New Bern Bears

The New Bern Bears began play in 1937. The Bears would remain for every season of the Class D level Coastal Plain League, winning three championships.

In 1937, New Bern was joined by the Ayden Aces, Goldsboro Goldbugs, Greenville Greenies, Kinston Eagles, Snow Hill Billies, Tarboro Serpents and Williamston Martins as charter franchises in the Coastal State League.[2]

In their first season of Coastal Plain League play, the New Bern Bears ended the regular season with a record of 48–45, placing 4th place in the eight–team Coastal Plain League.[3] Their manager in 1937 was Doc Smith, who led the team to the four–team playoffs. In the 1st round of the playoffs, the Snow Hill Hill Billies defeated New Bern 3 games to 1.[4]

Under returning manager Doc Smith, the New Bern Bears won the 1938 Coastal Plain League championship, their first of three league titles. The Bears ended the regular season with a record of 63–49, winning the league pennant in placing 1st in the Coastal Plain League regular season.[3] In the playoffs, New Bern swept both playoff series in defeating the Kinston Eagles 4 games to 0 in the 1st round and the Snow Hill Billies 4 games to 0 in the finals.[5]

In 1939, the New Bern Bears missed qualifying for the Coastal Plain League playoffs. With a record of 62–59, New Bern placed 5th in the Coastal Plain League regular season standings, playing under manager Doc Smith.[6][3]

The 1940 New Bern Bears finished the regular season with a record of 58–67.[7] New Bern placed 6th in the Coastal Plain League standings, playing the season under managers Guy Shatzer and Gene McCarty. The Bears did not qualify for the 1940 Coastal Plain League playoffs.[8][3]

The New Bern Bears League advanced to the 1941 Coastal Plain League playoffs, before the league was paused during World War II. The Bears finished with a regular season record of 61–57, placing 3rd in the regular season under returning manager Doc Smith and another manager in Jake Wade.[3] In the 1941 Coastal Plain League Playoffs, the Greenville Greenies defeated New Bern 4 games to 2.[9]

The 1946 New Bern Bears returned to play after the Coastal Plain League was idle in the 1942–1945 seasons due to World War II. The Bears ended the regular season with a 57–86 record, placing 7th in the eight–team league standings and missing the playoffs. The 1946 manager was Abe White.[10][3]

The New Bern Bears placed 4th in the 1947 Coastal Plain League standings. The Bears' regular season record of 73–66 advanced the team to the Coastal Plain League playoffs, playing under managers Jake Daniel, Harry Soufas, Tom Murray and Worlise Knowles.[11] In the playoffs, the Wilson Tobs defeated New Bern 4 games to 1.[12][3]

The 1948 New Bern Bears did not qualify for the Coastal Plain League playoffs. The Bears placed 5th and finished the regular season with a 69–70 record.[13] The team was managed by Harry Soufas, Tal Abernathy and Winston Palmer.[14][3]

The 1949 New Bern Bears returned to the Coastal Plain League playoffs. The Bears finished the regular season with a 73–66 record, placing 3rd in the Coastal Plain League under manager Bull Hamons.[15] In the 1st round of the 1949 Coastal Plain League playoffs, New Bern was defeated by the Kinston Eagles 4 games 2.[16][3]

The New Bern Bears won their first of consecutive Coastal Plain League Championships in 1950. With a Coastal Plain League regular season record of 71–67, the Bears placed 3rd in the Coastal Plain League final standings, playing under manager Harry Land.[17] In the playoffs, New Bern defeated the Rocky Mount Leafs 4 games to 2 to advance, before sweeping the Kinston Eagles in 4 games to claim the championship.[18][3]

New Bern won their second consecutive Coastal Plain League championship in 1951. The Bears ended the regular season in 2nd place, with a 72–54 record, playing the season under returning manager Harry Land.[19] In the playoffs, New Bern defeated the Goldsboro Cardinals 4 games to 2 to advance. In the Finals, the Bears defeated the Wilson Tobs 4 games to 3 to win the league championship.[20][3]

In the final season of the Coastal Plain League, the 1952 New Bern Bears finished last in the standings.[21] The Bears placed 8th with a 40–83 record and were managed by Larry Dempsey, John Pavlich and Steve Collins.[22] The Coastal League permanently folded as a minor league following the 1952 season.[23]

New Bern Bears players