BANGOR – They have a name, logo, office, players, manager, general manager, owner, and yes, even a line of official team merchandise.

What the Bangor Lumberjacks lack is a permanent home, but they’re working on that.

After a five-year absence, pro baseball is back in Bangor, but not on the field. Just like the Bangor Blue Ox, who played two Northeast League seasons at the University of Maine in Orono while waiting for a facility to be built in Bangor, the Lumberjacks will play their first season on the dirt and grass of Mahaney Diamond.

Lumberjacks owner and Bangor businessman Charles M. “Chip” Hutchins officially introduced Bangor’s new minor league team during a Friday press conference at the Bangor Mall’s center court.

“Welcome to baseball, Bangor-style,” Hutchins said. “This will be a quality team with quality people to provide a quality experience. We’d like to see about 2,000 fans a game. The Blue Ox drew around 1,000. I think we can do it.”

After unveiling the team’s logo, which features a red-bearded lumberjack wielding a two-bladed axe mounted on a baseball bat, Hutchins introduced team general manager Curt Jacey, who held the same title with the Adirondack Lumberjacks – the Northeast League franchise Hutchins bought late last year – the last seven seasons.

The Northeast League is an independent league and is not affiliated with a Major League Baseball franchise.

Hutchins and Jacey are convinced the Lumberjacks based in will succeed where the Blue Ox failed because of local ownership, a long-term plan to stay in Bangor, and a different approach to attracting fans.

“I didn’t move my family eight hours away from home to be here for a year and possibly move again,” Jacey said. “We’re going to make it work here in the long run.”

The team is opening an office/retail store Feb. 1 in the mall space formerly occupied by Foot Locker.

Due to the fact that lights, seating (stands), and concession/bathroom facilities must still be installed at Husson College’s baseball facility in Bangor, Hutchins opted to play at Mahaney this year to provide more time to find the necessary funding for those improvements.

“Let me make sure everybody’s clear on the field situation. It is no secret I’ve worked with Husson [College] to try to locate this team at Husson and that’s what I would like to do. However, that’s not possible right now,” Hutchins said. “I went to the University of Maine and they welcomed me with open arms.

“I made sure to tell them exactly what I’m telling you, that my preference is to be in Orono one year and to be back in Bangor because that’s where I want to locate the team.”

Former UMaine baseball coach and current Husson vice-president and assistant baseball coach John Winkin donated $250,000 to the Husson baseball complex which bears his name and is optimistic the Lumberjacks will play at Husson.

“We’re waiting to continue talks with Chip and possibly the city on where we go from here,” he said. “I think Chip today reaffirmed that his dream is to have it here and I share that dream with him. [Husson] president Bill Beardsley was [at the press conference] along with every member of the Bangor City Council, so that should tell you something.”

Hutchins will make improvements to Mahaney, including the replacement of the chain link fencing behind home plate with a new, modern netting system to allow fans a better view of the field and a new sound system – both of which should be done before UMaine’s home season begins.

Bangor will play a 90-game schedule in the eight-team league. The first game is against Allentown (Pa.) May 22 and the first home game is against New Jersey on May 30.

Tickets go on sale Feb. 1 and prices range from $2 (senior or child general admission) to $8 (adult box seats).

Manager Kash Beauchamp – the No. 1 pick in the 1982 Major League Baseball draft (Kirby Puckett was drafted No. 3) and a 14-year career minor leaguer – will begin his second season with the Lumberjacks. He has 23 players under contract, but expects the roster to undergo several changes before May 22.

“This is baseball at its purest form. It really is,” said the 40-year-old Beauchamp, who plans to hold open tryouts for the general public. “The guys play for the right reasons here. That’s why I’m here.”