Bergen Barflies Founder and long-time GM Stu McCorkindale and Friends

History Brief

The 1902 Bergen team was organized by Tom Meade. The Barflies continued under Meade’s tutelage until 1921, when the team was handed over to Stu McCorkindale so that Tom could pursue a singing career. McCorkindale led the Barflies through good times and bad until after the 1933 season, at which time Stu left to try his hand at a writing career. Tom Meade, deciding that singing at Grand Central Station was not a profitable venture, took over the franchise again, guiding the Barflies to seven Division crowns. In 1956, McCorkindale once again changed roles, with Tom heading out to Las Vegas for another shot at singing, and Stu settling in the dugout for the next twenty seasons. After the 1974 season, Stu enlisted in the Marines and headed off to Vietnam. The franchise did not play in 1975, returning to compete as the Susquehanna Knights, a leased club run by Teri Hackbart, the league's only female member, in 1976. After returning to civilian life, McCorkindale resumed Bergen Barflies operation in 1977, until finally disbanding after the 1996 season. Franchise #5 was sold by the league to Casey Lyman, who moved the club to Portsmouth in 1997. Tom Meade took over the franchise once again, following Lyman’s departure to Arizona and the passing of Stu McCorkindale in 2011, establishing the contemporary franchise in Eastport.