Great Lakes Loons
Encyclopedia
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, which opened in April 2007.
moved. The team was first known as the Battle Creek Golden Kazoos. Due to a trademark dispute and general fan dissatisfaction with the name (which is a nickname for the nearby city of Kalamazoo
), the name was changed to the Michigan Battle Cats on March 9, 1995.
The team was affiliated with the Boston Red Sox
(1995–98) and Houston Astros
(1999–2002). 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, changing the team name to Southwest Michigan Devil Rays. 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
, Michigan. 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, and even a night when fans were actually offered a dollar to come to that night's game, failed to pique the interest of local residents.
Naming rights for the Loons' stadium were purchased by Dow Chemical, which is headquartered in Midland. The company named the stadium "Dow Diamond." The name is a play on the company's logo, a red diamond.
In November 2006, The Loons named former Detroit Tiger Lance Parrish
as the team's first manager since the move to Michigan's 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 July 3, 2009, the Loons hosted their biggest crowd ever at 6,057 people.
, Justin Duchscherer
, Shea Hillenbrand
, Matt Kinney
, Jason Lane
, Aaron Miles
, Melky Cabrera
, Roy Oswalt
, Carl Pavano
, Tim Redding
, Chris Reitsma
, and Johan Santana
. Five 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. Victor Garate
, another southpaw who is a now a reliever in the Washington Nationals organization made it a year later in 2009. 2010 saw a trio of past Great Lakes players make it to the show. Cleveland Indians Catcher Carlos Santana
, Orioles Third Baseman Josh Bell, and Pitcher Kenley Jansen
of Los Angeles all spent time in the big leagues.
, Frank Tanana
, and Bert Blyleven
. He is first in the National League
in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, and second in ERA, WHIP, win percentage, and complete games, this season.
Midland, Michigan
Midland is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan in the Tri-Cities region of the state. It is the county seat of Midland County. The city's population was 41,863 as of the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Midland Micropolitan Statistical Area....
, Michigan, is a Low Class A minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team, affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. The team plays in the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
and their home park is Dow Diamond, which opened in April 2007.
History
The Midwest League came to Battle Creek, in 1995 after the franchise formerly known as the Madison HattersMadison Hatters
The Madison Hatters were a minor-league baseball team based in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1994. A Class A minor league baseball affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, they were a member of the Midwest League...
moved. The team was first known as the Battle Creek Golden Kazoos. Due to a trademark dispute and general fan dissatisfaction with the name (which is a nickname for the nearby city of Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
), the name was changed to the Michigan Battle Cats on March 9, 1995.
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1995–98) and Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
(1999–2002). The team changed its name to the Battle Creek Yankees after becoming an affiliate of the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in 2003. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays took over affiliation of the team in September 2004, changing the team name to Southwest Michigan Devil Rays. In September 2006, the team announced its affiliation with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
.
In January 2006, it was confirmed that the Devil Rays would be sold to the non-profit Michigan Baseball Foundation and relocated to Midland
Midland, Michigan
Midland is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan in the Tri-Cities region of the state. It is the county seat of Midland County. The city's population was 41,863 as of the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Midland Micropolitan Statistical Area....
, Michigan. 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, and even a night when fans were actually offered a dollar to come to that night's game, failed to pique the interest of local residents.
Naming rights for the Loons' stadium were purchased by Dow Chemical, which is headquartered in Midland. The company named the stadium "Dow Diamond." The name is a play on the company's logo, a red diamond.
In November 2006, The Loons named former Detroit Tiger Lance Parrish
Lance Parrish
Lance Michael Parrish, aka "Big Wheel", is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers , Philadelphia Phillies , California Angels , Seattle Mariners , Cleveland Indians , Pittsburgh Pirates , and the Toronto Blue Jays...
as the team's first manager since the move to Michigan's Tri-City Area. The first home game was played on April 13, 2007 which resulted in a loss to the Lansing Lugnuts
Lansing Lugnuts
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 in 1996. The franchise began in Lafayette, Indiana, in 1955; after two seasons it moved to Waterloo, Iowa, where it...
.
The Loons hosted the 2008 Midwest League All-Star Game, in just their second season.
On July 3, 2009, the Loons hosted their biggest crowd ever at 6,057 people.
Mascot
Lou E. Loon is the team mascot and Ambassador of Fun for the team. He's an energetic bird who loves to dance at home games and make public appearances. 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," which won "Best In-Game Promotion of the Year" in 2009 for Minor League Baseball.Alumni
Notable alumni of the Midwest League, Battle Creek franchise include Rafael BetancourtRafael Betancourt
Rafael Jose Betancourt is a Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher for the Colorado Rockies. He was originally signed as an amateur free agent by the Boston Red Sox in September 1999. The Red Sox released him following the 1999 season and then re-signed him as a free agent in December...
, Justin Duchscherer
Justin Duchscherer
Justin Craig Duchscherer [DUKE-shur] is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-Early career:...
, Shea Hillenbrand
Shea Hillenbrand
Shea Matthew Hillenbrand is a professional baseball player who last played for the York Revolution of the independent Atlantic League....
, Matt Kinney
Matt Kinney
Matthew John Kinney is an American professional baseball pitcher in the San Francisco Giants organization. He spent with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Japan's Pacific League. Kinney is a graduate of Bangor High School....
, Jason Lane
Jason Lane
Jason Dean Lane is a Major League Baseball outfielder in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. He was drafted out of the sixth round in . Lane graduated from El Molino High School in Forestville, California in 1995...
, Aaron Miles
Aaron Miles
Aaron Wade Miles is a Major League Baseball infielder who is currently a free agent.-Houston Astros:Miles was originally drafted by the Houston Astros in the 19th round of the 1995 amateur draft...
, Melky Cabrera
Melky Cabrera
Melky Astacio Cabrera is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the San Francisco Giants.-Minors:Cabrera was signed by the New York Yankees on November 13, 2001, at age 17...
, Roy Oswalt
Roy Oswalt
Roy Edward Oswalt is an American Major League Baseball pitcher and Olympic gold medalist who is currently a free agent. Oswalt, a slender six-foot right-handed starting pitcher, is currently in his eleventh major league season...
, Carl Pavano
Carl Pavano
Carl Anthony Pavano is an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher currently with the Minnesota Twins.-Early career:...
, Tim Redding
Tim Redding
Timothy James Redding is an American professional baseball pitcher, who is currently a free agent. He has also pitched for the Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, Washington Nationals, New York Yankees, and New York Mets.-Biography:...
, Chris Reitsma
Chris Reitsma
Christopher Michael Reitsma is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played seven seasons in the majors, from until , with the Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves, and Seattle Mariners.-Red Sox and Reds:...
, and Johan Santana
Johan Santana
Johan Alexander Santana Araque is a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher who is currently playing for the New York Mets. He is a native of Venezuela....
. Five former Loons have made it to the major leagues. Left handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw
Clayton Kershaw
Clayton Edward Kershaw is a left-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball.In 2011, Kershaw won the Pitching Triple Crown and the National League Cy Young Award, becoming the youngest pitcher to accomplish either of these feats since Dwight Gooden in 1985...
debuted in 2008 and is now in the Dodgers' starting rotation. Victor Garate
Victor Garate
Víctor J. Gárate is a Major League Baseball pitcher.-Baseball career:Gárate was signed by the Houston Astros as a non-drafted free agent in 2005, and made his professional debut with the Greeneville Astros in the Appalachian League. He was 4-1 with a 5.57 ERA during the 19 games he pitched in...
, another southpaw who is a now a reliever in the Washington Nationals organization made it a year later in 2009. 2010 saw a trio of past Great Lakes players make it to the show. Cleveland Indians Catcher Carlos Santana
Carlos Santana (baseball)
Carlos Santana is a Dominican Republic professional baseball player, who is currently a catcher and first baseman with the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball's American League.-Professional career:...
, Orioles Third Baseman Josh Bell, and Pitcher Kenley Jansen
Kenley Jansen
Kenley Geronimo Jansen is a pitcher in Major League Baseball with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization...
of Los Angeles all spent time in the big leagues.
Former Loons in MLB
There are 10 Loons to have played at least one game in the major leagues. They are:Clayton Kershaw
Kershaw was born March 19, 1988, in Dallas, TX. He did not attend college and was drafted 7th overall in the 2006 MLB draft. He is 6'3", 215 lbs. and bats and throws left-handedly. His MLB debut came on May 25, 2008 against the Cardinals, pitching 6 innings, allowing two earned runs on 5 hits, while fanning 7. He has pitched in 113 games in the majors, starting all but 2, has had 6 complete games, 3 shutouts, and has thrown 681.2 innings. He has allowed 238 runs, 14 unearned, on 540 hits, 44 being home runs. He has fanned 709 batters, almost three times his 249 bases on balls. He is 43-28. On average, he throws 101 pitches per start, has a WHIP ((walks+hits)/innings pitched) of 1.19, and an ERA of 2.96, allowing a batting average of .218. This season, he became the fourth pitcher in the divisional era (since 1969) to have consecutive seasons of 200 strikeouts before the age of 24, behind only Dwight GoodenDwight Gooden
Dwight Eugene Gooden , nicknamed "Doc Gooden" or "Dr. K", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was one of the most dominant and feared pitchers in the National League in the middle and late 1980s.-Career:...
, Frank Tanana
Frank Tanana
Frank Daryl Tanana is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He was the California Angels' 1st round draft pick in 1971....
, and Bert Blyleven
Bert Blyleven
Bert Blyleven is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from to , and was best known for his curveball. Blyleven was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011...
. He is first in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, and second in ERA, WHIP, win percentage, and complete games, this season.
Josh Lindblom
Lindblom was born June 15, 1987, in Lafayette, IN. He went to college at Purdue and was drafted 61st overall in the 2008 MLB draft. He is 6'4", 239 lbs. and bats and throws right-handedly. His MLB debut was on June 1, 2011, against the Rockies. He threw one inning, allowing no earned runs on two hits. He has pitched in 17 games, zero starts, complete games, or shutouts, and 20.1 innings. He has allowed 5 runs, all earned, on 13 hits, with zero home runs. He has a 2:1 ratio of strikeouts to bases on balls, being 14 to 7. He is 1-0, has zero saves, one hold, and one blown save. He has a WHIP of .98 and an ERA of 2.21.Year-by-year record
- Michigan Battle Cats (1995–2002)
- Battle Creek Yankees (2003–2004)
- Southwest Michigan Devil Rays (2005–2006)
- Great Lakes Loons (2007 – present)
Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs 1995 75–62 4th DeMarlo Hale DeMarlo HaleDeMarlo Hale is a Major League Baseball coach for the Boston Red Sox.Hale is a former first baseman and outfielder in minor league baseball who played in part of four seasons for the Boston and Oakland organizations between 1984 and 1988.Following his playing career, Hale worked at the Bucky Dent...
Lost League Finals 1996 60–78 11th Tom Barrett Tom Barrett (baseball)Thomas Loren Barrett is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox . Barrett was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed...
1997 70–67 4th Billy Gardner Jr. Lost in 1st round 1998 79–61 2nd (t) Billy Gardner Jr. Lost in 1st round 1999 76–62 3rd Al Pedrique Al PedriqueAlfredo José Pedrique García , best known as "Al Pedrique" , is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and right-handed batter who played for the New York Mets , Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers...
Lost in 1st round 2000 82–56 2nd Al Pedrique Al PedriqueAlfredo José Pedrique García , best known as "Al Pedrique" , is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and right-handed batter who played for the New York Mets , Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers...
League Champs 2001 82–55 3rd John Massarelli Lost in 1st round 2002 79–61 4th John Massarelli Lost in 1st round 2003 73–64 3rd Mitch Seoane Lost in 2nd round 2004 71–68 9th Mitch Seoane (13–18) / Bill Mosiello (58–50) 2005 72–67 4th (t) Joe Szekely Lost in 1st round 2006 62–77 12th Skeeter Barnes Skeeter BarnesWilliam Henry "Skeeter" Barnes is a retired Major League Baseball utility player for the Cincinnati Reds , Montreal Expos , St...
2007 57–82 12th Lance Parrish Lance ParrishLance Michael Parrish, aka "Big Wheel", is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers , Philadelphia Phillies , California Angels , Seattle Mariners , Cleveland Indians , Pittsburgh Pirates , and the Toronto Blue Jays...
2008 54–85 Last Juan Bustabad Juan BustabadJuan Bustabad is a minor league baseball player and manager, who currently manages the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in the California League.-Playing career:...
2009 81–59 2nd (t) Juan Bustabad Juan BustabadJuan Bustabad is a minor league baseball player and manager, who currently manages the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in the California League.-Playing career:...
Lost in 2nd round 2010 90–49 1st Juan Bustabad Juan BustabadJuan Bustabad is a minor league baseball player and manager, who currently manages the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in the California League.-Playing career:...
Lost in 2nd round 2011 72-67 4th John Shoemaker John ShoemakerJohn Shoemaker is a former minor league baseball player and current manager of the Great Lakes Loons in the Class-A Midwest League....
Sources
- Dinda, J. (2003), "Battle Creek, Michigan, in the Midwest League" http://www.mwlguide.com/cities/battlecreek/index.html