Two Seasons.
Thirty Years.
One Legacy.
Independent pro baseball leagues in the 1990s offered a blank canvas. Sign your own players, try to win, and build a brand to reflect the community. There was a loose formula, and we checked all the boxes: The recognizable ex-big leaguer in Oil Can Boyd. The local hero in Chad White. And the lovable face of the franchise, Babe the Blue Ox. Wearing number 3, of course.
In the swirl of 2020, a stranger messaged us about finding an original hat. He was a kid in the '90s, now trying to track down an authentic symbol of childhood. His outreach got us thinking about a retrospective project.
The Arc of the Ox
1996 – 1997
Home Field Secured
The team signs a lease to play at UMaine’s Mahaney Diamond in Orono.
"Baseball Comes to Bangor"
The team launches with a public celebration at the Bangor Auditorium with Mike Bordick and kicks off the “Name the Team” contest with the help of the Bangor Daily News.
Name and Logo Unveiled
After 1,200 fan entries the team officially reveals its name and logo: the Bangor Blue Ox.
First Field Manager Named
Dick Phillips is named the first field manager in franchise history.
The Legend Arrives
The Blue Ox mascot costume arrives and becomes part of early promotions including a memorable Channel 2 appearance.
Oil Can Returns to New England
Former Red Sox pitcher Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd signs as player and pitching coach giving the franchise instant buzz.
Chad White Comes Home
Brewer native and former UMaine standout Chad White signs to return home and play for the Blue Ox.
Inaugural Home Opener
The Blue Ox defeat Rhode Island 6–5 in a 14-inning marathon featuring Babe delivered by helicopter.
One For The Ages
First baseman Cory Parker hits five homers in five consecutive at-bats against Rhode Island.
Roger Takes the Helm
Former Red Sox catcher Roger LaFrancois is named the second field manager in team history.
The BDN Takes a Stand
The Bangor Daily News Editorial Board endorses the stadium effort
Fans Speak Out
Fan John Douglas leaves a message on the team's public voice mail line, delivered to City Council members. Messages were 84% in support.
City Staff Proposes Framework
Final city staff report is that proposed $4 stadium would roughly break even on an annual basis.
Stadium Proposal Defeated
City Council votes 5-4 for the stadium bond issue, falling short of the required six votes to pass the resolution. The absent councilor later said he would have voted no.
Team Closes Downtown Office
A rental truck loaded with with team gear and operational archive leaves downtown office.
The Road to Cooperstown
From an outgoing fax to an archive donation.
The Call from the Hall
The unveiling of Babe's name and likeness certainly warranted a press release, which we sent all over the baseball community, one at a time, through the fax machine. The next day a far-fetched office conversation began like this: “Hey, the Hall of Fame is on the phone.”
Tim Wiles, the Public Services Librarian at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, was interested in the name-the-team contest and the tie to local lore. He thought it would be valuable for future researchers to follow an independent team's progress from the beginning.
Tim Wiles on air with Dale Duff from WZON
Tim sent us a keepsake letter on official Hall stationery and graciously made the rounds on local media. After that first season, we personally delivered a box for the Hall archives including all of the name-the-team contest entries and a smattering of ephemera.
We were certainly proud that the name and mascot choice warranted a permanent “enshrinement,” but as the years went by our Hall connection faded into trivia.
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Letter from Hall of Fame Librarian Tim Wiles
Fast-forward nearly 25 years.
A Text Changed Everything
The memories of the Blue Ox were bittersweet for all of us. The magic of building the team and the thrill of sharing the love of the game was tarnished in the end by a political process. But Justin's message changed something. Here was a kid from the stands, reaching out a generation later, just to say he remembered. That got us thinking we should do something to mark 30 years.
What To Do With Babe?
So maybe people do remember, we thought. Babe was in between homes, moving from the basement to another attic when team owner Vince Burns sold his house. We figured we'd see what he might fetch on eBay. As long as we could guarantee a good home…
A Bangor fan put in a bid right away, but as we discussed Babe's care and feeding (periodic public appearances, we mused?) he decided that owning a local icon was too much responsibility and gracefully declined.
Return to Cooperstown
Around Christmas, two of us met at the Hall to visit our Blue Ox time capsule. We hadn't seen each other since we left Bangor. The librarian told us she'd had requests to pull the material maybe a half-dozen times in the ten years she'd been there, which was a very gratifying validation.
We offered to donate the rest of the story if they'd be interested, and we learned about the opportunity to present the legacy at the Symposium. The Hall said yes to both. And off we go!
The Cooperstown Symposium
On May 29, 2026, three founding staff members will present at the Cooperstown Symposium on Baseball and American Culture on the lasting cultural impact of Babe, the mascot of the Bangor Blue Ox. During the Symposium, the Blue Ox archive will be formally gifted to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
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