the
Sussex County Miners The Sussex County Miners are a professional independent league baseball team based in the Augusta section of Frankford Township in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. The Miners are members of the East Division of the Frontier League, an ...
and
Washington Wild Things The Washington Wild Things are a professional baseball team based in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The Wild Things are a member of the Frontier League, an independent baseball league which, as of 2020, is an official Partner Le ...
. They also played the conference’s Atlantic Division teams, Équipe Québec,
New York Boulders The New York Boulders are an American independent professional baseball team playing in the Frontier League based in Pomona, Rockland County, New York. The team was founded as a member of the Can-Am League, beginning play in the 2011 season as t ...
, and
Tri-City ValleyCats The Tri-City ValleyCats (often shortened to Cats) are a professional independent baseball team based in Troy, New York. The Tri-City name refers to the three nearby cities of Albany, Schenectady, and Troy which make up New York State's Capital D ...
. The Florence Y'alls were their only Midwestern conference opponent. Their inaugural games were victories on the road May 27 and at home on May 29, both against the New York Boulders. However, they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2018, finishing with a 39-56 record. The Jackals total attendance in 2021 was 43,722. Averaging 1,041 per game.


2022

In 2022, the New Jersey Jackals played their 25th consecutive season. They opened the year on the road with a 9-5 victory over the Evansville Otters. Shortstop Santiago Chirino set new Frontier League career records for doubles (140) and runs scored (440). The team set a franchise record with 127 home runs. Led by outfielder Josh Rehwaldt who hit 29 home runs tying the franchise season record. On September 2, RHP Jorge Tavarez pitched the fourth no-hitter in team history. A 7-1, 147 pitch victory over the rival Sussex County Miners at Skylands Stadium. Tavarez also set a new franchise record of 142 strikeouts in a season. The team missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season finishing with a 45-49 record. The Jackals total attendance in 2022 was 51,333. Averaging 1,007 per game, the lowest in franchise history. On September 14, 2022, the Jackals announced that they would move to the newly renovated and former Negro leagues ballpark,
Hinchliffe Stadium Hinchliffe Stadium () is a 10,000-seat stadium located in Paterson, New Jersey. The venue was completed in 1932 and sits on a dramatic escarpment above Paterson's National Historic Landmark Great Falls, surrounded by the city's national landmark ...
in Paterson for the 2023 season, ending 25 years at
Yogi Berra Stadium Yogi Berra Stadium is a baseball stadium in Little Falls, New Jersey, on the campus of Montclair State University. The stadium is home to the Montclair State Red Hawks baseball team, which competes in NCAA Division III; and the Yogi Berra Museum ...
.


Jack the Jackal

The official mascot for the New Jersey Jackals is an anthropomorphic
jackal Jackals are medium-sized canids native to Africa and Eurasia. While the word "jackal" has historically been used for many canines of the subtribe canina, in modern use it most commonly refers to three species: the closely related black-backed ...
named Jack. He entertains fans and autographs souvenirs during every home game. His trademark game antics include Tackle the Jackal, T-shirt toss, the
Cha Cha Slide "Cha Cha Slide" is a song by American artist DJ Casper. The song was released as a single in August 2000, and spent five weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart, peaking at the position of number 83. It continued to be a chart ...
, the YMCA, etc. Jack is popular with children who attend the games, as well as the community.


Logos and uniforms

The official colors of the New Jersey Jackals are red and black. The primary logo incorporates several elements, including the initials "NJ" for New Jersey with the "Jackals" wordmark following the "J." A stylized baseball in white with red threading and black outline dots the "J", with a depiction of a jackal's head in red with white shadowing and black outline is centered above the wordmark. The Jackals wear a black cap for home games and red for away. The road cap has the "NJ" cap logo centered on the front, with a baseball dotting the "J." The home cap is black with the "jackal" cap logo centered on the front with a baseball incorporated with the logo to the left. The home jerseys are white with black pinstripes with the "Jackals" wordmark centered across in red with black outline. The away jerseys are grey with the "New Jersey" wordmark arched across the front in red letters with black outline. An alternate jersey is black with red piping with the "Jackals" wordmark centered across in red with white outline. The batting practice jersey is red with black sleeves, with the "NJ" cap logo centered on the left-side chest.


Current roster


Notable alumni

* Craig Breslow, former relief pitcher for 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 ...
. Breslow joined the Jackals midway through the 2004 season and was signed by the
San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penn ...
in 2005, making his major league debut later that season. Breslow has also pitched for the
Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks (colloquially known as the D-backs) are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The ...
, Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, and Oakland Athletics. * John Lindsey, former Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman. Lindsey played for the Jackals in 2005 and was bought by the
Florida Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park. The fran ...
at midseason, only to be released at the end of the year. Lindsey returned to the Jackals in 2006, played the entire season, and joined the Dodgers in 2007. Lindsey made his major league debut in 2010 at 33 years old. Lindsey joined the Jackals for a third time in 2013 after being released from the Detroit Tigers, where he had been playing in their minor league system for the Toledo Mud Hens. As of 2015, Lindsey is playing in the
Mexican League The Mexican League (, ) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico and the oldest running professional league in the country. The league has 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five te ...
. * Tim Adleman, pitcher 2016 Cincinnati Reds. Adleman pitched for the Jackals in 2013. That same year he was signed by the Cincinnati Reds. Three years later he made his major league debut for the Reds on May 1, 2016. He currently pitches in the Reds organization. * Raúl Valdés, retired pitcher. Valdes pitched for the Jackals in 2006 and went 7–3 in 17 games with 12 starts. He signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets following the season and made his major league debut for them in 2010. Valdes signed with the
St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...
in the 2010 offseason and began the 2011 season with the Memphis Redbirds, the Cardinals' Triple-A affiliate. He was released by St. Louis after making seven appearances and finished the 2011 season with the New York Yankees. *
Mark Lemke Mark Alan Lemke (born August 13, 1965) is a former Major League Baseball player and current broadcaster. Nicknamed "the Lemmer", he was a popular second baseman for the Atlanta Braves from to . He won the 1995 World Series with the Braves over ...
, former second baseman for the Atlanta Braves. After retiring from the major leagues in 1998, Lemke decided to attempt a comeback as a
knuckleball A knuckleball or knuckler is a baseball pitch thrown to minimize the spin of the ball in flight, causing an erratic, unpredictable motion. The air flow over a seam of the ball causes the ball to change from laminar to turbulent flow. This cha ...
pitcher and joined the Jackals for 1999. He was released early in the 2000 season due to control problems. * Pete Rose Jr., son of
Pete Rose Peter Edward Rose Sr. (born April 14, 1941), also known by his nickname "Charlie Hustle", is an American former professional baseball player and manager. Rose played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1963 to 1986, most prominently as a membe ...
and career minor leaguer. Rose, who played as "PJ Rose", spent two seasons with the Jackals from 1998 to 1999. * Timo Perez, former major league outfielder. Perez played for the Jackals in 2009 for 21 games. * Benji Gil, former major league infielder. Gil joined the Jackals as part of a comeback attempt in 2005 but was released. * Argenis Reyes, former major league infielder. Reyes played for the New York Mets from 2008 to 2009, joined the Jackals in 2010, and was sold by the team to 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 ...
in July 2011. The Red Sox promptly traded him to Cleveland, where he joined the Columbus Clippers and led them to the International League championship. * D'Angelo Jiménez, former major league second baseman. Jiménez joined the Jackals in the second half of the 2011 season after spending the previous season split between the Rochester Red Wings and the Mexican League. * Stuart Pomeranz, retired former pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles. Pomeranz pitched for the Jackals in 2009 and was bought following the season by the Colorado Rockies. * Ángel Berroa, former major league infielder who won the 2003 American League Rookie of the Year award with the Kansas City Royals. Berroa joined the Jackals in 2012 after spending the previous season split between the
Reno Aces The Reno Aces are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. They are located in Reno, Nevada, and play their home games at Greater Nevada Field, which opened in 2009. ...
of the Pacific Coast League and the
Bridgeport Bluefish The Bridgeport Bluefish were an American minor league baseball team based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The team was a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which was not affiliated with Major League Baseba ...
of the Atlantic League. * Matt Chico, former Washington Nationals pitcher. Chico, who has had major elbow surgery in the past, spent 2011 pitching for the Nationals' Gulf Coast League team, the
Harrisburg Senators The Harrisburg Senators are a Minor League Baseball team of the Eastern League, and the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, who play their home games at FNB Field on City Island, which opened in 1987 a ...
, and the Syracuse SkyChiefs before signing with the Jackals in 2012. *
Ryan Adams David Ryan Adams (born November 5, 1974) is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, artist, and poet. He has released 23 albums, as well as three studio albums as a former member of alt-country band Whiskeytown. In 2000, Adams lef ...
, former major league infielder who played one season for the Baltimore Orioles in 2011. Signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 2014 season but joined the Jackals for 11 games after being suspended 100 games for performance enhancing substances. * Anthony Claggett, former pitcher who split one major league season between the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees in 2009. Signed with the Jackals in 2015 and pitched in 11 games. * Donnie Joseph, former major league pitcher who played for the Kansas City Royals in 2013 and 2014. Recorded a 5.49 ERA in 35 appearances for the Jackals in 2015. * Robert Stock, pitcher presently on the Syracuse Mets AAA roster. Robert made his MLB debut with the San Diego Padres on June 24, 2018, appearing in 32 games that season and 10 games in 2019. As a Jackal pitcher in 2016, Stock appeared in 52 games setting a league record. * Johnny Hellweg, pitcher currently with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Spent the latter half of the 2016 season with the team after being released by the
San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penn ...
organization and began the 2017 season with the team before signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates. * José Cisnero, pitcher currently in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers. Pitched with the team for 5 games in 2016 after being released by the Sultanes de Monterrey of the
Mexican League The Mexican League (, ) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico and the oldest running professional league in the country. The league has 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five te ...
. *
Vic Black Victor Laurence Black (born May 23, 1988) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He has played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). Career Amateur Black is a right-handed pitcher, wei ...
, former pitcher for the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013 and 2014. Played for the team in the 2018 season, appearing in 15 games and posting a 4.37 ERA. * Carlos Triunfel, former infielder for the Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers from 2012 to 2014. Played in 100 games with the Jackals in the 2018 season. * Dean Green, infielder who played one year in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. Spent part of the 2018 season with the Jackals. * Lendy Castillo, pitcher who played in 13 games for the Chicago Cubs in 2012. Signed with the Jackals in 2018 before joining the Generales de Durango of the
Mexican League The Mexican League (, ) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico and the oldest running professional league in the country. The league has 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five te ...
and also spent the 2019 season with the team. *
Mat Latos Mathew Adam Latos ( ; born December 9, 1987) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padre ...
, 9-year major league veteran pitcher currently with the
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs are an American professional baseball team based in Waldorf, Maryland. They are members of the North Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent "partner league" of Major League Baseb ...
of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Spent the 2018 season with the team and signed to play for the Jackals in 2020 before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. *
Vin Mazzaro Vincent Michael "Vin" Mazzaro (born September 27, 1986) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Sussex County Miners of the Frontier League. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals, Pitt ...
, 8-year major league veteran pitcher currently with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Spent the 2018 season with the team and posted a 1.76 ERA in 34 appearances. *
Alfredo Marte Alfredo Marte (born March 31, 1989) is a Dominican professional baseball left fielder for the New Jersey Jackals of the Frontier League. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. ...
, former major league outfielder who played with the
Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks (colloquially known as the D-backs) are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The ...
and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim from 2013 to 2015. Signed with the Jackals prior to the 2019 season and also played with the team during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. * Ronald Herrera, former major league pitcher who played with the New York Yankees in 2017. Signed with the Jackals for the 2021 season where he posted a 4.68 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 6 appearances. * José Ramírez, former major league pitcher who played with the New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, and Atlanta Braves from 2014 to 2018. Signed with the Jackals for the 2022 season.


Contracts sold to MLB organizations


Season records


All-time team records

Players in italics are still active.


Individual batting

*Average, career: Sandy Madera/ Aaron Fera, .355 *Average, season: Wilton Veras, .369 (2004) *Games played, career: Zach Smithlin, 472 *Games played, season: Carlos Truinfel, 100 (2018) *Hits, career: Zach Smithlin, 503 *Hits, season: Zach Smithlin, 135 (2005); Johnny Bladel, 135 (2017) *Hits, game: Billy Brown, 6 (August 14, 2002); Art Charles, 6* (June 6, 2016, vs. Sussex) *At Bats, game: Marcus Sanders, 10* (June 26, 2008) *Home runs, career: Chris Rowan, 44 *Home runs, season: Art Charles, 29 (2016) Josh Rehwaldt, 29 (2022) *Runs batted in, career:
Alfredo Marte Alfredo Marte (born March 31, 1989) is a Dominican professional baseball left fielder for the New Jersey Jackals of the Frontier League. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. ...
, 199 *Runs batted in, season: Art Charles, 101 (2016) *Runs scored, career: Zach Smithlin, 287 *Runs scored, season: Johnny Bladel, 95 (2017) *Doubles, career: Nick Giarraputo, 68 *Doubles, season: Chas Terni, 34 (2002) *Triples, career: D' Vontrey Richardson, 16 *Triples, season: D'Vontrey Richardson, 12* (2016) *Walks, career: Zach Smithlin, 220 *Walks, season: Conrad Gregor, 82 (2019) *Total Bases, career: Zach Smithlin, 583 *Total Bases, season: Art Charles, 248 (2016) *Extra-Base Hits, season: Art Charles, 60 (2016) *Extra-Base Hits, career :
Alfredo Marte Alfredo Marte (born March 31, 1989) is a Dominican professional baseball left fielder for the New Jersey Jackals of the Frontier League. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. ...
, 104 *Stolen bases, career: Zach Smithlin, 154 *Stolen bases, season: Conrad Gregor, 49 (2019) *Sacrifice flys, career: Santiago Chirino, 17 *Hit by pitch, career: Rylan Sandoval, 35 *Hit by pitch, season: Rylan Sandoval, 20 (2017) *Longest hitting streak: Carmine Cappuccio, 39 games (1999) *Longest Team Winning Streak: 14* (6/11/09 & 6/25/98) Can-Am League records*


Individual pitching

*Appearances, career: Isaac Pavlik, 248* *Appearances, season: Robert Stock, 52 (2016) *Starts, career: Isaac Pavlik, 197*'' *Starts, season: Aaron Myers, 20 (2002); Joe Orloski, 20 (2005); Isaac Pavlik, 20 (2008) *Wins, career: Isaac Pavlik, 100* *Wins, season: Joel Bennett, 14 (2002) *Losses, career: Isaac Pavlik, 56* *Saves, career: Rusty Tucker, 59 *Saves, season: Salvador Sanchez, 25 (2014) *Innings pitched, career: Isaac Pavlik, 1305-1/3* *Innings pitched, season: Joe Orloski, 140-1/3 (2005) *Strikeouts, career: Isaac Pavlik, 1019* *Strikeouts, season: Joel Bennett, 141 (2002) *Strikeouts, game: Joel Bennett, 16 (June 23, 2002) *Bases on balls, career: Isaac Pavlik, 301* *Complete games, career: Isaac Pavlik, 18 *Complete games, season: Kevin Pincavitch, 7 (2000); Aaron Myers, 7 (2002) *Earned run average, career: Jason Dietrich, 1.45 31IP *Shutouts, career: Aaron Myers, 7 *Shutouts, season: Paul Magrini, 2 (1998); Joel Bennett, 2 (2001); Aaron Myers, 2 (2002 & 2006); Isaac Pavlik, 2 (2010); Johnny Walter, 2 (2015) *Losses, season: Joe Orloski and Aaron Myers, 9 (2006); Jackson Crowther, 9 (2004) *Bases on balls, season: Andres Caceres, 86 (2017) *No-hitters pitched: Jeremy Callier, (August 28, 2002); Aaron Myers, (August 6, 2006); Eduar Lopez, (August 7, 2018) Can-Am League records*


Team records

Team batting Highest Average, season .295* (2005) Most hits, season 1012* (2012) Most runs scored, season 610 (2016) Most doubles, season 190 (2016) Most triples, season 46* (2016) Most home runs, season 108 (2012) Most RBI's, season 571 (2016) Team pitching- Most strikeouts, season 866* (2017) Most shutouts, season 13 tie (2011) Can-Am League records* Statistics are as of the end of the 2018 season.


Postseason records

The Jackals have participated in 115 games in 28 postseason series. They have an overall playoff record of 60 wins and 55 losses.


Broadcast homes

Jackals games are broadcast via video stream at Flosports.tv and an internet-only audio broadcast at Mixlr. When the Jackals began in 1998, games were carried over Seton Hall University's WSOU. After a season there, the team moved to commercial station WMTR, an oldies station in Morristown. They also were heard on WJUX-FM, a New York-based standards station, ending their run on commercial radio in 2002. For this entire stretch, Jim Cerny was the voice of the Jackals. WPSC-FM, the on-campus radio station for William Paterson University, took broadcast rights in 2003 and kept them until 2006. The original broadcast team consisted of Darren Cooper on play-by-play with Joe Ameruoso as color commentator. Cooper left the broadcast after the season, and Tony Colucci was added as color man to take over for the promoted Ameruoso. Beginning in 2005, Ameruoso did the broadcasts by himself and continued to do so after the broadcasts became web exclusive in 2007, continuing in the role for several more years until his eventual departure. Other broadcasters in team history include Cody Chrusciel in 2011, Corey Scheiner and Mia O'Brien in 2012. Michael Cohen broadcast games from 2013-2016. Alex Cammarata from 2017-19. Starting in the 2020 season, Reed Keller took the reins, and is the current voice of the franchise. The Jackals are also known for Billy "the BatBoy" Pinckney.


Career pitching leaders


Retired jerseys

The Jackals have retired the numbers 8, 28, 4, 14, and 7 over the course of their existence. The numbers are listed in the order they were retired and honor: * Yogi Berra, for whom the stadium is named and who wore jersey number 8 throughout his Hall of Fame career *Joel Bennett, who pitched for the team from 2001 until 2007 and set many pitching records during his tenure there *Zach Smithlin, who played outfield and second base for the team from 2004 until 2009 and is the team’s all time leader in hits, games played, runs scored, walks and stolen bases *Ed Ott, who served as the team’s pitching coach from 2007–2009, 2011–2014 and is the only coach to have his number retired by the Jackals *Isaac Pavlik, who pitched for the Jackals for 2005 until 2017 and holds the team records for most overall seasons played as well as every starting pitching record in team history


Anniversary teams


References


External links


New Jersey Jackals
(official website) {{NewYorksports Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball teams Northern League (baseball, 1993–2010) teams Professional baseball teams in New Jersey Little Falls, New Jersey Montclair, New Jersey Baseball teams in the New York metropolitan area 1998 establishments in New Jersey Baseball teams established in 1998