The West Virginia Black Bears are a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League. They are located in Granville, West Virginia, and play their home games at Kendrick Family Ballpark, which is across the Monongahela River from Morgantown and West Virginia University. From 2015 to 2020, they were a Minor League Baseball team of the New York–Penn League. They were the Low-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates from their inception until MLB's reorganization of the minors after the 2020 season.
In August 2014, it was announced that the Jamestown Jammers would cease operations and move to Morgantown.Vingle, Mitch. Morgantown lands NY-Penn League baseball team. Charleston Gazette. Retrieved August 25, 2014. On October 22, the team announced that they would be named the "Black Bears" following a fan vote, as the American black bear is the state animal of West Virginia. Other finalists included Black Diamonds, Canaries, Coal Kings, Coal Sox, Energy, Moonshiners, Muskets, Wild Ones, and Wonder.Vote to name new Morgantown team MiLB.com
In January 2015, Wyatt Toregas was named as their inaugural manager. The Black Bears won the New York–Penn League wild card in their inaugural season. The team then defeated the Williamsport Crosscutters and the Staten Island Yankees to win the 2015 New York–Penn League Championship. On February 24, 2022, Leighann Sainato was named general manager.
Roster
Season-by-season record West Virginia Black Bears (New York–Penn League)Year Regular season Postseason Record Win % Finish Record Win % Result MLB 42–34 2nd Pinckney Division 4–1 .800 Won Semifinals vs. Williamsport Crosscutters, 2–1 Won Championship vs. Staten Island Yankees, 2–0 Pirates 38–38 3rd Pinckney Division — — Did not qualify for playoffs Pirates 40–35 3rd Pinckney Division — — Did not qualify for playoffs Pirates 32–44 5th Pinckney Division — — Did not qualify for playoffs Pirates 40–36 2nd Pinckney Division — — Did not qualify for playoffs Pirates – – None — — Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic Pirates Totals 192–182 — 4–1 .800 West Virginia Black Bears (MLB Draft League) 30–19 2nd — — – N/A 48–30 1st 1–0 1.000 Won Championship vs. Williamsport Crosscutters, 1–0 N/A 46–27 1st 1–0 1.000 Won Championship vs. Trenton Thunder, 1–0 N/A 35–39 6th — — — N/A 45–28 1st 1-0 1.000 Won Championship vs. State College Spikes, 1-0 N/A Totals 204–143 — 3–0 1.000
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