Bears or Jackals: Whose Side Are You On?

Chicago baseball fans have the Windy City Showdown between the North side's Cubs and the South side's White Sox. New Yorkers are treated twice per season to the Subway Series between the Mets and the Yankees. Now, Essex County has it's own baseball rivalry.

Yogi Berra Stadium in Montclair is the home of the New Jersey Jackals. The Newark Bears play at Eagles Riverfront Stadium in the heart of downtown Newark.

Last fall, the Bears  from the Atlantic League where they had spent the past twelve years to the Can-Am League. In the process the team made a new-found geographic rival in the New Jersey Jackals. No, unlike some baseball rivalries there would be no bean ball wars; instead this would be a friendly rivalry known as the "Essex County Challenge."

For the Bears, this season is truly a tale of two cities in terms of the players on the roster. On one hand, there are the well-traveled Major League veterans like Daryle Ward and Tim Raines Jr. in the latter stages of their baseball journey.

However for others, such as catcher Eric McGee and pitcher Victor Gonzalez, their professional careers are just beginning.

Gonzalez, a recent college graduate, spent three years pitching at Queensborugh Community College in New York City and a year at Missouri Baptist University. The 2011 Can-Am League campaign marks the 22 year-old's first foray into the world of professional baseball and it's clear that he intends to make the most of it.

While the transition into the world of professional baseball has been smooth so far, according to Gonzalez, there have been some nuances that have taken some time to get used to for the left-hander, such as the new-found clubhouse environment, which is something the pitcher said he wasn't familiar with from his college career.

Then of course there's the off-the-field stuff: the fans. Gonzalez noted that it took some time getting used to how to handle five hundred or so eager young autograph seekers every game. In addition, the rookie pitcher had to learn the correct way to sign a baseball. "I didn't know there was a wrong way," Gonzalez admitted.

Having so many veterans is rare feat for a Can-Am League team if not for the simple fact that there are certain limitations to how many veterans a team can carry on the active roster at a given time. It is an opportunity that Gonzalez is certainly making the most of.

"Playing under Rock [Tim Raines], Karko [Ron Karkovice] and Jim [Leyritz] is great because I get to pick the brains of some former big leaguers who were great at what they did". Gonzalez also credits the veteran members of the roster for keeping a loose clubhouse environment. While the veterans may offer a good laugh here and there, it is clear that the respect factor is still there for the younger players on the team. "When the vets talk, I listen. In this game you can never learn enough and these are the guys to learn from".

Currently, the season series between both the Bears and the Jackals is tied up at three games apiece. The teams will meet for a total of nine additional times before the season's end to determine which squad will have bragging rights. "It is somewhat like a mini-Subway Series being how close we are and the history behind our organizations," said Gonzalez.

While the rivalry may be friendly, the competition between both squads is still fierce. "When we play them we'll be looking for a sweep."