MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Minor League Baseball announced Tuesday the 2020 season for all of its teams, including the West Virginia Black Bears, was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The season for the Black Bears, which was scheduled to begin June 18 against Mahoning Valley at Mon County Ballpark, was slated to be the club’s sixth season of professional baseball in West Virginia.
“Although it may not be surprising given how our world has changed over the last few months, the official news that we will not have baseball at the Monongalia County Ballpark this summer is heart-breaking,” Mike Buczkowski, president of Rich Baseball Operations, said in a news release. “Not being able to share with our great fans the excitement of Black Bears baseball on those beautiful West Virginia summer nights is going to leave an awful void in our entire organization.”
Due to the ongoing pandemic, the Black Bears offices at the ballpark, the ticket office and the team store will remain closed for the time being.
Fans holding 2020 season ticket, ticket packages, individual tickets or group party reservations will be given the option to apply whatever payment they’ve made on 2020 tickets to the 2021 season or to receive a refund of their ticket prices. All ticket buyers will receive direct communication from the Black Bears organization over the next week with information on how to choose either option.
Fans with additional questions or concerns are encouraged to email the Black Bears at wvbb.info@gmail.com or call at 304-293-7910.
While Major League Baseball announced it will return July 23 with a 60-game schedule, the Minor League season was always in doubt. MLB made it official Tuesday.
“These are unprecedented times for our country and our organization as this is the first time in our history that we’ve had a summer without Minor League Baseball played,” National Association president Pat O’Conner said. “While this is a sad day for many, this announcement removes the uncertainty surrounding the 2020 season and allows our teams to begin planning for an exciting 2021 season of affordable family entertainment.”
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