The Bloomingdale Troopers were one of eight teams that competed in the inaugural 1946 season of the North Atlantic League, formed during the post-World War II minor league baseball boom in the United States. The league and its teams operated as a Class D affiliate of Major League Baseball, however, most of its teams operated independently of any major league clubs during the 1946 season.[2]
The Bloomingdale team was named the "Troopers" after the original owner's son, who was a New Jersey State Police officer killed in the line of duty. They played their first game on May 8, 1946 in Peekskill, New York against the Highlanders, who were managed by former New York Yankees third baseman Joe Dugan. The next day, the Troopers played their first game at DeLazier Field in Bloomingdale, also against the Highlanders.[2]
During the summer of 1946, former New York Yankees player Babe Ruth attended a Troopers game while in the area on a hunting and fishing trip. After the game, Ruth went onto the field and hit a few home runs for the record-setting crowd of 1,467 spectators.[2]
The Troopers drew an average of 600 fans per game.[2]Jim Lemon played for the team during their last season in 1948, before making it to the major leagues for Cleveland in 1950.
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