Newark Bears Web Site

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 24, 2003
Contact: Jim Cerny (973) 848-1000, ext. 109

NEWARK, NJ, July 24-The Newark Bears today announced two player transactions. The Bears announced that the club has placed outfielder Mike Piercy on the disabled list and has signed outfielder Hipolito Martinez.

Piercy, a resident of Newark, re-injured a quadriceps muscle legging out a double in Wednesday afternoon's game versus the Pennsylvania Road Warriors. He remained in the game, even stealing third base, before leaving because of the injury. Piercy, who is batting as team-best .367 with 12 runs-batted-in and 22 stolen bases on the season, originally injured the quadriceps muscle in early July and missed nearly two weeks of action.

The 26 year-old Martinez is entering his ninth season in professional baseball, though he has not played since the 2001 season. He has played in the Oakland A's and Milwaukee Brewers organizations and is a lifetime .249 hitter. This past spring he attended spring training with the Chicago Cubs, but was injured.

In 1999, while playing with single-A Visalia in the California League, Martinez batted .267 and established career highs with 21 home runs, 24 doubles and 77 runs-batted-in.

The Bears resume their 2003 season this evening with a 7:05 start at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium against the Pennsylvania Road Warriors. Tickets for tonight's game, and all Bears home games, may be purchased by calling (973) 483-6900.

TRANSACTIONS:
NEWARK (Atlantic League)-Placed OF Mike Piercy on disabled list. Signed OF Hipolito Martinez.