Washington Wild Things
Encyclopedia
The Washington Wild Things are a professional baseball team based in Washington, Pennsylvania
, in the United States
. The Wild Things are a member of the East Division of the Frontier League
, an independent baseball
league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball
. From the 2002 season to the present, the Wild Things have played their home games at CONSOL Energy Park
.
, and was known as the Canton Crocodiles. The Crocodiles won the Frontier League championship in their inaugural year of 1997, defeating the Evansville Otters
in the Championship Series. Canton broadcaster Tom Delamater authored a book about the championship season titled "Crocodiles Rock!"
In 2002, the Crocodiles were purchased and relocated to Washington, Pennsylvania
. Now playing as the Washington Wild Things, the Wild Things opened new Falconi Field with a bang as they established a League Record for wins in a single season and took the powerful East Division crown. The Wild Things would go on to reach the playoffs in each of their first six seasons, setting the Frontier League single-season win mark twice.
(110-62)
2004-2007: John Massarelli (239-143)
2008: Greg Jelks (48-48)
2009: Mark Mason (43-53)
2010-2011: Darin Everson (80-110)
2012-present: Chris Bando
Following the 2003 season Jeff Isom resigned as mananger and moved to the Joliet Jackhammers
of the Northern League. After the 2007 season, Massarelli and the Wild Things parted ways. He took 2008 off and was named the first manager in Lake Erie Crushers history.
In 2008, Greg Jelks was named the new manager of the Wild Things, but failed to lead them to the playoffs and finished the season at 48-48.
Mark Mason returned to the Wild Things in 2009 as manager after coaching the Paints for two seasons. In November 2009, Mason left the Wild Things to become pitching coach of the Atlantic League's
York Revolution
, leaving the Wild Things without a manager. On February 16 they announced Darin Everson as their new manager. After the 2011 season Darin Everson and the Wild Things parted ways following an 80-110 record over two seasons. On October 18 2011 the wild things hired former MLB catcher and class Triple AAA coach Chris Bando as the 6th manager in Wild things history.
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Wild Things are a member of the East Division of the Frontier League
Frontier League
The Frontier League, based in Sauget, Illinois, is a professional, independent baseball organization located in the Midwestern United States, Western Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario. It operates mostly in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either...
, an independent baseball
Independent baseball
Independent baseball leagues are professional baseball organizations located in the United States and Canada. They are not operated in conjunction with either a Major League Baseball team or an affiliated minor league team. Being independent allows teams to be located close to major-league teams...
league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. From the 2002 season to the present, the Wild Things have played their home games at CONSOL Energy Park
CONSOL Energy Park
CONSOL Energy Park is a 3,200-seat multi-pupose baseball stadium in North Franklin Township near Washington, Pennsylvania that hosted its first regular season baseball game on May 29, 2002, as the primary tenants of the facility, the Washington Wild Things, lost to the Canton Coyotes, 3-0. The...
.
History
From 1997 to 2001, the franchise played in Canton, OhioCanton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, and was known as the Canton Crocodiles. The Crocodiles won the Frontier League championship in their inaugural year of 1997, defeating the Evansville Otters
Evansville Otters
The Evansville Otters are a professional baseball team based in Evansville, Indiana, in the United States. The Otters are a member of the West Division of the Frontier League, an independent baseball league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
in the Championship Series. Canton broadcaster Tom Delamater authored a book about the championship season titled "Crocodiles Rock!"
In 2002, the Crocodiles were purchased and relocated to Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
. Now playing as the Washington Wild Things, the Wild Things opened new Falconi Field with a bang as they established a League Record for wins in a single season and took the powerful East Division crown. The Wild Things would go on to reach the playoffs in each of their first six seasons, setting the Frontier League single-season win mark twice.
Seasons
| Canton Crocodiles (Frontier League Frontier League The Frontier League, based in Sauget, Illinois, is a professional, independent baseball organization located in the Midwestern United States, Western Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario. It operates mostly in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either... ) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | W-L | PCT | Place | Postseason | |||||||||
| 1997 | 45–35 | .562 | 2nd in FL East | Frontier League Division Series: Defeated the Johnstown Steal 2–0. Frontier League Championship Series: Defeated the Evansville Otters Evansville Otters The Evansville Otters are a professional baseball team based in Evansville, Indiana, in the United States. The Otters are a member of the West Division of the Frontier League, an independent baseball league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball... 2–0. |
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| 1998 | 41–38 | .519 | 2nd in FL East | Frontier League Division Series: Lost vs. Chillicothe Paints Chillicothe Paints The Chillicothe Paints are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Chillicothe, Ohio, in the United States. The team is a member of the summer collegiate Prospect League.-Team history:... 2–1. |
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| 1999 | 33–51 | .393 | 5th in FL East | ||||||||||
| 2000 | 38–46 | .452 | 5th in FL East | ||||||||||
| 2001 | 47–37 | .560 | 3rd in FL East | Frontier League Division Series: Lost vs. Chillicothe Paints Chillicothe Paints The Chillicothe Paints are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Chillicothe, Ohio, in the United States. The team is a member of the summer collegiate Prospect League.-Team history:... 2–1. |
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| Total | 204–207 | .496 | |||||||||||
| Playoffs | 6–4 | .600 | 3 Playoff Appearances, 1 Championship. | ||||||||||
| Washington Wild Things (Frontier League Frontier League The Frontier League, based in Sauget, Illinois, is a professional, independent baseball organization located in the Midwestern United States, Western Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario. It operates mostly in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either... ) |
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| 2002 | 56–28 | .667 | 1st in FL East | Frontier League Division Series: Defeated the Kalamazoo Kings Kalamazoo Kings The Kalamazoo Kings are a professional baseball team based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in the United States. The Kings are a member of the Eastern Division of the Frontier League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball... 2–0. Frontier League Championship Series: Lost vs. Richmond Roosters Traverse City Beach Bums The Traverse City Beach Bums are a professional baseball team based in the Traverse City, Michigan, suburb of Blair Township, in the United States. The Beach Bums are a member of the East Division of the Frontier League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball... 3–1. |
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| 2003 | 54–34 | .614 | 2nd in FL East | Frontier League Division Series: Lost vs. Gateway Grizzlies Gateway Grizzlies The Gateway Grizzlies are a professional baseball team based in the St. Louis suburb of Sauget, Illinois, in the United States. The Grizzlies are a member of the West Division of the Frontier League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball... 2–0. |
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| 2004 | 62–34 | .646 | 1st in FL East | Frontier League Division Series: Lost vs. Evansville Otters Evansville Otters The Evansville Otters are a professional baseball team based in Evansville, Indiana, in the United States. The Otters are a member of the West Division of the Frontier League, an independent baseball league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball... 3–0. |
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| 2005 | 63–32 | .663 | 1st in FL East | Frontier League Division Series: Lost vs. Chillicothe Paints Chillicothe Paints The Chillicothe Paints are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Chillicothe, Ohio, in the United States. The team is a member of the summer collegiate Prospect League.-Team history:... 3–2. |
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| 2006 | 59–37 | .615 | 1st in FL East | Frontier League Division Series: Lost vs. Chillicothe Paints Chillicothe Paints The Chillicothe Paints are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Chillicothe, Ohio, in the United States. The team is a member of the summer collegiate Prospect League.-Team history:... 3–1. |
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| 2007 | 55–40 | .579 | 1st in FL East | Frontier League Division Series: Defeated the Gateway Grizzlies Gateway Grizzlies The Gateway Grizzlies are a professional baseball team based in the St. Louis suburb of Sauget, Illinois, in the United States. The Grizzlies are a member of the West Division of the Frontier League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball... 3–0. Frontier League Championship Series: Lost vs. Windy City ThunderBolts Windy City ThunderBolts The Windy City ThunderBolts are a professional baseball team based in the Chicago suburb of Crestwood, Illinois, in the United States. The ThunderBolts are a member of the East Division of the Frontier League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball... 3–2. |
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| 2008 | 48-48 | .500 | 3rd in FL East | | | |||||||||
| 2009 | 43-53 | .448 | 4th in FL East | | 2010 |
38-57 | .400 | 5th in FL East | | | 2011 42-52 .447 5th in FL East | Total | 478–363 | .568 | | |
| Playoffs | 9–17 | .346 | 5 Division Titles, 6 Playoff Appearances. | ||||||||||
Highlights
- Frontier League Organization of the Year (2002, 2004, 2005)
- Second team in Frontier League history to make playoffs four straight years (Evansville 1997–2000)
- Led Frontier League in wins four straight seasons
- 2002 (56 – 28)
- 2003 (54 – 34)
- 2004 (62 – 34)
- 2005 (63 – 32)
- In 2005:
- 35–12 second half of season (Since July 18)
- 23–5 the month of August
- 13 game winning streak (July 27 – August 9)
- 11 game winning streak (August 12 – August 23)
- 14 straight home wins (August 3 – August 23)
- Hosted the Frontier League All Star Game
New Frontier League Records as of 2005
- Wins in a season: 63 (old record - Washington Wild Things 2004)
- Triples: 46 (old record - 33; Springfield 1999)
- Runs: 645 (old record - 612; London 1999)
- At Bats: 3,357 (old record - 3329; Rockford 2004)
- Hits: 999 (old record - 962; Rockford 2004)
- RBI: 567 (old record - 550; London 1999)
- Base on Balls: 433 (old record - 427; Dubois County 2002)
- Saves: 34 (old record - Washington Wild Things 2004)
- Total Chances: 3740 (old record - 3,687; S/O 2004)
Managers
2002-2003: Jeff IsomJeff Isom
Jeff Isom is the manager of the Brevard County Manatees, the Class A-Advanced minor league affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers....
(110-62)
2004-2007: John Massarelli (239-143)
2008: Greg Jelks (48-48)
2009: Mark Mason (43-53)
2010-2011: Darin Everson (80-110)
2012-present: Chris Bando
Following the 2003 season Jeff Isom resigned as mananger and moved to the Joliet Jackhammers
Joliet JackHammers
The Joliet JackHammers were a professional baseball team based in Joliet, Illinois, in the United States. The JackHammers were a member of the Northern League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. From 2002 to 2010, the JackHammers played their home games at Silver Cross...
of the Northern League. After the 2007 season, Massarelli and the Wild Things parted ways. He took 2008 off and was named the first manager in Lake Erie Crushers history.
In 2008, Greg Jelks was named the new manager of the Wild Things, but failed to lead them to the playoffs and finished the season at 48-48.
Mark Mason returned to the Wild Things in 2009 as manager after coaching the Paints for two seasons. In November 2009, Mason left the Wild Things to become pitching coach of the Atlantic League's
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
York Revolution
York Revolution
The York Revolution is an American professional baseball team based in York, Pennsylvania. It is a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent league not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
, leaving the Wild Things without a manager. On February 16 they announced Darin Everson as their new manager. After the 2011 season Darin Everson and the Wild Things parted ways following an 80-110 record over two seasons. On October 18 2011 the wild things hired former MLB catcher and class Triple AAA coach Chris Bando as the 6th manager in Wild things history.