TheWausau Woodchucksare an Americanbaseballteam that plays in theNorthwoods League,acollegiate summer baseballleague. They play their home games atAthletic ParkinWausau, Wisconsin.
| Wausau Woodchucks | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Information | |
| League | Northwoods League(1994-present) (Great Lakes Conference-West Division: 2019-present) (South Division: 1998-2018) |
| Location | Wausau, Wisconsin |
| Ballpark | Athletic Park |
| Founded | 1994 |
| League championships | 2 (2001, 2003) |
| Division championships | 2 (2001, 2003) |
| Former name(s) | Wisconsin Woodchucks (1999–2021) Wausau Woodchucks (1994–1998) |
| Colors | Navy blue, green, sky blue and white |
| Ownership | Mark Macdonald |
| Management | Ryan Treu(GM) |
| Media | Wausau Daily Herald |
| Website | woodchucks |
History
editThe team was known as theWausau Woodchucksfrom 1994 to 1998, but the team name was changed toWisconsin Woodchucksfor the 1999 season, as they were the only remaining team in Wisconsin in the league at that time.
The team filled the void left by theWausau Timbersof the Class AMidwest League,who relocated after the1990 seasontoGeneva, Illinois,to become theKane County Cougars.
In 1998 Clark Eckhoff purchased The Wisconsin Woodchucks, and Eckhoff truly made an impact on the team as well as the community as a whole. Not only did attendance dramatically increase with Eckhoff as owner, but the Woodchucks would go on to win two league championships in 2001 and 2003.
The Woodchucks' manager for the 2007–2009 seasons wasJim Gantner,a formerMilwaukee Brewerwho attended college at theUniversity of Wisconsin–Oshkosh.Gantner had never managed a team previously, and the Woodchucks appealed to him as he had spent time in the area at a second home.[1]Gantner became the team's president of baseball operations in 2009.[2]
On February 2, 2022, the Woodchucks announced their return as the Wausau Woodchucks, with a new logo and color scheme.[3]
Players
editA number of major leaguers and other notables have played for the Wausau Woodchucks, including:[4]
- J. D. Davis,2012 (third baseman for teams including theNew York Metsand theSan Francisco Giants)
- Steve Foster (baseball),2003 (pitcher for theCincinnati Reds)
- Dave Gassner,1998 (pitcher for theMinnesota Twins)
- Casey Janssen,2001 (pitcher for theToronto Blue Jays)
- Mark Lowe,2002–03(pitcher for teams including theSeattle Marinersand theTexas Rangers)
- Pat Neshek,2000 (2-time MLB All Star and relief pitcher for teams including the Minnesota Twins andSt. Louis Cardinals)
- Wes Obermueller,1995 (relief pitcher for teams including theMilwaukee Brewers)
- Kevin Pillar,2010 (outfielder for teams including the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Mets)
- Darin Ruf,2007 (outfielder for teams including thePhiladelphia Philliesand San Francisco Giants)
- Pat Venditte,2008 (switch pitcherfor teams including theOakland Athletics)
- Ben Zobrist,2003–04(3-time MLB All Star and World Series MVP with theChicago Cubs)
References
edit- ^"Sports::Woodchucks Introduce Gantner as New Manager".WAOW.October 24, 2006. Archived fromthe originalon September 27, 2007.RetrievedJune 22,2007.
- ^"25 Years of Woodchucks Baseball".Wausau Woodchucks.May 1, 2018.RetrievedJuly 3,2024.
- ^"Woodchucks Renovations go Full Circle with Brand Update".Wausau Woodchucks.February 2, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 2,2022.
- ^"Alumni in the Pros".Wausau Woodchucks.RetrievedFebruary 3,2022.
External links
edit- Wausau Woodchucks– official site
- Northwoods League– official site