Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

(Redirected from Fox Cities Foxes)

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Grand Chute, Wisconsin, a town on the outskirts of Appleton in the Fox Cities, and are named for the timber rattlesnake, which is more commonly found in southwest Wisconsin. The team plays their home games at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium, which opened in 1995. They previously played at Goodland Field from their founding in 1958 until the end of the 1994 season.

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
Team logoCap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassHigh-A (2021–present)
Previous classes
LeagueMidwest League (2022–present)
DivisionWest Division
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
TeamMilwaukee Brewers (2009–present)
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles (10)
  • 1960
  • 1964
  • 1966
  • 1967
  • 1969
  • 1978
  • 1982
  • 1983
  • 1984
  • 2012
Division titles (11)
  • 1971
  • 1972
  • 1974
  • 1978
  • 1983
  • 1984
  • 1985
  • 1996
  • 1999
  • 2005
  • 2012
First-half titles (10)
  • 1966
  • 1969
  • 1971
  • 1978
  • 1992
  • 1996
  • 1997
  • 1998
  • 2005
  • 2012
Second-half titles (10)
  • 1964
  • 1967
  • 1969
  • 1971
  • 1972
  • 1974
  • 1999
  • 2000
  • 2001
  • 2005
Wild card berths (4)
  • 1982
  • 2003
  • 2014
  • 2016
Team data
NameWisconsin Timber Rattlers (1995–present)
Previous names
  • Appleton Foxes (1967–1994)
  • Fox Cities Foxes (1958–1966)
ColorsBurgundy, tan, black, silver, white
         
MascotsFang and Whiffer
BallparkNeuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium (1995–present)
Previous parks
Goodland Field (1958–1994)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Third Base Ventures[1]
PresidentRob Zerjav[2]
General managerRob Zerjav[2]
ManagerVictor Estevez

Originally known as the Fox Cities Foxes, the team began play in 1958 as members of the Three–I League. The circuit suspended operations after the 1961 season, so the club joined the Midwest League in 1962. They became known as the Appleton Foxes in 1967 and adopted their Wisconsin Timber Rattlers moniker in 1995. In conjunction with Major League Baseball's reorganization of Minor League Baseball in 2021, Wisconsin was shifted to the High-A Central, which was renamed the Midwest League in 2022.

Wisconsin has served as a farm club for six Major League Baseball franchises. They have won ten league titles, including one Three–I League championship and nine Midwest League championships, most recently in 2012.

History

Prior professional baseball in Appleton

Appleton, the largest of Wisconsin's Fox Cities, has hosted Minor League Baseball teams since the late 19th century. The city's professional baseball history dates back to 1891 with the formation of the Appleton Papermakers in the single-season Wisconsin State League.[3] The city was home to a new Papermakers team in the Wisconsin–Illinois League from 1909 to 1914.[3] The Wisconsin State League was revived in 1940 with the Papermakers as members from 1940 to 1942 and 1946 to 1953 when the team and its league disbanded.[3]

Washington Senators (1958–1959)

In 1958, the Fox Cities Foxes joined the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League, popularly known as the Three–I League, as the Class B affiliate of the Washington Senators.[3][4] Their home ballpark was Goodland Field in Appleton.[5] This team was owned and operated by Appleton Baseball Club, Inc., a non-stock and nonprofit organization. Governed by a volunteer board of directors, this entity continued to own and operate the franchise through 2020.[1]

The Foxes played their inaugural game on the road against the Davenport DavSox on April 27, 1958, a 9–2 victory.[6] Their first home game, a 6–0 win over the Cedar Rapids Braves, was played on May 3.[7] The Senators affiliation ended after two seasons with the Foxes having a 115–140 record over that period.[4]

Baltimore Orioles (1960–1965)

Earl Weaver managed the 1960 Foxes to win the Three–I League championship.

Prior to the 1960 season, the team became an affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles.[3] Managed by future Baseball Hall of Famer Earl Weaver,[8] they won the Three–I League championship pennant with a league-best 82–56 record in their first season with the Orioles.[9] Third baseman Pete Ward was selected as the league's Most Valuable Player, and first baseman Boog Powell won the Rookie of the Year Award.[10] The team also included pitcher Pat Gillick,[8] who was later inducted in the Hall of Fame as an executive.[11] The Three–I League suspended operations after the 1961 season, hoping to resume in 1963.[12]

As a result, Fox Cities joined the Class D Midwest League (MWL) for 1962.[12] Despite a sub-.500 season, Cal Ripken Sr. won the 1962 Midwest League Manager of the Year Award.[13] The MWL was reclassified as a Class A league in 1963.[4] Manager Billy DeMars led the 1964 Foxes to win the second half title, qualifying them for a single championship game against the Clinton C-Sox.[14][15] The Foxes won the game, giving them their first Midwest League championship.[15] The affiliation with Baltimore ended after the 1965 season with the Foxes having a 401–352 record over the six-year period.[4]

Chicago White Sox (1966–1986)

The Foxes joined the Chicago White Sox organization in 1966.[3] The partnership began with the club winning back-to-back Midwest League championships. Stan Wasiak managed the 1966 squad to the first half title and a 2–0 championship series win over the Cedar Rapids Cardinals.[16][17][18] In 1967, then known as the Appleton Foxes,[4] Manager of the Year Alex Cosmidis' team won the second half title before sweeping the Wisconsin Rapids Twins in two games to win the MWL crown again.[13][19][20] Two years later, Tom Saffell's Foxes won both halves of the 1969 season and were named league champions without any playoffs being held.[21] Saffell was selected for the league's Manager of the Year Award.[13]

Appleton won three Northern Division titles from 1971 to 1974, but they lost the league title each time in the final round. Joe Sparks was recognized as the MWL Manager of the Year for 1971.[13] Future Hall of Fame pitcher Goose Gossage played with Appleton from 1970 to 1971 and in 1974.[22] Fellow Hall of Famer Harold Baines began his career with the Foxes in 1977.[23] The 1978 team, under the management of Gordon Lund,[24] set a franchise record with their 97–40 season.[4] Having won the first half, they went on to capture the Northern Division title versus the Waterloo Indians, 2–0, before beating the Burlington Bees, 2–1, to win their fifth MWL championship.[25] Lund won the season's Manager of the Year Award,[13] and the team was recognized as one of the 100 greatest minor league teams of all-time by baseball historians in 2001.[26]

From 1982 to 1984, the Foxes won three consecutive Midwest League championships. Clinching a wild card berth in 1982, Appleton won the semifinals against the Springfield Cardinals, 2–0, then claimed the league title over the Madison Muskies, 2–1,[27] under manager Adrian Garrett.[28] The 1983 Northern Division champions, then led by John Boles,[29] won the semifinals versus Waterloo, 2–1,[30] then won a second consecutive championship against Springfield, 3–1.[31] Sal Rende's 1984 Foxes completed the back-to-back-to-back feat by winning the division, defeating Madison, 2–1, in the semifinals, and again taking the championship from Springfield in a full five-game series.[32][33] The 1986 Foxes won another division title, but were kept from winning a fourth consecutive championship with elimination in the semifinals.[34]

The White Sox affiliation ended after the 1986 season. Spanning 21 years, this was the longest affiliation in the minor league team's history.[3] It was also the most successful in terms of their win–loss record with the team going 1,471–1,261 over that stretch.[4]

Kansas City Royals (1987–1992)

Appleton affiliated with the Kansas City Royals in 1987.[3] Aside from a 71–69 finish in 1987 and a 70–62 record with a first half title in 1992, the Foxes finished under .500 in four out of six years with the Royals.[4] Pitcher Tom Gordon led the Midwest League with 172 strikeouts in 1988 and was named the league's Prospect of the Year.[35] Tom Poquette, manager of the 1992 team, won the Manager of the Year Award.[13] Appleton accumulated a 386–433 record during the affiliation.[4]

Seattle Mariners (1993–2008)

Fox Cities Stadium, home of the Timber Rattlers since 1995

Appleton became the Class A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners in 1993.[3] On August 29, 1994, the Foxes played their final game at the 54-year-old Goodland Field.[36] The 8–1 loss to the South Bend Silver Hawks was attended by a season-high 3,492 people.[36] The team would move to the new $4.75-million Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute the next season.[37] Also in 1995, after 37 seasons as the Foxes, the team rebranded as the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. This change was made to increase their regional appeal outside the Fox Cities and to boost merchandise sales.[38] "Timber Rattlers" was chosen by area school children who selected it from among three possible monikers along with several logos for each.[37] The name refers to the timber rattlesnake, which is not typically found in the Appleton area but is more common in southwest Wisconsin.[38][39] The team's scheduled April 5, 1995, home opener at their new facility was postponed due to snow and rescheduled for the next afternoon as a doubleheader.[40] The Timber Rattlers won both games, defeating the West Michigan Whitecaps, 3–1 and 8–6, before an audience of 1,937 people.[41]

In 1994, shortstop Alex Rodriguez was selected as the league's Prospect of the Year after hitting for a .319 batting average with 14 home runs and 55 RBI in just 65 games.[42] Wisconsin failed to reach the postseason in their first three seasons with Seattle. As first-half winners in 1996, they won the Central Division title versus the Peoria Chiefs, 2–1, and then beat the Quad Cities River Bandits, 2–1, to advance to the championship round, but they were defeated by West Michigan, 3–1.[43] The 1997 and 1998 teams repeated as first half champions, but were each eliminated in the divisional rounds. In 1999, the Timber Rattlers qualified for the postseason with a second half title, won the Central Division over the Rockford Reds, 2–0, advanced through the semifinals over the Lansing Lugnuts, 2–0, but again lost the championship to Burlington, 3–2.[44] The team won second half titles and the quarterfinals in the next two seasons but were unable to win in the divisional rounds, and the 2003 first-half winners did not make it past the quarterfinals. In 2005, Wisconsin won both halves, the quarterfinals over the Beloit Snappers, 2–1, and the Western Division title against the Clinton LumberKings, 2–0, but failed to win the league championship as they were defeated by South Bend, 3–2.[45]

The Mariners affiliation ended after the 2008 season without any further postseason appearances. Over the 16-year relationship, Wisconsin had a 1,077–1,124 record.[4]

Milwaukee Brewers (2009–present)

The Timber Rattlers affiliated with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2009. Managed by Matt Erickson,[46] Wisconsin qualified for the postseason in 2012 after a six-year absence from the playoffs. Having won the first half,[47] they won the quarterfinals over Burlington, 2–1, and the Western Division title versus Clinton, 2–0.[48] They ended the postseason by winning their ninth Midwest League championship over Fort Wayne, 3–1.[48] That same season, the franchise won the Larry MacPhail Award for outstanding minor league promotions.[49] Their most recent postseason appearances came in 2014 and 2016 via second half titles, but the Timber Rattlers were eliminated in each quarterfinal round.

Following the 2020 season, Appleton Baseball Club, Inc, sold the team to Third Base Ventures, LLC, a group consisting of principal owner Craig Dickman and minority owners team president Rob Zerjav and Brad Raaths.[1] The group also purchased the team's ballpark from the Fox Cities Amateur Sports Authority with plans to keep the team in Grand Chute.[50] Major League Baseball assumed control of Minor League Baseball before the 2021 season in a move to increase player salaries, modernize facility standards, and reduce travel. As a result, the Midwest League disbanded and the Timber Rattlers were elevated to the High-A classification and placed in the High-A Central, where they continued their affiliation with Milwaukee.[51] Wisconsin began competition in the new league on May 4 with a 2–1 victory over the Beloit Snappers at Fox Cities Stadium.[52] They ended the season in third place in the West Division with a 59–60 record.[53] In 2022, the High-A Central became known as the Midwest League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization.[54] Wisconsin placed second in both halves of the split-season, missing out on qualifying for the postseason.[55] Their season record was 69–60.[4] They did not win either half of the 2023 season in which they finished 62–68.[56] Over 14 complete seasons of competition as a Brewers farm club, the Timber Rattlers hold a regular-season win–loss record of 899–1,003.[4]

Season-by-season records

Table key
LeagueThe team's final position in the league standings
DivisionThe team's final position in the divisional standings
GBGames behind the team that finished in first place in the division that season
League champions (1958–present)
*Division champions (1971–present)
^Postseason berth (1958–present)
Season-by-season records
SeasonLeagueRegular-seasonPostseasonMLB affiliateRef.
RecordWin %LeagueDivisionGBRecordWin %Result
1958IIIL56–73.4346th20+12Washington Senators[57]
1959IIIL59–67.4684th19Washington Senators[58]
1960
IIIL82–56.5941stWon IIIL championshipBaltimore Orioles[9]
1961IIIL67–62.5194th12Baltimore Orioles[59]
1962MWL61–63.4927th12+12Baltimore Orioles[60]
1963MWL55–65.4588th26Baltimore Orioles[61]
1964
^ †
MWL81–43.6531st1–01.000Won second half title
Won MWL championship vs. Clinton C-Sox, 1–0[15]
Baltimore Orioles[62]
1965MWL55–63.4667th25Baltimore Orioles[63]
1966
^ †
MWL77–47.6212nd5+122–01.000Won first half title[17]
Won MWL championship vs. Cedar Rapids Cardinals, 2–0[18]
Chicago White Sox[64]
1967
^ †
MWL71–46.6071st2–01.000Won second half title[19]
Won MWL championship vs. Wisconsin Rapids Twins, 2–0[20]
Chicago White Sox[65]
1968MWL57–61.4836th12+12Chicago White Sox[66]
1969
MWL84–41.6721stWon first and second half titles
Won MWL championship[21]
Chicago White Sox[67]
1970MWL64–60.5165th9+12Chicago White Sox[68]
1971
^ *
MWL79–44.6421st1st1–2.333Won First and Second Half Northern Division titles
Won Northern Division title
Lost MWL championship vs. Quad Cities Angels, 2–1[69]
Chicago White Sox[70]
1972
^ *
MWL76–51.5981st1st1–2.333Won Second Half Northern Division title
Won Northern Division title vs. Wisconsin Rapids Twins, 1–0
Lost MWL championship vs. Danville Warriors, 2–0[71]
Chicago White Sox[72]
1973MWL44–76.36710th5th27Chicago White Sox[73]
1974
^ *
MWL73–50.5932nd2nd4+123–2.600Won Second Half Northern Division title
Won Northern Division title vs. Wisconsin Rapids Twins, 2–0
Lost MWL championship vs. Danville Warriors, 2–1[74]
Chicago White Sox[75]
1975MWL50–77.3949th5th42+12Chicago White Sox[76]
1976MWL56–74.43110th5th22Chicago White Sox[77]
1977MWL54–84.3918th4th26Chicago White Sox[78]
1978
^ * †
MWL97–40.7081st1st4–1.800Won First Half Northern Division title
Won Northern Division title vs. Waterloo Indians, 2–0
Won MWL championship vs. Burlington Bees, 2–1[25]
Chicago White Sox[79]
1979MWL63–72.4675th3rd18Chicago White Sox[80]
1980MWL76–63.5472nd2nd9Chicago White Sox[81]
1981MWL54–80.4036th4th31Chicago White Sox[82]
1982
^ * †
MWL81–59.5793rd2nd6+124–1.800Won wild card berth
Won semifinals vs. Springfield Cardinals, 2–0
Won MWL championship vs. Madison Muskies, 2–1[27]
Chicago White Sox[83]
1983
* †
MWL87–50.6351st1st5–2.714Won Northern Division title
Won semifinals vs. Waterloo Indians, 2–1[30]
Won MWL championship vs. Springfield Cardinals, 3–1[31]
Chicago White Sox[84]
1984
* †
MWL87–49.6401st1st5–3.625Won Northern Division title
Won semifinals vs. Madison Muskies, 2–1
Won MWL championship vs. Springfield Cardinals, 3–2[33]
Chicago White Sox[85]
1985
*
MWL85–54.6121st1st1–2.333Won Northern Division title
Lost semifinals vs. Kenosha Twins, 2–1[34]
Chicago White Sox[86]
1986MWL56–83.40311th3rd29+12Chicago White Sox[87]
1987MWL71–69.5076th (tie)2nd11Kansas City Royals[88]
1988MWL58–82.41413th6th26Kansas City Royals[89]
1989MWL67–68.4967th3rd19+12Kansas City Royals[90]
1990MWL62–71.4668th4th14+12Kansas City Royals[91]
1991MWL58–81.41714th7th19+12Kansas City Royals[92]
1992
^
MWL70–62.53010th3rd5+121–2.333Won First Half Northern Division title
Lost Northern Division title vs. Beloit Brewers, 2–1[93]
Kansas City Royals[94]
1993MWL62–73.4599th6th17+12Seattle Mariners[95]
1994MWL75–64.5404th3rd14Seattle Mariners[96]
1995MWL63–75.45712th4th24+12Seattle Mariners[97]
1996
^ *
MWL77–58.5702nd2nd1+125–5.500Won First Half Central Division title
Won Central Division title vs. Peoria Chiefs, 2–1
Won semifinals vs. Quad Cities River Bandits, 2–1
Lost MWL championship vs. West Michigan Whitecaps, 3–1[43]
Seattle Mariners[98]
1997
^
MWL76–63.5472nd1st0–2.000Won First Half Central Division title
Lost Central Division title vs. Kane County Cougars, 2–0[99]
Seattle Mariners[100]
1998
^
MWL72–65.5265th1st1–2.333Won First Half Central Division title
Lost Central Division title vs. Rockford Cubbies, 2–1[101]
Seattle Mariners[102]
1999
^ *
MWL72–66.5225th3rd6+126–3.667Won Second Half Central Division title
Won Central Division title vs. Rockford Reds, 2–0
Won semifinals vs. Lansing Lugnuts, 2–0
Lost MWL championship vs. Burlington Bees, 3–2[44]
Seattle Mariners[103]
2000
^
MWL78–60.5653rd1st3–3.500Won Second Half Western Division title
Won quarterfinals vs. Kane County Cougars, 2–1
Lost Western Division title vs. Beloit Snappers, 2–1[104]
Seattle Mariners[105]
2001
^
MWL84–52.6182nd2nd32–2.500Won Second Half Western Division title
Won quarterfinals vs. Quad Cities River Bandits, 2–0
Lost Western Division title vs. Kane County Cougars, 2–0[106]
Seattle Mariners[107]
2002MWL53–86.38113th8th32+12Seattle Mariners[108]
2003
^
MWL69–66.5116th (tie)3rd (tie)90–2.000Won First Half Western Division wild card berth[109]
Lost quarterfinals vs. Beloit Snappers, 2–0[110]
Seattle Mariners[111]
2004MWL57–82.41012th7th26Seattle Mariners[112]
2005
^ *
MWL76–63.5472nd1st6–4.600Won First and Second Half Western Division title
Won quarterfinals vs. Beloit Snappers, 2–1
Won Western Division title vs. Clinton LumberKings, 2–0
Lost MWL championship vs. South Bend Silver Hawks, 3–2[45]
Seattle Mariners[113]
2006MWL54–86.38613th7th25+12Seattle Mariners[114]
2007MWL53–85.38414th8th25Seattle Mariners[115]
2008MWL56–80.41213th8th21+12Seattle Mariners[116]
2009MWL58–81.41712th7th23+12Milwaukee Brewers[117]
2010MWL58–80.42014th7th25Milwaukee Brewers[118]
2011MWL67–72.48210th (tie)4th15Milwaukee Brewers[119]
2012
^ * †
MWL78–61.5613rd1st7–2.778Won First Half Western Division title[47]
Won quarterfinals vs. Burlington Bees, 2–1
Won Western Division title vs. Clinton LumberKings, 2–0
Won MWL championship vs. Fort Wayne TinCaps, 3–1
Milwaukee Brewers[48]
2013MWL59–76.43713th6th27+12Milwaukee Brewers[120]
2014
^
MWL72–67.5185th (tie)3rd (tie)18+120–2.000Won Second Half Western Division wild card berth[121]
Lost quarterfinals vs. Kane County Cougars, 2–0[122]
Milwaukee Brewers[123]
2015MWL50–89.36015th7th38+12Milwaukee Brewers[124]
2016
^
MWL71–69.5078th4th150–2.000Won Second Half Western Division wild card berth[125]
Lost quarterfinals vs. Cedar Rapids Kernels, 2–0[126]
Milwaukee Brewers[127]
2017MWL59–79.42815th8th20Milwaukee Brewers[128]
2018MWL68–71.48910th7th12+12Milwaukee Brewers[129]
2019MWL69–70.4969th5th12Milwaukee Brewers[130]
2020MWLSeason cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic)[131]Milwaukee Brewers[132]
2021A+C59–60.4966th3rd18+12Milwaukee Brewers[53]
2022MWL69–60.5356th3rd3Milwaukee Brewers[133]
2023MWL62–68.4778th3rd19Milwaukee Brewers[134]
Totals4,349–4,314.50260–46.566
Franchise totals by affiliation
AffiliationRegular seasonPostseasonComposite
RecordWin %Apps.RecordWin %RecordWin %
Washington Senators (1958–1959)115–140.4510115–140.451
Baltimore Orioles (1960–1965)401–352.53311–01.000402–352.533
Chicago White Sox (1966–1986)1,471–1,261.5381128–15.6511,499–1,276.540
Kansas City Royals (1987–1992)386–433.47111–2.333387–435.471
Seattle Mariners (1993–2008)1,077–1,124.489823–23.5001,100–1,147.490
Milwaukee Brewers (2009–present)899–1,003.47337–6.538851–1,009.458
All-time4,349–4,314.5022460–46.5664,409–4,360.499

Radio and television

All home and road games are broadcast on WNAM 1280 AM.[135] Live audio broadcasts are also available online through the team's website and the MiLB First Pitch app.[135] All home games and select road games can be viewed through the MiLB.TV subscription feature of the official website of Minor League Baseball, with audio provided by a radio simulcast.[136] Select home games are televised on WCWF CW 14 in Green Bay/Appleton, and on WVTV-DT2 My 24 in Milwaukee.[135]

Mascots

Fang, the team mascot

Wisconsin's primary mascot is an anthropomorphic timber rattler snake named Fang. He is golden yellow with a red tongue extending from his mouth and wears the same uniform as the team.[137] Fang is joined by Whiffer, a secondary mascot whose appearance resembles that of the Phillie Phanatic with teal fur and green face and hands.[138]

Prior to Fang and the 1995 rebrand, Appleton's mascot was Freddy Fox, an anthropomorphic fox who wore the team's jersey and cap.[139] Circa 1980, the mascot was Homer Run, who was human in appearance and wore the same style uniform as the Foxes.[140]

Roster

PlayersCoaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 26 Patricio Aquino
  • 31 Will Childers
  • 17 Alexander Cornielle
  • 33 Chase Costello
  • 12 Stiven Cruz
  • 36 Brian Fitzpatrick
  • 91 Logan Henderson
  • 38 Yujanyer Herrera
  • 38 Joseph Hernandez
  • 16 Edwin Jimenez
  • 13 Tate Kuehner
  • 35 Mark Manfredi
  • 34 Jake Polancic
  • 30 Yerlin Rodriguez
  • 18 Will Rudy
  • 25 Aaron Rund
  • 32 Tyler Wehrle
  • 29 Craig Yoho

Catchers

  • 19 Tayden Hall
  •  9 Ramón Rodríguez
  • 37 Alejandro Rodriguez
  • 14 Matthew Wood

Infielders

  • 28 Luke Adams
  •  2 Jadher Areinamo
  •  5 Gregory Barrios
  • 24 Jesus Chirinos
  •  6 Jheremy Vargas

Outfielders

  •  1 Terence Doston
  • 20 Eduarqui Fernandez
  • 10 Luis Lara
  •  3 Dylan O'Rae


Manager

  •  7 Victor Estevez

Coaches

  • 23 Eric Bunnell (development)
  •  4 Tim Doherty (hitting)
  • 27 Andre Ruche (development)
  • 40 Josh Spence (pitching)

60-day injured list

  • 47 Tanner Shears (full season)
  • 47 Cameron Wagoner (full season)

7-day injured list
* On Milwaukee Brewers 40-man roster
~ Development list
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporarily inactive list
Roster updated May 7, 2024
Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • Midwest League
Milwaukee Brewers minor league players

Achievements

Awards

Four players and six managers have won league awards in recognition for their performance with the Foxes/Timber Rattlers.

Three–I League Awards
AwardRecipientSeasonRef.
Most Valuable PlayerPete Ward1960[10]
Rookie of the YearBoog Powell1960[10]
Alex Rodriguez won the 1994 MWL Prospect of the Year Award.
Midwest League Awards
AwardRecipientSeasonRef.
Prospect of the YearTom Gordon1988[13]
Prospect of the YearAlex Rodriguez1994[13]
Manager of the YearCal Ripken Sr.1962[13]
Manager of the YearAlex Cosmidis1967[13]
Manager of the YearTom Saffell1969[13]
Manager of the YearJoe Sparks1971[13]
Manager of the YearGordon Lund1978[13]
Manager of the YearTom Poquette1992[13]

No-hitters

The Timber Rattlers have pitched 14 no-hitters in their franchise history. A no-hit game occurs when a pitcher (or pitchers) allows no hits over the course of a game.[141] A perfect game, a much rarer feat, occurs when no batters reach base by a hit or any other means, such as a walk, hit by pitch, or error.[141] Wisconsin's no-hitters were accomplished by a total of 19 pitchers. Nine were complete games pitched by a lone pitcher, and five were combined no-hitters.

Table key
ScoreGame score with Wisconsin runs listed first
(#)Number of innings in a game that was shorter or longer than 9 innings
£Pitcher was left-handed
No-hitters
No.DatePitcher(s)ScoreOpponentLocationCatcher(s)Ref.
1July 17, 1962Alan Riffle£7–0 (5)Decatur CommodoresGoodland FieldWilliam Shirah[142]
2July 22, 1965Emmanuel Fitzgerald4–0 (7)Quincy CubsQ StadiumJim Rouse[143]
3May 28, 1966Mickey Abarbanel£9–1Wisconsin Rapids TwinsGoodland FieldRobert Von Eps[144]
4June 15, 1972Robert McCauley2–0 (7)Quincy CubsGoodland FieldMichael Reynolds[145]
5August 22, 1975Larry Monroe1–0 (7)Cedar Rapids GiantsGoodland FieldHarris Price[146]
6May 26, 1986John Stein5–0Beloit BrewersGoodland FieldEric Milholland[147]
7July 26, 1990John Conner (7 IP)
Jim Smith (2 IP)
8–0Wausau TimbersGoodland FieldColin Ryan[148]
8June 28, 1994Brett Hinchliffe13–0Cedar Rapids KernelsVeterans Memorial StadiumJose Cuellar[149]
9April 29, 2000J. J. Putz6–1 (7)Kane County CougarsPhilip B. Elfstrom StadiumJuan Alcala[150]
10August 27, 2001Derrick Van Dusen£2–0Cedar Rapids KernelsVeterans Memorial StadiumBen Hudson[151]
11August 24, 2010Jake Odorizzi (8 IP)
Adrian Rosario (1 IP)
3–0Cedar Rapids KernelsVeterans Memorial StadiumCameron Garfield[152]
12May 4, 2012Chad Thompson (5 IP)
Mark Williams (4 IP)
5–0Clinton LumberKingsAshford University FieldRafael Neda[153]
13May 29, 2021Freisis Adames (5 IP)
Taylor Floyd (2 IP)
8–1 (7)Cedar Rapids KernelsVeterans Memorial StadiumKekai Rios (4 Inn.)
Nick Kahle (3 Inn.)
[154]
14June 10, 2021Justin Bullock (5 IP)
Carlos Luna (4 IP)
6–1South Bend CubsFour Winds FieldNick Kahle[155]

References

External links