Colorado Silver Bullets
Encyclopedia
The Colorado Silver Bullets was an all-female professional baseball
team that played in the United States
in the mid-1990s. The Bullets were the first such team since the folding of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
in 1954.
, which produces Coors Light, nicknamed the "silver bullet" of beer
s in its manufacturers' advertising
. It was owned by Bob Hope (the former Atlanta Braves
executive, not the iconic actor and comedian). Hall of Fame pitcher
Phil Niekro
was the team's manager
for its first three seasons.
The Bullets were a traveling team, playing against semi-pro and amateur teams at ballparks throughout the country. Among their opponents were the Navy Mariners, an all-star team of players stationed at United States Navy
bases, and the Hollywood Star Sox, a team of actor
s and other entertainment industry professionals captained by Jonathan Silverman
. (Those games were played at, respectively, Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington, D.C.
, and the Epicenter in Rancho Cucamonga, California
.)
Some of the team's games were televised live across the U.S. on Prime Sports, now Fox Sports Net
.
The team established a base in Albany, Georgia
, and played about 20 games a year at Paul Eames Sports Complex
for two seasons, starting in 1995
, as the team sought ways to cut financial losses. After four seasons, the Bullets folded in 1997
.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team that played in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the mid-1990s. The Bullets were the first such team since the folding of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a women's professional baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley which existed from 1943 to 1954. During the league's history, over 600 women played ball.-History:...
in 1954.
History
The team received its name from a sponsorship from the Coors Brewing CompanyCoors Brewing Company
The Coors Brewing Company is a regional division of the world's fifth-largest brewing company, the Canadian Molson Coors Brewing Company and is the third-largest brewer in the United States...
, which produces Coors Light, nicknamed the "silver bullet" of beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
s in its manufacturers' advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
. It was owned by Bob Hope (the former Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
executive, not the iconic actor and comedian). Hall of Fame pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Phil Niekro
Phil Niekro
Philip Henry Niekro , nicknamed "Knucksie" because of his usage and skill level with the knuckleball, is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997....
was the team's manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
for its first three seasons.
The Bullets were a traveling team, playing against semi-pro and amateur teams at ballparks throughout the country. Among their opponents were the Navy Mariners, an all-star team of players stationed at United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
bases, and the Hollywood Star Sox, a team of actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
s and other entertainment industry professionals captained by Jonathan Silverman
Jonathan Silverman
-Personal life:Silverman was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Devora and Hillel Emanuel Silverman, a rabbi. He is the grandson of famous Conservative Rabbi Morris Silverman. David Schwimmer was his best friend in high school. He is married to actress Jennifer Finnigan who he briefly co...
. (Those games were played at, respectively, Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and the Epicenter in Rancho Cucamonga, California
Rancho Cucamonga, California
Rancho Cucamonga is a suburban city in San Bernardino County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,269, up from 127,743 at the 2000 census. L. Dennis Michael was elected as Mayor on November 2, 2010. Jack Lam is the City Manager...
.)
Some of the team's games were televised live across the U.S. on Prime Sports, now Fox Sports Net
Fox Sports Net
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
.
The team established a base in Albany, Georgia
Albany, Georgia
Albany is a city in and the county seat of Dougherty County, Georgia, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. It is the principal city of the Albany, Georgia metropolitan area and the southwest part of the state. The population was 77,434 at the 2010 U.S. Census, making it the...
, and played about 20 games a year at Paul Eames Sports Complex
Paul Eames Sports Complex
The Paul Eames Sports Complex is a minor league baseball stadium, located in Albany, Georgia. The stadium is the home of the South Georgia Peanuts, of the South Coast League. It was the former home of the Albany Polecats, the Albany Alligators and the South Georgia Waves before the team moved to...
for two seasons, starting in 1995
1995 in sports
1995 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Alberto Tomba, Italy** Women's overall season champion: Vreni Schneider, Switzerland-American football:...
, as the team sought ways to cut financial losses. After four seasons, the Bullets folded in 1997
1997 in sports
1997 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Luc Alphand, France** Women's overall season champion: Pernilla Wiberg, Sweden-American football:...
.