New Jersey Jackals - Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

Founded: 1998

Playoff Appearances: (8) 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

League Championships won: (4) 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004

The mascot for the Jackals is an anthropomorphic Jackal named Jack. He entertains the fans and has some trademark game antics, such as wiggling his tail, the Cha Cha Slide, the YMCA, etc. Jack is popular with children who attend the games, as well as the community.

The Jackals play at Yogi Berra Stadium, which is located on the Little Falls side of the Montclair State University campus and named for Hall of Fame ex-Yankee catcher Yogi Berra, a longtime Montclair resident. Also located at the stadium site is the Yogi Berra Museum, a baseball-themed educational attraction which also contains a stadium luxury box. The luxury box is used only by major league scouts and Berra himself, who attends at least twice a year during special theme nights on which he signs autographs for fans.

The Jackals have retired three jersey numbers. #8 has never been issued by the team in honor of Yogi Berra, who wore that number for his entire career playing and managing. The first player to have his jersey number retired was Joel Bennett, who pitched for the Jackals from 2000 to 2006 and set most of the team's pitching records that have since been eclipsed by Isaac Pavlik, who has pitched with New Jersey since 2005. Bennett's #28 was retired in his honor shortly after his retirement. The most recent Jackal to have his jersey number retired was outfielder/infielder Zach Smithlin, who played for the Jackals from 2004–2009 and holds team records for most games played by a position player, runs scored, and stolen bases. Smithlin retired from professional baseball after the 2010 season and had his jersey number #4 retired by the Jackals on July 30, 2011.