Fresh off setting a league record for the largest attendance total in a debut game, the Kalamazoo Growlers (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) are off to a strong start, as baseball returns to Homer Stryker Field. As you’ll recall, Stryker Field was home to independent Frontier League teams for several years, then sat empty after Kalamazoo […]
Tag Archives | northwoods league
Simmons Field / Kenosha Kingfish
This, friends, is why summer-collegiate leagues exist: to provide new life to old ballparks – evidenced by the makeover of Simmons Field, home of the Northwoods League’s Kenosha Kingfish. A successful business model for summer-collegiate ball is pretty simple: take an old ballpark formerly used for minor-league or industrial-league play, fix it up, and play […]
Green Bay Bullfrogs open new era at Joannes Stadium
The new owners of the Green Bay Bullfrogs (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) unveiled improvements to Joannes Stadium in last night’s season opener. As you’ll recall, Big Top Baseball — the ownership group that also owns the Madison Mallards, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters and the Kenosha Kingfish — acquired the Bullfrogs in the offseason, with Liz […]
A thousand more fans per game approved for Kingfish
Capacity at Simmons Field is now a thousand more than planned after ballpark and parking-lot improvements were implemented by the Kenosha Kingfish (summer collegiate; Northwoods League). The Kenosha City Council voted 12-1 Monday night to approve a Simmons Field capacity of 3,218 after presentation of a new parking plan. Ballpark capacity is determined by the […]
The most unique outfield wall in baseball? Meet The Bambino
We’ve seen outfield party spaces designed to look like a boat, but this takes the cake: a real fishing boat from the 1930s is being installed at Simmons Field, home of the Kenosha Kingfish (summer collegiate; Northwoods League), for the 2014 season. The 43-feet-long by 13-feet-wide fishing boat originally named the “Bambino” (yes, really) was […]
Final renovation work underway at Wausau’s Athletic Park
This season will be a big one for the summer-collegiate Northwoods League: Besides new teams in Kenosha and Kalamazoo, the Wisconsin Woodchucks will be playing at a renovated Athletic Park. A Civilian Conservation Corps-funded and constructed facility that was once a longtime home to Midwest League and Wisconsin State League baseball (John Henry Moss, of […]
Witter Field to be outfitted with Interactive Accessible Seating Area
This could end up being a model for other ballparks: The summer-collegiate Northwoods League today announced plans to build an Interactive Accessible Seating Area at Witter Field, home of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters, for the 2014 season pending city approval. A concrete patio will be connected to the existing grandstand on the first-base side to […]
Kalamazoo to prep selfie unis this summer
We’ve had teams create jerseys with fan hashtags, but the Kalamazoo Growlers (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) are going one step beyond by creating a jersey this season made up of selfies. The team is planning the Salute to Selfie Night on Thursday, July 24, but collecting the selfies now through April 1. To participate in […]
Nordman new Voice of the Rafters
A personnel move to note: Jonas Nordman is the new Voice of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (summer collegiate; Northwoods League). “We are very excited to add Jonas to the broadcast booth this summer,” said Rafters general manager John Fanta. “We have had three talented broadcasters over our first four seasons and look forward watching Jonas […]
C.O. Brown Stadium renovations announced
They are long overdue: renovations to C.O. Brown Stadium, home to the Battle Creek Bombers (summer collegiate; Northwoods League), are set for the 2014 season. On the agenda: a new and improved outfield scoreboard to replace the current broken one, damaged by lightning during the 2013 season. The center-field fence will also be moved in […]
Personnel news in Hickory, Rockford, Madison and Eau Claire
We have personnel news to report today from the Hickory Crawdads (Low Class A; Sally League), the Rockford Aviators (independent; Frontier League) and the Madison Mallards and Eau Claire Express (summer collegiate; Northwoods League). The Crawdads made several staff announcements today: Newcomers to Hickory include Promotions Director Pete Subsara, Head Groundskeeper Zach Van Voorhees, Group […]
Joannes Stadium upgrades approved by Green Bay City Council
The Green Bay City Council unanimously approved changes to Joannes Stadium proposed by the new owners of the Green Bay Bullfrogs (summer collegiate; Northwoods League), who are eager to make their mark on the game-day experience. The improvements are being funded entirely by the new ownership group of the Bullfrogs — which includes owners and […]
Personnel moves in Frisco, Lincoln and Wisconsin Rapids
We have personnel news to report from the Frisco RoughRiders (Class AA; Texas League), Lincoln SaltDogs (independent; American Association) and Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (summer collegiate; Northwoods League). New on the RoughRiders broadcast team this season: Chris Vosters, joining Alex Vispoli, the Voice of the RoughRiders, in delivering the play-by-play of Frisco games throughout the season, […]