▁affili ate ▁of ▁Major ▁League ▁Baseball ' s ▁San ▁Francisco ▁Gi ants ▁came ▁to ▁town . ▁From ▁ 1 9 6 6 – 1 9 8 6 ▁( with ▁the ▁exception ▁of ▁ 1 9 7 2 ), ▁the ▁Water bury ▁team ▁played ▁in ▁the ▁Eastern ▁League ▁as ▁an ▁affili ate ▁of ▁the ▁Gi ants , ▁Cleveland ▁Indians , ▁Los ▁Angeles ▁D od gers , ▁Oak land ▁Athletics , ▁C inc inn ati ▁Red s ▁and ▁California ▁Ang els . ▁The ▁team ▁name ▁changed ▁every ▁time ▁the ▁affili ation ▁agreement ▁changed ▁hands . ▁Water bury ▁did ▁not ▁have ▁an ▁Eastern ▁League ▁team ▁at ▁the ▁start ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 2 ▁season . ▁However , ▁in ▁the ▁middle ▁of ▁the ▁season , ▁flo oding ▁made ▁the ▁ball park ▁in ▁El mi ra , ▁New ▁York ▁unus able , ▁and ▁so ▁the ▁El mi ra ▁P ione ers ▁played ▁their ▁" home ▁games " ▁in ▁the ▁second ▁half ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 2 ▁season ▁in ▁Water bury . ▁ ▁The ▁Independent ▁N ortheast ▁League ▁chose ▁to ▁place ▁a ▁team ▁in ▁Water bury ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 7 ▁as ▁the ▁Water bury ▁Spirit , ▁but ▁they ▁moved ▁after ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 0 ▁season ▁to ▁become ▁the ▁North ▁Sh ore ▁Spirit . ▁ ▁Sum mary ▁of ▁franch ises ▁by ▁city ▁ ▁Bridge port ▁ ▁Form er ▁Bridge port ▁teams ▁ ▁Hart ford ▁ ▁Hart ford ▁Y ard ▁Go ats ▁( active ) ▁ ▁Form er ▁Hart ford ▁teams ▁ ▁New