Every Friday leading up to the start of our inaugural season in the West Coast League we will be featuring one of our 15 league opponents in our Around the WCL series. The West Coast League was founded in 2005 and will grow to 16 teams in British Columbia, Alberta, Washington and Oregon for the 2022 season. This week: the Cowlitz Black Bears. Cowlitz will be in Kamloops July 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
Photo: Cowlitz Black Bears
Founded: 2010
Home Stadium: David Story Field | Longview, WA
Mascot: Corby the Bear
2021 Season:
- 24-24 | 5th place in South Division
Best Seasons:
- 2012: lost to Corvallis in divisional series
Notable Alumni:
- MLB
- Shane Bieber (2020 AL Cy Young Award)
- Cole Irvin
- Damon Jones
- Kyle Garlick
- Mitch Walding
- Taylor Williams
- Tommy Nance
Corby the Bear. Photo: Cowlitz Black Bears
History:
The Cowlitz Black Bears have been in the West Coast League for over a decade. The Black Bears made the first and only playoff appearance in 2012 when they were swept in two games by the Corvallis Knights.
The Black Bears share their stadium with Lower Columbia College, which plays in the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC). Lower Columbia has won the past three NWAC baseball championships and has won 13 titles since the league rebranded to the Northwest Conference in 1972.
Lower Columbia College players are often featured on the Black Bears roster.
Bud Black is considered the best baseball player to come out of Cowlitz County, he played two seasons at Lower Columbia College.
A left-handed pitcher, he pitched in the MLB for 15 years with six different teams. He won two World Series titles, the first as a player with the Royals in 1985 and the second as the pitching coach with the Angels in 2002. He was also the starting pitching during George Brett’s infamous pine tar incident.
In a unique set up, the Cowlitz Black Bears and nearby rival Ridgefield Raptors share an owner and front office personnel.
Photo: Cowlitz Black Bears
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