American Association since the league's inception 60 years before, it was a Midwestern circuit, so for the 1963 season, the Bears transferred to the Pacific Coast League. The mid-1960s Bears included such future big-leaguers as César Tovar and Ted Uhlaender, but lacked overall success. It also turned out that with the PCL otherwise all but confined to the actual Pacific Coast, Denver was now located too far east. In 1969, the franchise returned to the American Association. The Denver Bears had some good teams from the 1970s to the mid-1980s, producing such players as Andre Dawson, Tim Wallach, Warren Cromartie, Tim Raines, Graig Nettles, Terry Francona, Wallace Johnson, Danny Morris, Pat Rooney, and Bill Gullickson. Denver players Richie Scheinblum (1971), Cliff Johnson (1973), Roger Freed (1976), Frank Ortenzio (1977), and Randy Bass (1980) were league MVPs. The managing careers of both Billy Martin and Felipe Alou began with the Bears. The team won the Association's championship with some regularity, topping the league in 1971, 1976, 1977, 1981, and 1983. The 1980 Bears were recognized as one of the 100 greatest minor league teams of all time. Denver Zephyrs (1984–1992) In 1984, the team name was changed to the Denver Zephyrs, after the famous passenger train. Barry Larkin (1986) was league MVP while with the Zephyrs, as were Greg Vaughn (1989), Jim Olander (1991), and Jim Tatum (1992). ESPN broadcaster Orestes Destrade also played for the Zephyrs. Their only championship under the new nickname was the 1991 American Association title. They went on to win the 1991 Triple-A Classic against the International League's Columbus Clippers, 4–1. Major League Baseball came to Denver with the arrival of the Colorado Rockies expansion team of the National League in 1993. After 39 seasons of play, the Zephyrs relocated to New Orleans, Louisiana, after the 1992 season where they continued as the New Orleans Zephyrs. Notable players Narciso Elvira - played with the Zephyrs after his stint in the Majors with Milwaukee Brewers in 1990 See also :Category:Denver Bears players :Category:Denver Zephyrs players References Baseball teams established in 1955 Defunct Pacific Coast League teams Defunct American Association (1902–1997) teams Professional baseball teams in Colorado Milwaukee Brewers minor league affiliates Cincinnati Reds minor league affiliates Montreal Expos minor league affiliates Chicago White Sox minor league affiliates Houston Astros minor league affiliates Texas Rangers minor league affiliates Washington Senators (1961–1971) minor league affiliates Minnesota Twins minor league