Brockton Rox (2002–2024)

The Brockton Rox were a collegiate summer baseball team based in Brockton, Massachusetts, United States. Initially a professional baseball franchise, the Rox were a member of the independent Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, from the 2005 through 2011 seasons. The Rox played their home games at Campanelli Stadium. The team's name was a derivative of the nearby Boston Red Sox of the American League and a tribute to the boxers Rocky Marciano and Marvelous Marvin Hagler, both from Brockton.

In 2012, the Rox announced that they were going to join the Futures Collegiate Baseball League and leave the Can-Am League but would retain its rights to rejoin the league for 2013. They remained in the FCBL, while the Can-Am League later merged with the Frontier League. In January 2025, it was announced that the collegiate team was folding while the professional New England Knockouts would be renamed as the Brockton Rox.

History

Professional baseball

The Brockton Rox began play in the 2002 season as members of the East Division of the Northern League. In 2003, the Eastern ball clubs split off from the rest of the Northern League and became the Northeast League, where the Rox played in 2003 and 2004. In 2005, the Northeast League was re-branded as the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, commonly known as the Can-Am League.

On May 23, 2005, the club gave a roster spot to former Boston Red Sox pitcher and colorful personality Oil Can Boyd. Also in 2005, the team made headlines by offering Theo Epstein a position with the team.

In 2006, the Rox celebrated the team's fifth anniversary season by finishing the season 49–43 and qualifying as the third seed in the Can-Am League playoffs. The Rox defeated the New Haven County Cutters, 3–1, in the opening round best-of-five series. In the Championship Series, the Rox fell behind 2 games to 0 against the Quebec Capitales before rallying to tie the series at 2–2. In the deciding fifth game, the Rox took a 3–2 lead into the 8th inning, but a late rally by Quebec left Brockton on the losing end, 5–4, giving Quebec its first ever Can-Am League Championship.

Rox designated hitter Guye Senjem was named the Rox Most Valuable Player for 2006, and RHP John Kelly was named the team's Most Valuable Pitcher. Senjem, a Minnesota native, began his professional career with the St. Paul Saints in 1997. Before arriving in Brockton in 2005, he spent time in the Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies organizations. He set an early tone for a successful 2006 campaign with a game-winning solo home run in the 10th inning on Opening Night at Campanelli Stadium. He went on to tie the franchise mark for home runs in a single season with 14, and led the team in home runs, and runs batted in. Twice, the left-handed hitter was named the Can-Am League’s Batter of the Week. In addition, he was named to the League's post-season All-Star team. Kelly was acquired by the Rox in a trade with the New Jersey Jackals in the month of June. The right-handed veteran made an immediate impact, and was nearly perfect after joining the team. He recorded a save in his first appearance, and proceeded to win his first five starts with the Rox. In 15 appearances with Brockton, he was 8–1 with a 1.92 earned run average (ERA).

Before the 2009 season, the Rox hired Chris Carminucci, former Atlantic City Surf President and Director of Baseball Operations, as field manager. In 2009, the team won 56 games, a franchise record which was also best in the league. They lost in the first round of the playoffs, 3–1, to the eventual champion, the Quebec Capitales.

Towards the end of the 2009 season, it became known that owners and management were $300,000 in debt, and they were looking to the city to restructure their lease commitments. However, with Carminucci Sports Group (CSG) taking control as the club's new managing partner, the Rox were stabilized and had a successful 2010 season, competing for a spot in the playoffs. CSG also held stock in several other minor-league teams in the American Association.

On January 4, 2011, the Rox announced the signing of Bill Buckner as their new manager.

Collegiate baseball

In December 2011, it was announced that the Rox would become an amateur collegiate summer baseball team and play in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL) in 2012. Rhett Wiseman

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