New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Lore & Background

The franchise began as the New Haven Ravens in 1994, playing at Yale Field and winning the Eastern League championship in 2000. The team was sold in January 2003 to Drew Weber, who moved the franchise to Manchester, New Hampshire. The move was approved by the league on September 3, 2003. The team's first season in Manchester was 2004, played at Gill Stadium while their new ballpark was under construction. That season, the Fisher Cats won the Eastern League championship. The team initially planned to be called the New Hampshire Primaries, but after public backlash and an online petition, the name was changed to Fisher Cats following a fan contest in December 2003. The name derives from the fisher, often called a fisher cat in New Hampshire.

Reader's Guide

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats represent a successful minor league franchise that has won three Eastern League championships since moving to Manchester in 2004. The team's history includes a notable name change after the initial 'Primaries' name was rejected by fans. The franchise has hosted the Eastern League All-Star Game twice (2008 and previously as the Ravens in 1998). The Fisher Cats have produced notable MLB talent, including pitchers who threw no-hitters for the team: Kyle Drabek in 2010 and a combined no-hitter by Brett Cecil, Danny Farquhar, and Ronald Uviedo in 2012. The team's ballpark has undergone several name changes, from Fisher Cats Ballpark to Merchantsauto.com Stadium, then to Northeast Delta Dental Stadium, and later to Delta Dental Stadium. The franchise's ownership has changed multiple times, with Art Solomon becoming full owner in 2008 and Diamond Baseball Holdings purchasing the team in 2023. The Fisher Cats continue to serve as a key development affiliate for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Did You Know?

• The team was originally going to be called the New Hampshire Primaries, but the name was dropped after an online petition gathered over 1,200 signatures.
• The Fisher Cats won the Eastern League championship in their first season in Manchester (2004).
• Three Fisher Cats pitchers combined for a no-hitter on May 21, 2012, against the Portland Sea Dogs.
• The team briefly changed its name to the Manchester Chicken Tenders in 2021.

From New Haven to Manchester – A Franchise Reborn

The story of the Fisher Cats begins far from New Hampshire. In October 1992, New Haven, Connecticut, was granted an expansion Double-A franchise alongside Portland, Maine. Named the New Haven Ravens in early 1993 through a naming contest sponsored by local media, the team began play in 1994 as a Colorado Rockies affiliate. Over the following seasons, the Ravens built a solid identity, hosting the 1998 Double-A All-Star Game, finishing as league runner-up twice, and capturing the Eastern League title in 2000 with an 82-60 record, besting the Reading Phillies in four games. However, the franchise's future in Connecticut was short-lived. On January 27, 2003, Lowell Spinners owner Drew Weber purchased the team with plans to relocate it to Manchester, New Hampshire. League owners approved the move during the 2003 playoffs, and the 2004 season marked the franchise's first year in the Granite State, playing at the historic Gill Stadium while a new ballpark was being constructed nearby.

The Primaries Debacle and the Birth of the Fisher Cats

When the new Manchester-based ownership unveiled their team identity on November 6, 2003, they chose "New Hampshire Primaries" — a name and logo featuring an elephant and donkey gripping baseball bats, meant to nod to the state's famous role in presidential elections. The reaction was swift and scathing. Two local fans launched an online petition demanding a reconsideration, and the story exploded across local newspapers, radio, and television. A front-page piece in the New Hampshire Union Leader, the state's largest paper, on November 9, 2003, amplified the outcry. By the afternoon of November 10, more than 1,200 unique visitors had signed the petition, and ownership capitulated, announcing they would seek public input on a replacement name. A three-phase "Name the Team" contest followed, culminating on December 3, 2003, when "New Hampshire Fisher Cats" edged out Manchester Millers by just 22 votes, 1,574 to 1,552. The name drew on the fisher, a small mammal commonly called a "fisher cat" in New Hampshire. New logos designed by Studio Simon of Louisville, Kentucky, debuted on January 22, 2004.

Championship Pedigree and Unforgettable Nights

The franchise carries a remarkable track record in the Eastern League, collecting four titles across its history, three of them in New Hampshire. The 2004 championship was particularly sweet, arriving in the team's inaugural Manchester season. The 2011 title carried extra significance as it was the first season under the current red, white, and blue color scheme, and 2018 added a third New Hampshire crown. Beyond pennants, the Fisher Cats have produced singular baseball moments. On May 21, 2012, three pitchers — Brett Cecil, Danny Farquhar, and Ronald Uviedo — combined to retire the Portland Sea Dogs in a 6-0 no-hitter, the third of its kind in franchise history. The 2008 Eastern League All-Star Game, hosted at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium, drew a record crowd of 8,762, with the Northern Division winning 5-3 and Fisher Cats outfielder Travis Snider claiming the Home Run Derby over Luis Montanez by a single homer, 7-6.

Home Ground and Changing Hands

The Fisher Cats' home base has evolved alongside the team's identity. The 2004 season was played at Gill Stadium, a historic ballpark nestled in a residential neighborhood southeast of downtown Manchester, serving as a temporary home while a purpose-built facility rose nearby. Beginning in 2005, the team moved into what was originally called Fisher Cats Ballpark, later rebranded as Merchantsauto.com Stadium, and eventually Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. The venue, with a capacity of 6,500, has become the anchor of the franchise's Manchester presence. Ownership has also shifted over the years. Drew Weber, who brought the team to New Hampshire, sold his controlling interest on July 19, 2005, to Art Solomon, who took 60 percent while Weber kept 40. Solomon completed his purchase of full ownership on July 12, 2008. On the managerial front, Gary Cathcart, who had served as hitting coach in 2005 and 2006 and most recently managed the single-A Lansing Lugnuts, was named manager on December 3, 2007.

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