The New Britain Bees
Gerry Berthiaume – GM New Britain Bees
This write up doesn't do justice to Gerry's story telling ability. You had to be here.
Gerry was a talented high school baseball player from Biddeford, ME, with a fantastic throwing arm. He was known for his ability to throw a ball from the outfield at 6 feet above the ground to home plate. He drove from his home to the UNH campus in Gorham, NH, to meet with the UNH baseball coach to see if he could get into the college. The baseball coach knew his reputation and offered him a place on the team and acceptance to UNH.
While at UNH, he saw an advertisement for tryouts for the Cincinnati Reds in Cape Elizabeth, ME. When he arrived only 25 other prospects had shown up. He had a great tryout, but his batting average was only .239 at the time. He committed himself to raising his average. He ended up with a .362 average and set the school record with 2 home runs and made his greatest play ever. The batter hit a long fly ball over his head which he fielded and then threw one of his line drive balls to the shortstop. The SS relayed the ball to home and the batter was out at home. Unbeknownst to Gerry, a scout for the Reds was sitting in the audience. He call the team office immediately.
Gerry was ultimately offered a position with the Cincinnati Reds field team in Billings, Montana, with a $500 bonus. He was paid $500 a month with a $6 a day meal allowance. The Billings Mustangs traveled by bus between Montana, Idaho and Alberta, Canada. During a game in Alberta, Gerry was called off the bench late in the game when the Mustangs were leading 11-1. He came in to pitch during the 8th inning. After giving away 3 base hits, he was thrilled to hold Andre Dalton, the home run champ, to a single.
Gerry went to spring training with the Reds meeting many of their great players. He was released by the Reds on April 7, 1977. He went to West Chester University in PA, where he finished college, met his wife, and then stayed on to coach baseball. He decided to remain in baseball. He became the business manager for the Bristol Red Sox in January 1982 at Muzzy Field. In 1983 the team moved to Bee Hive Field. After the management staff above him moved on to other teams, he became the General Manager “by default”.
When the team was considering moving out of CT, he received a phone call from Governor Lowell Weicker asking him what it would take to keep the team in CT. The Governor was a big fan of the team. Gerry said a new stadium would be needed. The Governor said, “OK.” In 1995 the new $14 million stadium opened. The team was sold in 1999 for $6.7 million. The team had originally been purchased for $25,000.
The Minnesota Twins franchise moved into the stadium with the Rock Cats, which has since been replaced by the Independent league team, the New Britain Bees. The independent league teams are not affiliated with any major league team organizations. The Bees have an agreement with the majors and often have players purchased by other teams. These players are easily replaced from the long list of prospects wanting to play baseball in the independent league.
Gerry is hoping to someday get a match between the Hartford Yard Goats and the New Britain Bees.
Gerry joined the New Britain Rotary in 1991 and has been at our club meetings many times in the past selling Christmas wreaths.
(Editor would like to thank Gary Miller for covering the presentation part of the meeting.)
