By Jamie Shrewsbury
Over the years, Morgantown has become a state icon for sports in West Virginia. From Mountaineer football and basketball to national championship riflery, fans can’t seem to get enough of their West Virginia sports. However, as of last spring, Mountaineer sports teams are no longer the only ones to call Morgantown home.
In August 2014, the Pittsburgh Pirates announced that their Short-Season Single A affiliate team, the Jamestown Jammers, would be ceasing operations in Jamestown, NY, and relocating to Morgantown, WV. After the 2014 season, the Jammers were in need of a new facility. As fate would have it, 150 miles away, West Virginia University (WVU) was also planning for a new facility for their Big 12 baseball team. The two found that it was a perfect match to combine their efforts and build a mutually beneficial, state-of-the-art field in Morgantown.
Agreements were quickly finalized, and construction of the ballpark began. With the facility located in Monongalia County, naming the park Monongalia County Ballpark was a no-brainer. However, naming the team proved to be a statewide affair. The organization wanted to get the Morgantown community involved, so it decided to allow fans to pick the name of the new team. Suggestions poured in, and they were narrowed down to 10 finalists. After a final fan vote, the West Virginia Black Bears became the official name for the team. The team’s black bear mascot was later named Cooper after Cooper’s Rock State Forest, a favorite location for WVU students and city residents alike located just outside of Morgantown.
A few weeks into WVU’s 2015 baseball season, Monongalia County Ballpark was completed. WVU was the first to take the field on April 10, 2015 and concluded with a 27-27 season record. At the conclusion of WVU’s season, it was the Black Bears turn to take the field. The Black Bears celebrated their first opening day on June 19, 2015 and ended their 2015 season with a 42-34 record and a New York-Penn League Championship title.
The West Virginia Back Bears have become a big part of Monongalia County. During the season, the players are welcomed into the homes of local host families for the duration of the season, and players and coaches make frequent room visits to the WVU Children’s Hospital and other area charities. The Black Bears also offer several free summer camps for area youth as well a camp through Stepping Stones, a local charity.
There is nothing quite like the atmosphere at a West Virginia Black Bears game. The pride that West Virginians have for their state and their sports is carried over into a love for their new team. Nestled in the hills of Morgantown and overlooking WVU’s campus, Monongalia County Ballpark is definitely a spot to add to your West Virginia bucket list.
About the Author
Jamie Shrewsbury is a senior public relations major and sports communication minor at West Virginia University. A native of Martinsburg, WV, she works with the West Virginia Black Bears as a public relations intern. In her free time, Shrewsbury volunteers with several nonprofit organizations and clubs. She plans to pursue a career in sports, ideally with a professional baseball team.
