1.
South Bend, Indiana
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South Bend is a city in and the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents, its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 318,586 and it is the fourth-largest city in Indiana, serving as the economic and cultural hub of Northern Indiana. The highly ranked University of Notre Dame is located just to the north in unincorporated Notre Dame, the area was originally settled in the early 19th century by fur traders and was established as a city in 1865. The St. Joseph River shaped South Bends economy through the mid-20th century, River access assisted heavy industrial development such as that of the Studebaker Corporation, the Oliver Chilled Plow Company, and other large corporations. The population of South Bend declined after 1960, when it had a population of 132,445. This was chiefly due to migration to areas as well as the demise of Studebaker and other heavy industry. Today, the largest industries in South Bend are health care, education, small business, remaining large corporations include Crowe Horwath, Honeywell, and AM General. Recently, the city population has started to grow for the first time in fifty years. The old Studebaker plant and surrounding area, now called Ignition Park, is being redeveloped as a center to attract new industry. The St. Joseph Valley was long occupied by Native Americans, one of the earliest known groups to occupy what would later become northern Indiana was the Miami tribe. Later, the Potawatomi moved into the region, utilizing the rich food, the Potawatomi occupied this region of Indiana until most of them were forcibly removed in the 1840s. The South Bend area was so popular because its portage was the shortest overland route from the St. Joseph River to the Kankakee River and this route was used for centuries, first by the Native Americans, then by French explorers, missionaries and traders. The first permanent white settlers of South Bend were fur traders who established trading posts in the area, in 1820, Pierre Frieschutz Navarre arrived, representing the American Fur Company of John Jacob Astor. He settled near what is now downtown South Bend, alexis Coquillard, another agent of the AFC, established a trading post known as the Big St. Joseph Station. In 1827, Lathrop Minor Taylor established a post for Samuel Hanna and Company, in whose records the name St. Josephs, by 1829, the town was growing, with Coquillard and Taylor emerging as leaders. They applied for a post office, Taylor was appointed postmaster, and the post office was designated as Southold, Allen County, Indiana. The following year, the name was changed to South Bend, probably to ease confusion, in 1831, South Bend was laid out as the county seat and as one of the four original townships of St. Joseph County with 128 residents. Soon after, design began on what would become the town of South Bend, the town was formally established in 1835 and rapidly grew
2.
Midwest League
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The Midwest League is a Minor League Baseball league, established in 1954 and based in the Midwestern United States. It is a Class A league that plays a full season, the Midwest League began as the Illinois State League, then became the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League. In 1956, the Mississippi-Ohio Valley League was renamed the Midwest League, today, the league has 16 teams in two divisions. The Lansing Lugnuts and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers franchises jointly have won the most league championships, the Midwest League directly evolved from two earlier leagues in the region. In 1949, the ISL changed its name to the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League after Marion moved their franchise to Kentucky, in 1954, the Mississippi-Ohio Valley League expanded, adding teams in Clinton and Dubuque, Iowa. The Mississippi-Ohio Valley League was then renamed Midwest League in 1956, mattoon is the oldest franchise in the MWL, evolving into todays Fort Wayne TinCaps, while Clinton is the oldest MWL locale. In 1960, the Davenport, Iowa based Quad City Braves joined the league as an expansion team, in 1962, Appleton, Burlington, and Cedar Rapids joined the Midwest League from the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League which folded operations when those franchises switched leagues. All those franchised remain in the league today, in 1963, the Midwest League was designated as a Class A league, after the minor league classification structure was reorganized. The 1975 Waterloo Royals, led by future MLB All-Stars Willie Wilson, the Royals finished the season 93–35. In 1976, the Midwest League contracted from ten teams to eight, as franchises in Danville, in 1982, the league expanded from 8 to 12 teams, adding the Beloit Brewers, the Danville Suns, the Madison Muskies, and the Springfield Cardinals. The Peoria Suns relocated from Danville in 1983, and acquired their current name, Peoria Chiefs, the following year. In 1988, the league began splitting its season into two halves and expanded from 12 to 14 teams, with the addition of franchises in South Bend, Indiana, and Rockford, Illinois. Kenosha, Madison, Rockford, Springfield, Waterloo, and Wausau lost teams during this decade while Battle Creek, Dayton, Fort Wayne, Grand Rapids, Kane County, the 1978 Appleton Foxes are ranked #93 on the Top-100 All Time teams by MiLB. com. Led by future Cy Young Award winner LaMarr Hoyt, the team finished 97-40, harry Chappas, Ross Baumgarten and Britt Burns were all called up to the parent Chicago White Sox at the conclusin of the MWL season. The 97 wins by the Foxes remains a Midwest League record, the Clinton LumberKings have been in one city longer than any Midwest League team, having called Clinton, Iowa, home since 1954. The Southwest Michigan Devil Rays moved to Midland, Michigan, Year by Year championship teams, List of Midwest League champions Baseball awards#U. S. minor leagues Official Midwest League website A Fans Guide to the Midwest League
3.
Chicago Cubs
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The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball as a club of the National League Central division. The team plays its games at Wrigley Field, located on the citys North Side. The Cubs are one of two league teams in Chicago, the other, the Chicago White Sox, is a member of the American League Central division. The Cubs, first known as the White Stockings, was a member of the NL in 1876. The Cubs have appeared in a total of eleven World Series, the 1906 Cubs won 116 games, finishing 116–36 and posting a modern-era record winning percentage of.763, before losing the World Series to the Chicago White Sox by four games to two. The Cubs won back-to-back World Series championships in 1907 and 1908, the 108-year drought was also the longest such occurrence in all major North American sports. Since the start of play in 1969, the Cubs have appeared in the postseason eight times through the 2016 season. The Cubs are known as the North Siders, a reference to the location of Wrigley Field within the city of Chicago, there is a divisional rivalry with the St. Louis Cardinals and also a newer rivalry with the Milwaukee Brewers. There is also a rivalry with the White Sox. The Cubs began play in 1876 as the Chicago White Stockings, joining the National League as a charter member. Owner William Hulbert signed multiple star players, such as pitcher Albert Spalding and infielders Ross Barnes, Deacon White, the White Stockings played their home games at West Side Grounds and quickly established themselves as one of the new leagues top teams. Spalding won forty-seven games and Barnes led the league in hitting at.429 as Chicago won the first ever National League pennant, which at the time was the games top prize. After back-to-back pennants in 1880 and 1881, Hulbert died, and Spalding, the White Stockings, with Anson acting as player-manager, captured their third consecutive pennant in 1882, and Anson established himself as the games first true superstar. In 1885 and 86, after winning N. L. pennants, both seasons resulted in match ups with the St. Louis Brown Stockings, with the clubs tying in 1885 and with St. Louis winning in 1886. This was the genesis of what would become one of the greatest rivalries in sports. In all, the Anson-led Chicago Base Ball Club won six National League pennants between 1876 and 1886. As a result, Chicagos club nickname transitioned, and by 1890 they had known as the Chicago Colts, or sometimes Ansons Colts
4.
Arizona Diamondbacks
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The Arizona Diamondbacks, often shortened as the D-backs, are an American professional baseball franchise based in Phoenix, Arizona. The club competes in Major League Baseball as a member of the National League West division, since the teams inception in 1998, the franchise has played home games at Chase Field, formerly known as Bank One Ballpark. The ballpark was renamed in 2005, as a result of Bank One Corporations merger with JPMorgan Chase & Co, on March 9,1995, Arizona was awarded a franchise to begin play for the 1998 season. A $130 million franchise fee was paid to Major League Baseball and on January 16,1997, since their debut, the Diamondbacks have won five National League West titles, one National League Championship pennant, and the 2001 World Series. The Diamondbacks original colors were purple, black, teal and copper and their first logo was an italicized block letter A with a diamond pattern, and the crossbar represented by a snakes tongue. Prior to their season, they released their baseball caps. The home cap had a cream color crown with a purple visor, the road cap was black and had a turquoise visor and button. Their alternate cap had a crown with a purple visor. Depending on the cap, the A logo on the front of the cap had different color variations, in the Diamondbacks second season, they introduced a new logo which was a copper color snake in the shape of a letter D. It was used on a black cap, which in the beginning, was worn as a road cap. The franchise unveiled new uniforms and colors of Sedona Red, Sonoran Sand, the red shade is named for the sandstone canyon at Red Rock State Park near Sedona, while the beige shade is named for the Sonoran Desert. A sleeve patch was added featuring a lowercase d and b configured to look like a snakes head, the team also kept the D logo, but was slightly altered and put on an all red cap to be used as their game cap. They also kept the A logo with the new colors applied to it, a similar color scheme is currently used by the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League. The primary television play-by-play voice for the teams first nine seasons of play was Thom Brennaman, Brennaman was the TV announcer for the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds before being hired by Diamondbacks founder Jerry Colangelo in 1996, two years before the team would begin play. In October 2006, Brennaman left the Diamondbacks to call games with his father for the Reds beginning in 2007, the English language flagship radio station is KTAR. Jeff Munn is a backup radio announcer, he served as the regular public address announcer at Chase Field in the early days of the franchise. He is well-known to many Phoenix area sports fans, having served as the public address announcer for the Suns at America West Arena in the 1990s. He is also the radio voice for ASU womens basketball
5.
Chicago White Sox
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The Chicago White Sox is an American professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball as a club of the American League Central division. The White Sox play their games at Guaranteed Rate Field. They are one of two league clubs in Chicago, the other is the Chicago Cubs, who are a member of the National League Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf. One of the American Leagues eight charter franchises, the Chicago team was established as a major baseball club in 1900. The club was called the Chicago White Stockings, but this was soon shortened to Chicago White Sox. The team played games at South Side Park before, in 1910. The White Sox won the 1906 World Series with a team dubbed the Hitless Wonders, and the 1917 World Series led by Eddie Cicotte, Eddie Collins. The 1919 World Series was marred by the Black Sox Scandal, in response, Major League Baseballs new Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis banned the players from Major League Baseball for life. In 1959, led by Early Wynn, Nellie Fox, Luis Aparicio and manager Al Lopez and they won the AL pennant in 2005, and went on to win the World Series. The White Sox originated as the Sioux City Cornhuskers of the Western League, in 1894, Charles Comiskey bought the Cornhuskers and moved them to St. Paul, Minnesota, where they became the St. Paul Saints. In 1901, the Western League broke the National Agreement and became the new major league American League, the very first season in the American League ended with a White Stockings championship. However, that would be the end of the season as the World Series did not begin until 1903, the franchise, now known as the Chicago White Sox, made its first World Series appearance in 1906, beating the crosstown Cubs in six games. The White Sox would win a pennant and second World Series in 1917, beating the New York Giants in six games with help from stars Eddie Cicotte. The Sox were heavily favored in the 1919 World Series, huge bets on the Reds fueled speculation that the series had been fixed. This set the franchise back, as they did not win another pennant for 40 years. The White Sox did not finish in the half of the American League again until after club founder Charles Comiskey died and passed ownership of the club to his son
6.
Four Winds Field at Coveleski Stadium
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Four Winds Field at Coveleski Stadium is a baseball stadium in South Bend, Indiana, home to the South Bend Cubs, a minor league baseball team which plays in the Class-A Midwest League. The stadium opened in 1987, and its open concourse is considered the template for many minor league ball parks built in the 1990s. It has a capacity of 5,000 spectators and is undergoing renovations in time for the 2015 season. The park is named for Stan Coveleski, the hall of fame pitcher who lived in South Bend. It is colloquially known as The Cove, Coveleski Stadium is located on South Street in downtown South Bend. Stanley Coveleski Regional Stadium was built in 1987 for $11 million under the leadership of then-Mayor Roger O. Parent, the facility is owned by the City of South Bend and managed by the South Bend Parks & Recreation Department. Stanley Coveleski was a Hall of Fame pitcher who settled in South Bend after his baseball career came to an end in 1929. The stadium is now known as The Cove. The 5, 000-seat stadium is worth an estimated $35 million to $40 million today, the stadium is home to the South Bend Cubs, a Class A minor league baseball team affiliated with the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs, for years known as the Silver Hawks. Originally affiliated with the Chicago White Sox, the team switched to the Diamondbacks in 1997, called the grandfather of the modern ballpark by BallParkReviews. com, Coveleski Stadium provided a design template for a move in recent years to bring ballparks back into City downtowns. HOK Sport Inc. original architect of Coveleski Stadium, also designed Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, on July 4,1987, the stadium held a Homerun Derby to see who could make history by hitting the first home run out of the brand new park. Norm Bogunia, a 1985 graduate of South Bends Washington High School and he was joined by five other people who also hit home runs that day. LaSalle High School baseball coach Scott Sill ran the pitching machine, two days later, on July 6,1987, Joel Reinebold hit the first home run at the stadium during a regular game. A plaque hangs in the stadium with all the names of those who hit home runs, in March 2017, construction began of a $22 million apartment complex, The Ivy at Berlin Place. The four four-story buildings will house 121 one and two-bedroom apartments overlooking the ballpark, construction is expected to be completed by opening day of 2018. On September 5,2013, it was announced that the stadium would be renamed Four Winds Field at Coveleski Stadium as a result of a new partnership with Four Winds Casinos. The 1901 synagogue building of the Sons of Israel Synagogue is now used as the South Bend Cubs gift shop, during the off-season, it is available to be used for weddings, bar mitzvahs, and other events
7.
United States
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Forty-eight of the fifty states and the federal district are contiguous and located in North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east, the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U. S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean, the geography, climate and wildlife of the country are extremely diverse. At 3.8 million square miles and with over 324 million people, the United States is the worlds third- or fourth-largest country by area, third-largest by land area. It is one of the worlds most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, paleo-Indians migrated from Asia to the North American mainland at least 15,000 years ago. European colonization began in the 16th century, the United States emerged from 13 British colonies along the East Coast. Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the following the Seven Years War led to the American Revolution. On July 4,1776, during the course of the American Revolutionary War, the war ended in 1783 with recognition of the independence of the United States by Great Britain, representing the first successful war of independence against a European power. The current constitution was adopted in 1788, after the Articles of Confederation, the first ten amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and designed to guarantee many fundamental civil liberties. During the second half of the 19th century, the American Civil War led to the end of slavery in the country. By the end of century, the United States extended into the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish–American War and World War I confirmed the status as a global military power. The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the United States as the sole superpower. The U. S. is a member of the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States. The United States is a developed country, with the worlds largest economy by nominal GDP. It ranks highly in several measures of performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP. While the U. S. economy is considered post-industrial, characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge economy, the United States is a prominent political and cultural force internationally, and a leader in scientific research and technological innovations. In 1507, the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller produced a map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere America after the Italian explorer and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci
8.
Minor League Baseball
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All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses. Most are members of the organization known as Minor League Baseball. Several leagues, known as independent baseball leagues, do not have any links to Major League Baseball. Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball teams may enter into a PDC for a two- or four-year term. At the expiration of a PDC term, teams may renew their affiliation, or sign new PDCs with different clubs, though many relationships are renewed and endure for extended time periods. Minor League teams that are owned directly by the major league club do not have PDCs with each other and are not part of the reaffiliation shuffles that occur every other year, several more independent leagues operate in the United States and Canada. The earliest professional baseball association, the National Association of 1871 to 1875 and this system proved unworkable, however, as there was no way to ensure competitive balance, and financially unsound clubs often failed in midseason. This problem was solved in 1876 with the formation of the National League, with a membership which excluded less competitive. Professional clubs outside the National League responded by forming regional associations of their own, there was a series of ad hoc groupings, such as the New England Association of 1877 and the Eastern Championship Association of 1881. These were loose groups of independent clubs which agreed to play a series of games for a championship pennant, the first minor league is traditionally considered to be the Northwestern League of 1883 to 1884. Unlike the earlier minor associations, it was conceived as a permanent organization and it also, along with the National League and the American Association, was a party to the National Agreement of 1883. Included in this was the agreement to respect the reserve lists of clubs in each league, teams in the National League and the American Association could only reserve players who had been paid at least $1000. Northwest League teams could reserve players paid merely $750, implicitly establishing the division into major and minor leagues, over the next two decades, more minor leagues signed various versions of the National Agreement. Eventually, the minor leagues joined together to negotiate jointly, in the late 1890s, the Western League run by the fiery Ban Johnson decided to challenge the National Leagues position. Representatives of the different minor leagues met at the Leland Hotel in Chicago on September 5,1901, in response to the National–American battle, they agreed to form the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, called the NAPBL, or NA for short. The purpose of the NA at the time was to maintain the independence of the leagues involved, several did not sign the agreement and continued to work independently. Powers was made the first president of the NAPBL, whose offices were established in Auburn, in 1903, the conflict between the American and National Leagues ended in the National Agreement of 1903. The NAPBL became involved in the stages of the negotiations to develop rules for the acquisition of players from their leagues by the National
9.
Studebaker Silver Hawk
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The Studebaker Silver Hawk was an automobile produced between 1957 and 1959 by the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana. The Hawk was also produced in 1956, there were four versions, pillared Flight Hawk and Power Hawk, and hardtop Sky Hawk and Golden Hawk. The Silver Hawk model was not produced in 1956, the first year of the Hawks, the same basic car was produced for two more years as simply the Studebaker Hawk, since from 1959 onward no other Hawk models were being sold. The Silver Hawk was the replacement for the two models in the four-model Hawk range in 1956, the Flight Hawk which carried the Champion 185 cu. in. Six-cylinder 101 hp powerplant and the Power Hawk with the Commanders 259 in³ V8, the Commander V8 was not offered in U. S. models, it was, however, the largest engine available in most overseas markets. In appearance, the Silver Hawk was somewhat plainer in appearance than the Golden Hawk, some dealers painted the fin only, and sometimes the deck lid recess and or the left and right side grills were painted in a contrasting Studebaker color. These usually matched the interior, some were Blue, Gold, for 1959, the Silver Hawk became the only Hawk model in production, largely because Studebaker dealers wanted a glamorous flagship model as a dealership draw. Those customers would more than likely walk out with Studebakers last-ditch hope, in fact, the Silver Hawk was the only non-Lark model kept. Changes for 1959 included new tailfins, with the Silver Hawk script moved to the fins instead of on the trunk lid, two-tone paint was discontinued for all U. S. orders, though it was still available for export. Under the hood, buyers could choose the newly-shrunken 90 HP169.6 cu. in, the 289 was no longer available. The 1959 model year was Studebakers first profitable year in six years, thanks mostly to the Lark, and the tide of sales lifted the Silver Hawk. For 1960, Studebaker dropped the Silver part of the name, largely unchanged externally from the 1959, internally, the major change was the return of the 289 cubic inch V8 last used in 1958. This was the engine available for U. S. orders in both 1960 and 1961, the last year of the finned Hawk. Some six-cylinder and 259 cu in V8 models were built for export markets, the 1961 models saw the limited return of a second paint color, beige, in a stripe along the base of the fin between the two lower moldings. The Hawk was replaced for 1962 by the stunningly-restyled Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk, Studebaker had a proven sales winner in the 1959 Lark, which was continued into 1960 with little change. With steel in short supply, the company chose to focus on building as many Larks as possible to ensure a supply for the companys dealers. This meant that Silver Hawk production for 1960, which had scheduled to begin in November or December 1959, was delayed. Unfortunately for Studebaker — but fortunately for Hawk buyers — sales of the Lark began to fall off in the months of 1959
10.
Brandon Webb
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Brandon Tyler Webb is an American former professional baseball player. A pitcher, Webb pitched in Major League Baseball for the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2003 through 2009, prior to playing professionally, Webb attended the University of Kentucky, where he played college baseball for the Kentucky Wildcats baseball team. Webb won the 2006 National League Cy Young Award and he is also a three-time MLB All-Star. A series of shoulder injuries sidelined him for much of 2009–2012 and after several aborted comeback attempts, Webb attended Paul G. Blazer High School in Ashland, Kentucky, and graduated in 1997. Webb attended the University of Kentucky, where he played for the Kentucky Wildcats baseball team, Webb was drafted by the Diamondbacks in the 8th round of the 2000 Major League Baseball draft. He made his first major appearance with the Diamondbacks on April 22,2003 against the Expos. Webb wound up finishing the season with 28 starts and a 10–9 record and he was honored with Baseball America Rookie of the Year Award and placed third in the Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award voting in the National League. Webb was made the #2 starter after the team traded Curt Schilling in the offseason and he finished the 2004 season with a 7–16 record, leading the league in losses, walks and wild pitches in a league high 35 starts. Through 35 starts, he had an ERA of 3.59 for the DBacks, in 2005, he posted a 14–12 record and an ERA of 3.54. He led the team in ERA, innings pitched and wild pitches, after the season, he signed a four-year contract extension worth a guaranteed $19.5 million and a team option for 2010. Through his first 13 starts of the 2006 season, Webb had a perfect 8–0 record, through that streak, he also had a 30 inning scoreless streak. He suffered his first losing effort of the season on June 10, an early contender to win the National League Cy Young Award, Webb pitched in the 2006 MLB All-Star Game, recording one hitless inning. Webb struggled in the half of the season in part due to elbow soreness. Webb did score a win in an emotional outing versus the San Diego Padres on August 28, the win came a day after close friend and former UK teammate Jon Hooker and his new bride were among the victims of the doomed Comair Flight 5191 leaving Lexington. Webb went on to finish the 2006 season with a record of 16–8 and a run average of 3.10. His 16 wins tied five other pitchers for the most victories in the National League, Webbs win total marked the lowest for a starting pitcher who won the Cy Young in a full season. His 3.10 ERA was the fourth best in the majors, as of the conclusion of his start on August 17,2007, Webb had logged an Arizona Diamondbacks franchise record with 42.0 scoreless innings including three straight complete game shutouts. This is the twelfth longest such streak in league history
11.
Justin Upton
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Justin Irvin Upton is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. He previously played for the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2007 to 2012, Atlanta Braves in 2013 and 2014 and he has been a teammate of his brother Melvin Upton, Jr. with both the Braves and the Padres. While primarily a right fielder throughout his career, Upton has since transitioned to left field for the Braves, Padres, Upton was selected first overall by the Diamondbacks in the 2005 MLB Draft out of high school and made his MLB debut with them in 2007. He has been selected to three All-Star teams and has won two Silver Slugger Awards, Justin and Melvin are the only brothers in Major League Baseball to ever be selected in the number one and two slots of any first round draft. Upton played baseball with his brother, Melvin Upton Jr. who is three years older, the Upton brothers competed on travel teams with Mark Reynolds, David Wright, and Ryan Zimmerman. Upton played against Cameron Maybin in Amateur Athletic Union play, Upton was an all-district shortstop for Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, and won the AFLAC National High School Player of the Year Award. The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Upton with the first overall selection in the 2005 MLB Draft, in his first professional season he played for the Class-A South Bend Silver Hawks. He began 2007 with the Class-A Advanced Visalia Oaks, but was promoted to the AA Mobile BayBears after hitting.341 with 5 home runs for the Oaks in April. On August 2,2007, Upton was called up to the big league team at the age of only 19, when he was called up, the Diamondbacks had star rookie Chris Young at center field, so Upton shifted to right. Upton recorded his first career major league hit and run scored on August 4,2007 and his first career RBI came the next day, and his first career home run two days after that. He almost became the youngest player ever to hit for the cycle on that day and he finished his rookie campaign with 2 home runs,11 RBIs,2 stolen bases, and a.221 batting average. Despite a relatively disappointing start to his career, he broke out in the 2007 post-season, leading the Diamondbacks to a sweep of the Chicago Cubs. He finished the 2007 post-season with an impressive.357 batting average, a double, a triple, a base. In 2008 spring training, Upton hit over.300 with three runs,12 RBIs, and four stolen bases, earning the starting right field job over Jeff Salazar. Manager Bob Melvin said that Upton has a high ceiling. Upton began the season and held the current title of being the youngest active major leaguer second to Clayton Kershaw as of July 31,2008, Upton collected his first big hit of the 2008 major league season on April 3. In the sixth inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds and it was Arizonas only hit of the contest. The next night, he went 3 for 5 against the Colorado Rockies in their home opener with his home run of the season
12.
Stan Coveleski
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Stanley Anthony Coveleski was an American Major League Baseball pitcher during the 1910s and 1920s who primarily threw the spitball. In 14 seasons in the American League, Coveleski pitched for the Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators and New York Yankees. In 450 career games, Coveleski pitched 3,082 innings and posted a record of 215–142, with 224 complete games,38 shutouts. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969, born in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, Coveleski began playing professional baseball in 1908, following in the footsteps of his brother, Harry Coveleski. He played mostly for the Lancaster Red Roses until he made his league debut with the Athletics in 1912. Following three more seasons in the leagues, he stayed in the major leagues after signing with the Indians in 1916. During his nine seasons with the Indians, his accomplishments included winning three games during the 1920 World Series, after his time with the Indians ended, Coveleski spent three seasons with the Senators and one with the Yankees before retiring after the 1928 season. He retired to South Bend, Indiana, where he died in 1984, a starting pitcher, Coveleski specialized in throwing the spitball, a pitch where the ball is altered with a foreign substance such as chewing tobacco. It was legal when his career began and outlawed in 1920, stanislaus Anthony Kowalewski was the youngest of five baseball-playing brothers in the coal-mining community of Shamokin, Pennsylvania. His oldest brother Jacob died serving in the Spanish–American War, his other brothers Frank and John also played baseball and his older brother, Harry Coveleski, later won 20 games in a season on three occasions during his major league career. Like many his age in the Shamokin area, Coveleski began work as a boy at a local colliery at the age of 12. In return for 72 hours of labor per week, Coveleski received $3.75, there was nothing strange in those days about a twelve-year-old Polish kid working in the mines for 72 hours a week at a nickel an hour, he later recalled. What was strange is that I ever got out of there, Coveleski was rarely able to play baseball as a child due to his work schedule. Nevertheless, he worked on his skills during the evenings. When he was 18 years old, Coveleskis abilities caught the attention of the local ball club. When it came to throwing a baseball, why it was easy to pitch, after all, the plates a lot bigger than a tin can to throw at. His baseball career in Shamokin was short-lived, after five games, Coveleski relocated to Lancaster, Coveleski signed his first professional contract in 1909 with the minor league Lancaster Red Roses, a club affiliated with the Tri-State League. During his first trip to Lancaster, he recalled that it was the first time I ever rode on a train, in 272 innings of work his first season, Coveleski had a 23–11 win-loss record with an earned run average of 1.95
13.
Marion, Illinois
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Marion is a city in and the county seat of Williamson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 17,193 at the 2010 census and it is part of a dispersed urban area that developed out of the early 20th Century coal fields. Today Marion serves as the largest retail center in Southern Illinois with its central location along Interstate 57. The city is part of the unofficial Metro Lakeland area. The site sat in an open grassland known as Poor Prairie. For a name, they chose Marion to honor American Revolutionary War hero General Francis Swamp Fox Marion, william and Bethany Benson had entered the quarter-quarter section of land that contained the future site of Marion just the previous year on September 8,1838. He had lived in the county at least since 1817, and was the first settler to enter land in Poor Prairie, at the time the commissioners platted Marion, he had a small crop of corn and wheat growing over what became the public square. The Williamson County Court organized in Marion on October 7,1839, overflow crowds had to use pumpkins for stools. The federal government established a post office at Marion on January 30,1840, on May 29,1982, one of the larger tornadoes in Illinois history, an F-4, hit the city of Marion, Illinois and Williamson County. Ten people died and 200 people were injured after this tornado ripped across a 17-mile stretch, the Shawnee Village apartment complex was destroyed, and the Marion Ford-Mercury dealership sustained heavy damage. This tornado caused between $85 million and $100 million in damages, a memorial to the ten people who perished that day was later erected on the Tower Square. According to the 2010 census, Marion has an area of 16.217 square miles. As of the census of 2010, there were 17,180 people, the population density was 1,278.3 people per square mile. There are 8,273 housing units at a density of 589.0 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 87. 8% White,7. 4% African American,0. 4% Native American,1. 5% Asian,0. 00% Pacific Islander,2. 0% from other races, and 2. 0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2. 6% of the population,33. 1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16. 4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the family size was 2.86. In the city, the population was out with 22. 8% under the age of 18,8. 3% from 18 to 24,26. 5% from 25 to 44,22. 5% from 45 to 64
14.
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
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The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are a minor league baseball team of the Midwest League, and the Class A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The team is located in Grand Chute, Wisconsin, just outside of Appleton, and are named for the timber rattlesnake, the team plays its home games at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium, which opened in 1995 and seats 5,170 fans. The Timber Rattlers have won nine championships, most recently in 2012. World Series-winning Managers Earl Weaver and Jack McKeon were Managers at Appleton, Baseball Hall of Fame members Pat Gillick, Earl Weaver, and Goose Gossage played for Appleton. Five future Cy Young Award winners and three Most Valuable Player recipients were on Appleton/Wisconsin rosters, the Papermakers had played in the Wisconsin–Illinois League before starting the franchise again decades later in the Wisconsin State League. The Foxes joined the Midwest League in 1962 after the Three-I League disbanded, with the move, the Foxes took the new name of Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in an effort to attract fans outside the immediate Appleton/Fox Cities area. The franchise set its attendance record of 253,240 in 2009. The Timber Rattlers are a club governed by Appleton Baseball Club. Appleton Baseball Club has a 12-person board of directors and it has 168 active shareholders and 347 shares as of September 2008. Appleton, Wisconsin in the Midwest League, Appleton Baseball Hall of Fame inductees. Official Timber Rattlers website Fox Cities Stadium Photos, http, //digitalballparks. com/Midwest/FoxCities. html Goodland Field Photos, http, //www. digitalballparks. com/Midwest/Goodland. html
15.
Governor of Indiana
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The Governor of Indiana is the chief executive of the state of Indiana. The governor is elected to a term, and responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the functions of many agencies of the Indiana state government. The governor also shares power with other executive officers, who manage other state government agencies. The governor works out of the Indiana Statehouse and holds official functions at the Indiana Governors Residence in the capital of Indianapolis. The 51st and current governor is Republican Eric Holcomb, the position of governor has developed over the course of two centuries. The governors powers are established in Article V of the Constitution of Indiana, constitutionally, the governor has very limited executive authority to manage the government of the state, most exercisable powers over state agencies are held by independent elected cabinet heads. The governor works in concert with the legislature and the state supreme court to govern the state. The governor has the power to veto legislation passed by the General Assembly, if vetoed, a bill is returned to the General Assembly for reconsideration. Unlike other states, most of which require a supermajority to override a veto. One of the governors most important political powers is the ability to call a session of the General Assembly. During a two-year period, the assembly can meet on its own for no more than 91 days, and this can give the governor considerable influence in the body which will often compromise on issues with him or her in exchange for a special legislative session. Among his other powers, the governor can call out the defense force or the Indiana National Guard in times of emergency or disaster. The governor is also charged with the enforcement of all the states laws, the governor also has the ability to grant a pardon or commutation of sentence of any person convicted of a crime in the state, except in cases of treason or impeachment. In addition to powers, governors also have a considerable degree of statutory authority. Most of the authority exercised by governors on a basis is derived from statute. The governor also can influence the court system through the appointment of judges. Justices of the peace and superior courts judges are elected in Indiana, if a vacancy occurs the governor may make an appointment, the authority to make such appointments gives the governor considerable sway in setting the makeup of the judiciary. The annual salary of the governor of Indiana is US$111,688, additionally, he receives $6,000 annually for discretionary spending and expenses
16.
Joe E. Kernan
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Joseph Eugene Joe Kernan is an American businesman and former politician who served as the 48th Governor of Indiana from 2003 to 2005. A member of the Democratic Party, Kernan previously served as Mayor of South Bend, Indiana and he became Governor on September 13,2003, upon the death of Governor Frank OBannon. He lost an election to serve a term as Governor to former Office of Management. Kernan returned to South Bend and retired from politics, Joe Kernan was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1946. He graduated from St. Josephs High School in South Bend and he graduated in 1968 with a degree in Government from the University of Notre Dame, where he was a resident of Stanford Hall. Kernan played baseball at Notre Dame in 1967 and 1968, Kernan entered the United States Navy in 1969 and served as a Naval Flight Officer aboard the carrier USS Kitty Hawk. He was held as a prisoner of war for 11 months, Kernan was repatriated in 1973 and continued on active duty with the Navy until December 1974. Kernan received the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Purple Hearts and the Navy Commendation Medal, Kernan was elected as Mayor of South Bend in 1987,1991, and 1995. In 1996, Kernan was elected as Indianas Lieutenant Governor, as Lieutenant Governor, Kernan served as the President of the Indiana Senate, the Director of the Indiana Department of Commerce, and as the Commissioner of Agriculture. Originally, Kernan declined to seek the governorship during the 2004 election and he was defeated by Mitch Daniels for a full four-year term in 2004. Kernan returned to life in January 2005 and became president of the South Bend Silver Hawks baseball club. In July 2007, Kernan and Indiana Chief Justice Randall Shepard were appointed by Daniels to co-chair the Indiana Commission on Local Government Reform, in 1974 he married his wife, Maggie
17.
Andrew T. Berlin
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Berlin is an American businessman, attorney, and philanthropist living in Chicago, Illinois. In October 2014, the company was valued at $1.4 billion and his management of Berlin Packaging has been used as a case study in The Human Equation by Jeffrey Pfeffer. Berlin was born in Chicago, Illinois, at Loyola, Berlin served as Managing Editor of the Law Review. At the time, the company had $69 million in annual sales, in November 2011, Berlin announced he had reached an agreement to purchase the South Bend Silver Hawks. He signed a 20-year cumulative lease agreement with the city of South Bend for the use of Stanley Coveleski Regional Stadium, the sale was approved by the Midwest League, Minor League and Major League Baseball and the Office of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball in early January 2012. On January 12,2012, the financial and the transactions were completed. In September 2014, the team ended a 17-year affiliation with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the team changed its name to the South Bend Cubs. The player-development agreement was extended through the 2020 season. In 2015, the South Bend Cubs won the John H. Johnson Presidents Award, ballpark Digest named the South Bend Cubs its Team of the Year in 2015. Each season under Berlins ownership has seen a new record set. Berlin is a significant investor in the Chicago Cubs, Berlin has served on boards of directors, including Hawk Corporation, Channel Products, Image Skincare, and Elkay Manufacturing. Berlin donates to many organizations, including the NorthShore University HealthSystem Foundation, the Maxwell School of Syracuse University, and he serves on the Advisory Board of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. The endowment gift was made by the Andrew Berlin Family National Security Research Fund, Berlin started the Glencoe School Safety Project with the goal to add School Resource Officers to enhance safety at Glencoe, IL, schools. The Glencoe School Board also created a Safety and Security Committee at Berlins request, Berlin was involved in raising money for the Illinois State Police Memorial. As part of this, he funded a film to honor Illinois State Troopers who died in the line of duty since 1922, the film won a 2015 Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Public Affairs/Current Affairs Programming
18.
Chicago Cubs minor league players
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Below is a partial list of minor league baseball players in the Chicago Cubs system, Andury Junior Acevedo is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher in the Chicago Cubs organization. Acevedo signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees as a shortstop. They converted him into a pitcher in 2012 and he became a free agent after the 2015 season. The Cubs signed him to a league contract, adding him to their 40-man roster to protect him from being eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 draft. Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference Corey William Black is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Chicago Cubs organization, Black attended San Diego State University before transferring to Faulkner University. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the round of the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his debut for the Gulf Coast Yankees. He also pitched for the Staten Island Yankees and Charleston RiverDogs that season, overall, he started 12 games, going 2–2 with a 3.08 earned run average and 50 strikeouts in 52 2⁄3 innings. Black started 2013 with the Tampa Yankees, on July 26 he was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Alfonso Soriano. He was assigned to the Daytona Cubs, in 24 starts, he went 7–8 with a 3.93 ERA and 116 strikeouts over 107 2⁄3 innings. He spent both the 2014 and 2015 seasons with the Tennessee Smokies, in 2016, Black was then promoted to the Iowa Cubs, where he posted an 0-3 record with a 3.15 ERA. Caratini was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the round of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft out of Miami Dade College. He made his debut that season with the Danville Braves. After primarily playing third base his first season, Caratini played mostly as a catcher in 2014 and he started the season with the Rome Braves. On July 31, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Emilio Bonifacio, the Cubs sent him to the Kane County Cougars, where he finished the season. Caratini spent the 2015 season with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans where he batted.257 and he spent the 2016 season with the Tennessee Smokies, where be batted.291 with 6 homers and 47 RBIs. After the 2016 season, Caratini played for the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League and was added to the Cubs 40-man roster, career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference Trevor Blaine Clifton is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Chicago Cubs organization. Clifton attended Heritage High School in Maryville, Tennessee and he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 12th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft
19.
Paul McAnulty
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Paul Michael McAnulty is a former Major League Baseball infielder. He played college baseball at Long Beach State, McAnulty gained the attention of San Diego Padres GM Kevin Towers when he batted.344 for Portland in 2005, which led to his major league debut on June 22,2005. Drawing comparisons with former Padre and Phillie great John Kruk, he was used as a pinch hitter. On September 6,2006, he made an impression on Padres fans with a pinch hit. During the 2008 season, he had a stint where he was an outfielder on the depleted San Diego roster. On November 19,2008, he signed a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox, on July 24,2009, the Red Sox announced his release after only hitting.233 with Pawtucket. On August 10,2009, McAnulty signed a league contract with the Colorado Rockies. In November 2009, McAnutly filed for Free Agency, McAnulty joined the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organization in 2010, playing the majority of the year at their Triple-A club, the Salt Lake Bees. He received some playing time at the Major League level with the Angels and he started the 2011 season with the Salt Lake Bees, and on July 22,2012, he was sent to the Arkansas Travelers, the Angels Double-A club. Hitting coach for Burlington Bees, Class A minor league team for Los Angeles Angels for 2014 season. Co-hitting coach for AZL League Angels 2015 and 2016 seasons, career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference
20.
Dayton Dragons
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The Dayton Dragons are a Class A minor league baseball team playing in the Midwest League based in Dayton, Ohio. The Dragons are affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds and their home stadium is Fifth Third Field. In 2011, they broke the record for most consecutive sellouts by a sports team, selling out their 815th consecutive game. The Dragons came to Dayton in 2000 and they were previously a franchise based in Rockford, Illinois, and were called the Rockford Expos, Rockford Royals, Rockford Cubbies, and Rockford Reds. The teams home park is Fifth Third Field in Dayton, during its first season the Dragons set a class A baseball attendance record of 581,853. Dayton broke that record in 2003 when 590,382 fans—ranking seventh in all of minor league baseball—went through the turnstiles, the Dragons average 8,375 fans per game, or 116% of capacity. The Dragons have been the top Class A team in every year of their existence. On April 17,2007, the Dragons enjoyed their 500th consecutive sellout, on July 9,2011, the Dragons officially set a new record of 815 consecutive sellout games. The sellout streak is the longest across all sports in the US. On May 10,2014, the streak of consecutive sellouts reached 1,000 games, according to the official team website, every game in the teams 15-year existence has been a sellout. The Dragons consecutive game sell-out streak has continued through the 2016 season, the streak now stands at 1,188 consecutive sold-out games, an all-time record for sports in North America. In Summer of 2014 founding ownership group Mandalay Baseball Properties sold the team to Palisades Arcadia Baseball LLC, the team was voted as one of the top ten hottest tickets in all of professional sports by Sports Illustrated. The Dragons have led the Midwest League and all of Single A baseball in total attendance since 2011. On July 9,2011, they set the new record of the most consecutive sold out games in all of professional sports, as of the end of the 2016 season, the still-in-progress record stands at 1,188 straight games. In 2011, Ballpark Digest named the Dragons the Minor League Baseball Organization of the Year, in 2012, the Dragons were a finalist team for the Sports Business Journal Professional Sports Team of the Year. In 2016, Forbes listed the Dragons as the third-most valuable Minor League Baseball team with a value of $45 million, in 2012, the Dragons franchise was selected as the winner of the John H. Johnson Presidents Trophy. Only two other Midwest Leagues teams have received this award, site of the Midwest League All-Star Games in 2001 and 2013 Sixty-seven Dragons players have gone on to play in MLB since the teams move to Dayton in 2000. The following are players whose minor league career included playing for the Dayton Dragons
21.
Springfield (IL) Cardinals
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The Springfield Cardinals were a minor league baseball team located in Springfield, Illinois. The team played in the Midwest League from 1982 to 1993 and were an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, the team played in Lanphier Park on the northside of Springfield. Affectionately known as the Baby Birds, their rival was the Peoria Chiefs. The declining condition of Lanphier Park, last renovated in 1978, led to the relocation of the franchise to Madison, Wisconsin for the 1994 season, the Hatters, in turn, moved to Battle Creek, Michigan to become the Michigan Battle Cats. While playing in Battle Creek, the became the Battle Creek Yankees. The Cardinals were generally successful, finishing with a record in nine of their 12 seasons. Their overall record during their 12 seasons in Springfield was 917–743, the team also helped develop more than 50 players who advanced to Major League Baseball. Among the young Springfield players who went on to major league careers were Bernard Gilkey, Ray Lankford, Jeff Fassero, Dmitri Young. Minor league baseball has a history in Springfield, Illinois. Springfield fielded a team in the 1883 Northwestern League, which has traditionally been considered the first minor league. The city was represented in the Central Interstate League in 1889, the Western Association in 1895, the Central League in 1900. Their longest minor league affiliation, however, was with the Three-I League, in which Springfield competed from 1903 to 1914, from 1925 to 1932, in 1935, from 1938 to 1942, and from 1946 to 1949. In 1948, Springfield hosted a team in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League and they finished the season in last place with a 41–84 record. Springfield experienced its highest level of minor league baseball during 1978–1981, the Redbirds, a St. Louis Cardinals affiliate, won the playoff for the league championship in 1980. The Redbirds move to Louisville in 1982 was the impetus for the Springfield Cardinals entering the Midwest League as a franchise that season. When the Cardinals moved to Madison in 1994, the Midwest Leagues Waterloo Diamonds moved to Springfield, the Sultans were affiliated with the San Diego Padres in 1994 and with the Kansas City Royals in 1995. In 1995 the Sultans moved to Lansing, Michigan, where became the Lansing Lugnuts. After the departure of the Sultans, independent league baseball came to Springfield with the Springfield Capitals of the Frontier League, since 2008, baseball is represented in Springfield by the amateur Springfield Sliders of the wood-bat Prospect League
22.
Madison Muskies
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The Madison Muskies were a Class A minor league baseball team that played in the Midwest League from 1982 to 1993 in Madison, Wisconsin. They were an affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, the team, which was started by Madison entrepreneur Ed Janus, started out playing at Breese Stevens Field and later moved to Warner Park. The Muskies original manager, Brad Fischer, later became the base coach for the Milwaukee Brewers. The debut Muskies team had a league-best 87-52 record,6.5 games ahead of the Appleton Foxes in the North Division, however, romano, a Muskies outfielder, was the Midwest League Most Valuable Player in 1982. In 1991, they made their second and last championship appearance, the Muskies played their last home game in Madison against the Foxes in 1993. In a driving rainstorm, with Appleton leading 5-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning, in 1993, the team relocated to Comstock Park, Michigan. It was renamed the West Michigan Whitecaps and has become an affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They finished their 12-year run in Madison with an 860-786 record.522 winning percentage, including three division titles and four second-place finishes
23.
Quad Cities River Bandits
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The Quad Cities River Bandits are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Houston Astros, that plays in the Midwest League. Its home games are played at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport, Iowa, the address is 209 S. Gaines Street. Tracing back to 1879, Quad City professional baseball has a history that includes teams in Davenport, Moline. The 1879 Davenport Brown Stockings played one season in the Northwestern League beginning a history in the area. Davenport teams with catchy names played before the turn of the 20th century in a various leagues, in 1901, play began in the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League with teams Davenport and Rock Island as charter members. The Davenport team set the foundation of the franchise that exists today, the Making up the rest of the 1901 Three-I League teams were, Terre Haute, Bloomington, Cedar Rapids, Rockford, Evansville and Decatur. The Davenport team continued to change their name frequently in the years of their Three-I play, River Rats, Riversides, Knickerbockers, Prodigals. Davenport won their first Three-I Championship in 1914, with the Quad Cities area was able to support two teams in this era, Davenport and the Rock Island Islanders, a third Quad City team was added In July,1914. Moline gained a franchise, that year when the Danville Speakers relocated to Moline, the Plowboys would win Three-I Championships in 1915,1921 and 1937. The Moline Plowboys were Class D affiliates of the Detroit Tigers, St Louis Browns, Chicago Cubs, from 1920-22 the Plowboys were managed by player-manager Earle Mack, son of Connie Mack. The Rock Island slanders were Class D affiliates of the St. Louis Browns, in 1922, Rock Island left the Three-I to join the Mississippi Valley League, followed by Moline a year later. Unable to sustain their teams, Rock Islands final season of play was 1937, the Moline franchise played home games at Browning Field and Rock Island played at Douglas Park. In an exhibition on April 12,1920 The Plowboys defeated the Chicago White Sox 7-1 in the first major-league game played at Browning, both Douglas Park and Browning Field are still in existence today. On May 26,1931, Davenport began play in the newly built Municipal Stadium, on the Muny field, Rock Island and Davenport played each other in the championship series in 1932 and 1933. Rock Island won the 32 series and the title in six games, Davenport rebounded to win the MVL title in 1933. The 1933 team was led by Ed Halls 151 RBI and Como Cotelles.407 average, the Davenport Blue Sox played in the Western League from 1934–1937 as a Class A affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers. The 1936 team continued the decade and claimed the Western League championship. The 1937 team was managed by player-manager John Eagle Beak Fitzpatrick and this is noteworthy as Fitzpatrick returned 25 years later to manage the Angels in 1962 After a nine season baseball hiatus during World War II, baseball returned in 1946
24.
Clinton LumberKings
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The Clinton LumberKings are a Midwest League Class A minor league baseball team based in Clinton, Iowa, USA, affiliated with the Seattle Mariners. After beginning play in 1895, Clinton had sporadic teams in various leagues over the few decades, as the Great Depression, World War I. However, Clinton joined the Midwest League in 1956 and is now the oldest franchise in the league, since 2009, they have been an affiliate of the Mariners. Aside from its time as the C-Sox and the Pilots, the team used the parent major league teams nickname before adopting the LumberKings name for the 1994 season. The 2010 LumberKings season is the subject of the 2013 book Class A, in 2016, led by first year manager Mitch Canham, the LumberKings won 86 games to set the mark for most in a regular season by any team in Clinton franchise history. The squad went on to sweep the Peoria Chiefs in the first round of the playoffs defeating the Cedar Rapids Kernels in a thrilling three game series. Game three of the Western Division final ended with a Ricky Eusebio walk off hit to win 1-0 in extra innings, the LumberKings would fall, however, in the Midwest League Championship in four games to the Great Lakes Loons. The LumberKings played host to Camanche High School Football in the inaugural LumberBowl, Camanche hosted Williamsburg High School in the game on September 16,2016. The Raiders of Williamsburg defeated the Indians 55-7, the home park for the LumberKings is Ashford University Field in Clinton, Iowa. The stadium was built in 1937 as a Works Administration Project and named Riverview Stadium and it was renamed Alliant Energy Field in 2002 and renovated in 2005–2006 to a capacity of 4,000. It was renamed to Ashford University Field in 2011, the Dimensions are, LF –330, CF –401, RF –325. The list includes the following no-hitters, Clinton LumberKings web site
25.
Kane County Cougars
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The Kane County Cougars are a Class A Minor League Baseball team, affiliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks, that plays in the Midwest League. Their home games are played at Northwestern Medicine Field in Geneva, Illinois, the Midwest League came to Kane County in 1991 when the Wausau Timbers relocated to Geneva, IL. The Wausau Midwest League franchise was based in Decatur, Illinois. The team has known as the Cougars since moving to Kane County. As a Marlins farm team some key contributors to the 2003 World Series championship team played in Kane County on their way to the big leagues. Miguel Cabrera has had a career and 2003 Series MVP Josh Beckett played for the Cougars in 2000, while Dontrelle Willis had the leagues best winning percentage. The Cougars play their games at Northwestern Medicine Field, built in 1991. The franchise attendance record of 523,222 was set in 2001, the Cougars are perennially among the league leaders in attendance. On July 20,2013 the Cougars became the first Class A team to attract 10 million fans, nancy Faust, after 40 years with the Chicago White Sox, was the stadium organist for selected Cougar home games until her retirement after the 2015 season. The teams mascots are Ozzie T. Cougar and his sister Annie T. Cougar, other franchise alumni with the Decatur Commodores and the Wausau Timbers had MLB careers. Many future Major Leaguers have played with the Cougars before playing in the Majors, some notable Cougars alumni include, Kane County Cougars web site The Baseball Cube - Kane County Cougars Historical Statistics
26.
Lansing Lugnuts
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The Lansing Lugnuts are a Class-A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays, that plays in the Midwest League. The Midwest League came to Lansing, Michigan after owners Tom Dickson, mayor David Hollister, and the City Council worked to attract the owners and build the stadium for downtown economic development. The team began playing in downtown Lansing in 1996, the franchise began as the Lafayette Red Sox in Lafayette, Indiana, in 1955, after two seasons it became the Waterloo Hawks, moving to Waterloo, Iowa, where it stayed for 36 seasons. Before the 1994 season it moved to Springfield, Illinois, the Lugnuts were then an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs from 1999 through 2004 before joining the Jays farm system for the 2005 season. In September 2014, the Jays extended their agreement with the Lugnuts through the 2016 season, in October 2016, their player development contract was extended through the 2018 season. The team plays at Cooley Law School Stadium, which opened in 1996, the new name comes from a naming rights deal with Thomas M. Cooley Law School, based in Lansing and the largest law school in the United States. Cooley Law School Stadium is also the home of Jackson Field, named after Jackson Life Insurance, the stadium seats over 10,000 fans and is one of the most handicapped accessible stadiums in the country. The franchise national attendance record of 538,326 was set during its inaugural year and they won the Midwest League Championship in 1997 and 2003. The Lugnuts have their own song which plays immediately after the national anthem for every home game accompanied by their mascot. From 2007–present the Lansing Lugnuts have participated in an exhibition with nearby Michigan State University which draws a crowd of students to the event. The overall record and attendance for each game is as follows, Jesse Goldberg-Strassler broadcasts Lugnuts home, WVFN previously aired Lugnuts games from 2001-2003. Lugnuts games also aired on WJIM-AM from 1996–2000 and WQTX-FM from 2004-2016, several games per season aired on WLNS-TV from 1996 through 2001. From 2002 to 2009, one game aired each season on WILX-TV, erik Doc Love serves as the PA announcer at Cooley Law School Stadium. The following are players in Major League Baseball who played, at one time and this partial list includes players making injury-comeback starts as well as those that developed in Lansing
27.
Fort Wayne TinCaps
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The Fort Wayne TinCaps are a Class A Minor League Baseball team based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, who are affiliated with the San Diego Padres, and play in the Midwest League. They won their first Midwest League Championship in 2009 and they are the oldest franchise in the Midwest League. The Midwest League came to Fort Wayne in 1993, the franchise is the oldest in the Midwest League and dates back to the leagues beginning as the Illinois State League, starting in 1947 in Mattoon, Illinois as the Mattoon Indians. In 1958 the team moved to Keokuk, Iowa, where it spent five seasons as the Keokuk Cardinals, it was based in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin and Kenosha. The team was a Minnesota Twins farm team before they affiliated with the Padres in 1999, when the team moved to Fort Wayne in 1993, it adopted a new name, the Wizards. The name TinCaps was chosen following the 2008 season, alluding to John Chapman, the Tin Cap refers to a fictionalized depiction of John Chapman wearing a cooking pot as a hat in the 1948 Walt Disney movie Johnny Appleseed, though this depiction has been disputed by historians. Chapman spent his years in Fort Wayne and is buried in the city. The teams home park was Memorial Stadium, which opened in 1993, as part of the Harrison Square revitalization project, Parkview Field became the official home of the TinCaps at the start of the 2009 season. To coincide with the new ballpark, the team held a contest to determine a new name for the Wizards once that new ballpark opened, the mascot of the TinCaps is Johnny. Previously, for the Wizards, it was Dinger the Dragon and prior to that, the team won the Midwest League 2009 championship by sweeping the Burlington Bees, 3–0. The first two games were played at Parkview Field and the final, decisive game was played in Burlington, the team and its staff were honored at Parkview Field in a special victory rally on September 18,2009. In addition to winning a franchise record-setting 94 games in their new home, fans shattered the previous record for the season. The TinCaps also clinched spots in each of the following two seasons. 2009 – Midwest League championship 2009 – MiLBY Awards Overall Team of the Year On August 24,2008, The Journal Gazette and the franchise selected the all-time Wizards team members
28.
West Michigan Whitecaps
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The West Michigan Whitecaps are a Class A Minor League Baseball team, affiliated with the Detroit Tigers, that plays in the Midwest League. Their home games are played in Comstock Park, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids, the Midwest League came to the Grand Rapids area in 1994 upon the arrival of the former Madison Muskies. The Whitecaps were brought to West Michigan by local businessmen Lew Chamberlin, the Whitecaps were affiliated with the Oakland Athletics before they joined the Tigers farm system in 1997. Their home ballpark is Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park, before the 2002 season it was known as Old Kent Park, the name was changed when the parks title sponsor, Old Kent Bank, was purchased by Fifth Third Bank. Fifth Third also sponsors a ballpark in Dayton and one in Toledo, the teams official mascots are Crash the River Rascal, Roxy the River Rascal and Franky the Swimming Pig. The franchises attendance record of 547,401 was set in 1996, several league and team records were set during the 2006 season. The team posted the second best record in history, going 89–48. Michael Hollimon hit 3 home runs in one game, cameron Maybin hit 2 grand slams in the season. Michael Hernandez became the first person ever in the history of the Midwest League to hit for the cycle twice, the Whitecaps went on to defeat the Kane County Cougars in four games to win their fourth Midwest League Championship. It was so named in part for the sponsor and part for its 1.6666 pounds of meat. The Committee requested that the team put a label on the burger indicating that it was a dietary disaster, to date, more than 100 fans, or about a half of the people who have attempted the challenge, have conquered the burger and earned a commemorative T-shirt. On July 15,2009, Travel Channels Man v. Food, the episode aired on September 30,2009, wherein he successfully met the challenge. In 2012, The Whitecaps installed a new scoreboard and high resolution video display screen which was installed by TS Sports out of Dallas, Texas, on January 3,2014 a fire started in one of the suites. It spread and caused damage, close to one half of the suites. Thanks to extensive work, the park was restored and up, the Whitecaps have won the best-of-5 Midwest League championship six times in six opportunities. They defeated the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 1996, the Rockford Cubbies in 1998, the Kane County Cougars twice, the Beloit Snappers in 2007, West Michigan is 55–32 all time in playoff games. Since 1994, the Whitecaps have had nine managers, in 2007, former Tigers third baseman Tom Brookens became the fifth manager in the history of the Whitecaps. Benito Baez 1996 Jason Beverlin 1995 Emil Brown 1995 Ryan Christenson 1996 Steve Cox 1994 D. T. com Current roster The Surge, a fan publication
29.
Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
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The Southwest Michigan Devil Rays were an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the Midwest League in 2005 and 2006. The club began play in 1995 and was known as the Michigan Battle Cats. They played their games at C. O. Brown Stadium in Battle Creek, Michigan, following the 2006 season, the team moved to Midland, Michigan and became known as the Great Lakes Loons. A few days later, Battle Creek signed a player development contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. With the announcement, it was obvious that the name would need to change. In December, Fun Entertainment, LLC announced that it had purchased the Battle Creek team, in 2005, the Midwest League comprised 14 teams in two divisions. Its championship was determined by a three-round playoff among eight teams, including the first- and second-half leaders from each division, in the first half, the Devil Rays finished in fourth place of the six teams in the Eastern Division with a 33–36 record. In the second half they improved to place with a 39–31 records. They qualified for the playoffs, where they lost to the South Bend Silver Hawks, pitcher Andy Sonnanstine went 10–4 with a 2.55 earned run average and 103 strikeouts. In January 2006, the owners of the Devil Rays announced a deal to sell the team to an investment group in Midland Michigan, a foundation was formed in Midland to build a new stadium with 80 percent private funding. In the first half of 2006, the Devil Rays tied for place in the Eastern Division with a 32—37 record. In the second half they had last place to themselves, as their record fell to 30–40. Their strength was pitching, Jake McGee went 7–9 with a 2.96 earned run average and led the league in strikeouts with 171, reliever Greg Dupas 4–2 with a 1.93 earned run average and 59 strikeouts in 56 innings. McGee and Dupas were named to the leagues post-season all-star team
30.
Burlington Bees
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The Burlington Bees are a Class A minor league baseball team, based in Burlington, Iowa, that is an affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The franchise was founded in 1889, the Bees have played in the Midwest League since 1962. The team was first known as the Bees from 1924 to 1932, the Bees nickname was revived for the 1993 season and remains to this day. Their home since 1947 has been Community Field in Burlington, Iowa, baseball Hall of Fame members Billy Williams and Paul Molitor played for Burlington. The team began playing in Burlington in 1889 as the Burlington Babies, teams with various nicknames played until the Burlington Pathfinders were named in 1906, keeping the nickname until 1916 and playing in the Central Association. After a hiatus, the Burlington Bees played in the Mississippi Valley League from 1924 to 1932, the franchise then returned as the Burlington Indians in 1947, the same year that their current stadium, Community Field, opened. They won the championship in 1949, their third and final year in the Central Association. The team joined the Three-I League in 1952 as the Burlington Flints but was renamed the Bees in 1954, in 1958, Billy Williams played 61 games with the Bees before joining the Cubs. The Bees won the Midwest League championship in 1965,1977,1999,2008, catcher Herbert Whitney of the Burlington Pathfinders was killed by a pitched ball in 1906. On June 26 in Waterloo, Iowa, Whitney was beaned by a pitch from Fred Evans of the Waterloo Microbes and he suffered a skull fracture and died that day as a result. The team was first known as the Bees from 1924 to 1932, starting in 1982, they used the nickname of their major league parent club. The Bees nickname was revived for the 1993 season and remains, over 100 former Bees have played in the majors. In 2007, the Bees changed their logo and uniforms, since 2000, the Bees have had three affiliates, the Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Bees have called historic Community Field, nicknamed the hive, the original grandstand portion of the stadium was destroyed in a 1971 fire and rebuilt. The stadium was upgraded prior to the 2004 season, including a revamped concessions area, partial covering of the grandstand, improved sound system. Burlington, Iowa, in the Midwest League, http, //www. mwlguide. com/cities/burlington/index. html Official Burlington Bees website
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Great Lakes Loons
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The Great Lakes Loons, based in Midland, Michigan, is a Low Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team plays in the Midwest League and their home park is Dow Diamond, the Midwest League came to Battle Creek, in 1995 after the franchise formerly known as the Madison Hatters moved. The team was first known as the Battle Creek Golden Kazoos, due to a trademark dispute and general fan dissatisfaction with the name, the name was changed to the Michigan Battle Cats on March 9,1995. The team was affiliated with the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros, the team changed its name to the Battle Creek Yankees after becoming an affiliate of the New York Yankees in 2003. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays took over affiliation of the team in September 2004, in September 2006, the team announced its affiliation with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In January 2006, it was confirmed that the Devil Rays would be sold to the non-profit Michigan Baseball Foundation and relocated to Midland, the team has been renamed the Great Lakes Loons. The main reason the team relocated was because of the lack of interest from the Battle Creek community, reduced ticket prices also failed to pique the interest of local residents. Naming rights for the Loons stadium were purchased by Dow Chemical, the company named the stadium Dow Diamond. The name is a play on the logo, a red diamond. In November 2006, The Loons named former Detroit Tiger Lance Parrish as the teams first manager since the move to Michigans Tri-City Area, the first home game was played on April 13,2007 which resulted in a loss to the Lansing Lugnuts. The Loons hosted the 2008 Midwest League All-Star Game, in just their second season, on August 10,2013, the Loons hosted their biggest crowd ever at 6,189 people. Dow Diamond will host the All-Star Game again in 2017, Lou E. Loon is the team mascot and Ambassador of Fun for the team. Hes an energetic bird who loves to dance at home games, the kids play area at the diamond is named Lou E. s Lookout in his honor. He often leads fans in his signature cheer, the Funky Feather, rall E. Camel was introduced as the teams second mascot in April 2012. He is an honorary deputy ambassador of mischief and is an ostensibly goofy addition to the staff of the Great Lakes Loons, there have been 41 former Loons have made it to the major leagues. Left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw debuted in 2008 and is now in the Dodgers starting rotation, in 2010, a trio of past Great Lakes players made it to the show. Cleveland Indians catcher Carlos Santana, Orioles third baseman Josh Bell, dee Gordon won the 2015 National League Batting Title. Dinda, J. Battle Creek, Michigan, in the Midwest League, WLUN Great Lakes Loons official website
32.
Carlton Fisk
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Carlton Ernest Fisk, nicknamed Pudge and The Commander, is a retired Major League Baseball catcher and a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. During a 24-year baseball career, he played for both the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox and he was the first player to be unanimously voted American League Rookie of the Year. Fisk is best known for waving fair his game-winning home run in the 12th inning of Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, at the time of his retirement, Fisk held the record for most home runs all-time by a catcher with 351. He has held several age- or longevity-related records, including the record for most games played at the position of catcher with 2,226, Fisk still holds the American League record for most years served behind the plate. Fisk was voted to the All-Star team 11 times and won three Silver Slugger Awards which is awarded annually to the best offensive player at each position, Fisk was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2000. Fisk was born in Bellows Falls, Vermont, but according to Fisk and he grew up in Charlestown, across the Connecticut River from Bellows Falls, and attended Charlestown High School, where he played baseball and basketball. Because his family is from New Hampshire, he insisted that the organization remove from his plaque in the Red Sox Hall of Fame its characterization of him as a Vermont native, Fisk earned his longtime nickname, Pudge, because he was a chubby youngster. He played on the Charlestown High baseball team, appearing at third base, in 1965, he played for the Legion Post 37 team in Bellows Falls that had won the 1964 Vermont State Championship. His play in a 1965 high school tournament in the Boston Garden drew the attention of Boston Celtics owner Walter Brown. He was awarded a scholarship by the University of New Hampshire. He met his wife Linda Foust while at UNH, the freshman team that Fisk played for was undefeated for the 1965-66 season. In his sophomore year, the Red Sox drafted him in the first round of the January 1967 amateur draft, Fisk gave up his dreams of basketball glory. I could never be a power forward and play for the Celtics. Fisk joined the Army Reserve in 1967, as did other major leaguers. Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 1967 as the fourth pick of the draft. After some seasoning in the Boston minor league system, Fisk was back with the Red Sox in 1971, Fisk broke out for the Red Sox in his first full season in 1972. Fisk hit.293 with 22 home runs,28 doubles and he led the American League with nine triples, and was the last catcher to lead the league in this statistical category. As the result of his 1972 season, Fisk won both the AL Gold Glove at catcher and the AL Rookie of the Year awards
33.
George Bell (outfielder)
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Originally signed by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1978, Bell was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1980 Rule 5 draft. Bell was discovered in the Dominican Republic by Blue Jays scout Epy Guerrero and his first season as a regular was in 1984, when he teamed with Lloyd Moseby and Jesse Barfield to form a successful outfield for the Blue Jays. That outfield, along with solid starting pitching, led the Blue Jays to their first-ever American League East division title in 1985. Bell caught a fly ball, off the bat of Ron Hassey, for the final out in the 5–1 victory over the New York Yankees on October 5, despite Bells.321 average in the ALCS, they lost the series to the Kansas City Royals. His best season came in 1987 when the Blue Jays ultimately fell two short of the Detroit Tigers in the division race. Bell finished with a.308 BA.352 OBP.608 SLG,111 R,47 HR and 134 RBI and he was awarded the American League MVP award that year. Bell had a year in 1989, posting a.297 average,18 HR and 104 RBI. However, in the ALCS, he only hit.200 with one home run, Bell became a free agent after the 1990 season and signed with the Chicago Cubs. After one year with the Cubs, he was traded across town to the Chicago White Sox for Sammy Sosa and he played two years with the White Sox, recording 25 HR and 112 RBI in 1992. In 1993 his play declined, primarily due to a persistent knee injury and he was benched in the ALCS against his former team, the Blue Jays, and was released at the end of the season, after which he announced his retirement. Bell was a powerful free-swinger, usually posting a good slugging percentage and relatively low strikeout rate and he was known as a mediocre defensive player and played mainly as a designated hitter during the last two years of his career, despite his strong preference for playing in the field. After the fans booed him for committing an error, he told the media that the fans could kiss my purple butt, the next day a sign appeared in left field George, we are behind you all the way. Bells difficult relationship with the Toronto sports media was exacerbated by his reluctance to do interviews during his years with the Blue Jays. Towards the end of his time in Toronto, however, Bell warmed to the media, who in turn began to soften their often harsh criticisms of his play and attitude. On May 28,1989, while with the Blue Jays, Bell also homered in the first game at the Blue Jays new park, the SkyDome, on June 5, eight days later. He shares the honor with Tony Fernández, Joe Carter, Cito Gaston, Pat Gillick, Dave Stieb, Tom Cheek, Roberto Alomar, Carlos Delgado, in 2004, he was inducted into the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame. In 2013, he was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, Bell has eight children, four from his first marriage to Maria Peguero and four from his second marriage to Melida Bell. He is the brother of former major leaguer Juan Bell
34.
Chris Capuano
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Christopher Frank Capuano is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, Capuano graduated from St. Thomas School in West Springfield, Massachusetts. He was also a brother of the Xi Chapter of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, Capuano was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 8th round of the 1999 amateur draft. He played with South Bend Silver Hawks of the Class A Midwest League in 2000 and the El Paso Diablos of the Class AA Texas League in 2001. He began 2002 with the Tucson Sidewinders of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League and was 4–1 with a 2.72 ERA when, on May 17, he had Tommy John surgery and missed the rest of the season. He made his MLB debut with the Diamondbacks on May 4,2003 against the Atlanta Braves and he made his first start on May 17 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but only lasted 4 and 2⁄3 innings while allowing seven earned runs to take the loss. He returned to the minors after the appearance, where he made 23 starts for Tucson, with a 9–5 record and 3.34 ERA, earning him PCL All-Star honors. He returned to the Diamondbacks when rosters expanded in September and overall appeared in 9 games for them, with 5 starts, on December 1,2003, Capuano was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for Shane Nance, Richie Sexson and minor leaguer Noochie Varner. He made 17 starts for the Brewers in 2004 and was 6–8 with a 4.99 ERA and his 2005 season with the Brewers proved to be a break-out year as he posted 18 wins, the highest total for a Brewer since Ted Higuera in 1987. He also led the National League in quality starts during the 2005 season, Capuano, however, ended up with only 11 wins in 2006. Capuano started the 2007 season 5–0 and then the Milwaukee Brewers lost the next 22 games Capuano pitched in from May 12 to September 28, in June he hit his first major league home run against the Florida Marlins. Before the start of the 2008 season, he underwent Tommy John surgery for the time in his career. The Brewers non-tendered Capuano following the 2008 season, making him a free agent, before the start of the 2009 season Capuano had hoped to start live game pitching in mid May, but was limited to a handful of games in the Brewers rookie leagues. After becoming an agent at the end of the season. Capuano was invited to the Milwaukee Brewers spring training for the 2010 season and he would start the regular season with the Single A, Brevard County Manatees of the Florida State League. Capuano would only need 3 appearances with the Manatees before being promoted to the Triple A Nashville Sounds, in those 3 appearances, Capuano registered a 2–0 record with a 1.23 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 14 2⁄3 innings pitched. On May 28,2010, Capuano made his start for the Sounds. After the game, it was announced the Brewers had purchased his minor league contract, Capuano started the Brewers June 3,2010 game against the Florida Marlins in Miami, giving up three runs on seven hits in 3 2⁄3 innings while striking out four and walking one
35.
Mike Cameron
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Michael Terrance Cameron is an American former professional Major League Baseball outfielder. He played for the Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, in 2002, Cameron became the 13th player to hit four home runs in one game. He was also an All-Star in 2001 and won Gold Gloves in 2001,2003, Cameron is also the only MLB player to hit 2 home runs in the same game with 8 different teams. Cameron attended LaGrange High School in LaGrange, Georgia, Cameron was drafted out of high school by the Chicago White Sox in 1991. His major league debut took place on August 27,1995, in 1997 he won a starting job as the teams regular center fielder. He was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Paul Konerko in 1998, along with three other players he was traded to the Seattle Mariners for Ken Griffey, Jr. before the 2000 season. Cameron tied a league record on May 2,2002 when he hit four home runs in one game becoming only the 15th player in MLB history to do this. In his fifth at bat, he hit one to the warning track and he played in the All-Star Game in 2001 and reached the postseason twice and won the Gold Glove Award in 2001,2003, and 2006 for his defensive play in the outfield. He led all major league fielders in range factor in 2003. In 2004 he signed a three-year, $19.5 million contract to play field for the New York Mets. On August 11,2005, in San Diego, Cameron collided with Beltran in the outfield as both made diving attempts to catch a fly ball, Cameron suffered a concussion and multiple fractures of his nose and cheekbones, and was removed from the field on a stretcher. Beltran also suffered a concussion but was able to walk off the field with help, on November 15,2005 Cameron was traded to the San Diego Padres for Xavier Nady. He won his first National League Gold Glove award during the 2006 season with San Diego, after leaving the Seattle Mariners in 2004 via free agency, Cameron played his first game back in Seattle during interleague play in May 2006. Mariners fans greeted his return with a standing ovation, on October 31,2007, it was announced that he had failed a test for banned stimulants for a second time and would miss the first 25 games of the 2008 season. Cameron has said he believes that a supplement he took was tainted, however, given the requirement of two failed drug tests before an announcement is made, this explanation is questionable. He was just the second major leaguer to be suspended for a positive test for stimulants. On January 14,2008 he signed a 1-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, on March 13,2008, Cameron applied for a therapeutic exemption to use stimulants during the 2008 season because of his outfield collision with former teammate Carlos Beltrán. He claimed to be struggling with after-effects of the collision that ended his 2005 season
36.
Ryan Cook (baseball)
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Ryan William Cook is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Seattle Mariners organization. He previously played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Oakland Athletics and Boston Red Sox and he was an MLB All-Star in 2012. Cook attended Clovis High School and the University of Southern California and he was drafted by the Diamondbacks in the 27th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft. He was called up to the majors for the first time on July 20,2011, on December 9,2011, Cook, along with Jarrod Parker and Collin Cowgill, was traded to the Oakland Athletics for Trevor Cahill and Craig Breslow. On April 27,2012, against the Baltimore Orioles, Cook became the 61st player in MLB history to record four strikeouts in one inning and he was the Athletics representative at the 2012 All-Star Game where he pitched a perfect seventh inning. In 2013, Cook repeated his 2012 performance by going 6-4 in 71 games and his ERA was 2.54 while recording 67 strikeouts in 67 innings. Despite a pair of injuries during the 2014 season, Cook was a solid bullpen piece for the As, on July 31,2015, Cook was traded to the Boston Red Sox for a player to be named later. Cook was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs on November 6,2015, on January 7,2016, Cook signed a one-year deal with the Seattle Mariners. He was outrighted to the minors on November 2,2016 and his main offering and best pitch is a hard four-seam fastball at 94–97 mph. He also features a slider, hard splitter, and two-seam fastball. Right-handed hitters see almost exclusively four-seamers and sliders, while lefties see a mix of all four of his pitches
37.
Terry Francona
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Terrence Jon Terry Francona, nicknamed Tito, is the manager of the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball. Previously, he was the manager of the Boston Red Sox, after an unsuccessful stint as the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies for four seasons, Francona was hired to manage the Red Sox in 2004, and led the team to their first championship since 1918. He won another World Series with Boston in 2007 and continued to manage the team until the end of the 2011 season, where his contract wasnt renewed following a September collapse and its aftermath. In 2013, Francona was hired to manage the Cleveland Indians and by his fourth season with the team, Francona grew up in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, about 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, where he got his start in baseball at New Brighton Area High School. His father is Tito Francona, who played outfield for several Major League clubs from 1956 to 1970, Francona attended the University of Arizona, where he played college baseball for the Arizona Wildcats baseball team. Francona and the Arizona Wildcats won the 1980 College World Series, Francona won the 1980 Golden Spikes Award. Francona was drafted in the first round of the 1980 amateur draft by the Montreal Expos, after briefly playing in the minor leagues, Francona made his major league debut with Montreal on August 19,1981, a week after the end of that summers player strike. The Expos won that series, three games to two, as the seasons went on, Francona shifted to first base, where he ultimately played one hundred games more than he had in the outfield. He also developed a reputation as a hitter, with very few home runs, walks. The Expos released Francona after the 1985 season, during which his average had slipped to.267 after posting a.346 average in limited action in 1984. He went on to sign contracts with the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians. The Brewers re-signed Francona for 1990, but he played in three games for the Brewers that year, the last on April 19. In 10 seasons and 708 games, he posted a.274 career average and he also made an appearance as a pitcher with Milwaukee on May 15,1989, throwing 12 pitches and striking out one batter on three pitches. After retiring as a player, Francona began coaching, spending years in the Chicago White Sox organization. In 1991, he managed the rookie league Sarasota White Sox of the Gulf Coast League, in 1992, he ran the South Bend White Sox of the mid-level Class A Midwest League. Birmingham won the Southern League championship in 1993 and he managed in the Dominican Winter League with the Águilas Cibaeñas, and he also won the championship and the Serie del Caribe in 1995–96. That team included Miguel Tejada, Manny Ramirez, and Tony Batista, Francona became third-base coach for the Detroit Tigers in 1996, working under their new skipper, Buddy Bell, a former teammate of Francona on the Reds. After the season ended, he was hired as manager of the Phillies, in Franconas four seasons as the Phils skipper, the club never rose above third place in the National League East
