A view from above Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium, home of the Newark Bears. Credit: Phil Hoops

Jerry Izenberg of the Star Ledger reports that on numerous occasions the New York Mets, using their territorial rights, blocked a move that would have allowed the New York Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, the Scranton Wilkes-barre Yankees, to play at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium in Newark for the 2012 season, while their own ballpark was undergoing renovations. This is an absolute must read for Newark Bears fans.

Izenberg explains that the Mets feared that the Yankees move to Newark would have deterred fans from going to games at Citi Field and describes the deal as "stone cold dead" and points out that Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo thanked the Yankees and General Manager Brian Cashman for their consideration.

I'm actually at a lose of words right now. Seriously, what a season 2012 could have been, even if it would have been for a lone year. It's no secret that attendance at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium hasn't been up to par, so to speak, over past seasons. A team stocked with top major-league ready prospects would have been like revisiting the early 20th century when future Yankees roamed the fields in Newark and could have potentially opened the door for other affiliates to move into the area. Unfortunately, like the Newark Bears of old it appears that any chance of that happening is history.