Photo from Newark Public Library
The reigning champion Newark Bears would come back to earth in 1939. There would be no top 100 teams for this franchise. Thanks to their continued alliance with the New York Yankees however... the future Major League All-Stars kept on coming. 1939 saw the emergence of Hank Borowy (9-7, 4.82) who would hang around Newark for a few years before going on to become a 17 game winning All-Star for the Yankees in 1944. Future Boston Braves All-Star Tommy Holmes meanwhile would bat .339 on the year. At age 22 Holmes would only hit 4 homers. Holmes would soon however, become a monster slugger for the Braves when he led the National League in homers in 1945 batting .352 with 47 doubles (also a league leader), 28 HR and 117 RBI's. Hal Wagner meanwhile would bat .274 in 1939 before going on to become a 2 time All-Star for the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Athletics. Wagner was the 20th future All-Star produced by this franchise since they came to Ruppert Stadium in 1926. Some franchises produce that in the course of 70 years. The Newark Bears did it in 14. Despite putting up a paltry 82-73 record and of course making the playoffs... the Bears would lose in the finals to the Rochester Red Wings. SS Mickey Witek (39 2B, 7 3B, 5 HR, .329) was given the International League's Most Valuable Player Award. he was the 3rd Newark Bears player to do so since 1926. This team was a bit lacking in excitement after what was simply a very good season in 1939, so when 1940 came around... Alex Kampouris rose to the occasion, slamming a new Ruppert Stadium record 36 HR while batting .273... taking over the former record of 32 set by Jack Fournier and George Selkirk. Tommy Holmes returned to hit 33 2B and 7 HR while batting .317. On the mound, George Barley put up a 15-9, 4.43 while Norm Branch matched that total at 15-9, 4.09. Future All-Star Hank Borowy returned to post a 12-10, 3.71, Steve Peek peaked at 14-4-2.69 and George Washburn was the ace at 18-8, 3.13. Together this team forged its way to 2nd place to make the playoffs at 95-65 and make the finals where they were able to overcome the failure of last season and take home their 4th International League Championship to Ruppert Stadium in 9 years.