West Michigan Whitecaps

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West Michigan Whitecaps
West Michigan Whitecaps
League Midwest League
Division Eastern Division
Year founded 1994
Major League affiliation Detroit Tigers
Home ballpark Fifth Third Ballpark
Previous home ballparks Old Kent Park (later renamed Fifth Third Ballpark)
City Comstock Park, Michigan
Current uniform colors Navy Blue, Blue, Light Blue
Previous uniform colors Black, Teal, Yellow
Logo design A baseball engulfed by an angry Lake Michigan wave
Division titles 4
League titles 1996, 1998, 2004, 2006
Manager Tom Brookens
Owner Lew Chamberlin and Denny Baxter

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.

Contents

[edit] Franchise History

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 Chamberlan and Dennis Baxter. 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 park's title sponsor, Old Kent Bank, was purchased by Fifth Third Bank. Fifth Third also sponsors ballparks in Dayton and Toledo, Ohio. The teams official mascots are Crash the River Rascal and Franky the Swimming Pig.

The franchise attendance record of 547,401 was set in 1996.

In 1996 the Whitecaps won the Midwest League Championship, defeating the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 3-1 in the best of 5 league finals.

In 1998 the Whitecaps won their second Midwest League Championship, defeating the Rockford Cubbies 5-3 in Game 4 of the best-of-5 league finals.

In 1999 Baseball America bestowed some of its highest honors on the Whitecaps, naming it the Class A Organization of the Decade. In addition, the 1997 Whitecaps were named the Third-Best Minor League Team of the Decade, and General Manager Scott Lane was named General Manager of the Decade.

In 2004 The Whitecaps win their third Midwest League Championship, defeating the Kane County Cougars 4-2 at home in Game 5 of an exciting best-of-5 league finals under first-year manager Matt Walbeck.

2006 was yet again another successful season for the West Michigan Whitecaps. On September 15, 2006, in game four of the Midwest League Championship, they defeated the Kane County Cougars 8-4 to claim their fourth league title.

Several league and team records were set during this season. They posted the second best record in franchise history going 89-48. Michael Holliman hit 3 home runs in one game. Cameron Maybin hit 2 grand slams this season. Michael Hernandez become the first person ever in the history of the Midwest League to hit for the cycle twice. The Whitecaps also went 23-6 in the month of July.

Whitecaps at home in Fifth Third Ballpark
Whitecaps at home in Fifth Third Ballpark

[edit] Regular Season Success

West Michigan has put together some fantastic regular seasons. Here‘s their top 5 regular season records. All 5 have come during their affiliation with the Detroit Tigers.

  • 1997 – 92-39 (.702)
  • 2006 – 89-48 (.649) MWL Champions
  • 2000 – 88-52 (.629)
  • 1998 – 83-57 (.593) MWL Champions
  • 2002 – 83-57 (.593)


[edit] Post-Season Success

The Whitecaps have won the best-of-5 Midwest League championship four times, in four opportunities. They defeated the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 1996, the Rockford Cubbies in 1998, and the Kane County Cougars twice in 2004, and 2006. West Michigan is 36-23 all time in playoff games. They’ve made the playoffs 10 times in 13 seasons.

[edit] Oakland Athletics Affiliation

Year - Record – Results - Opponents

  • 1994 0-2 - Lost in First Round - Rockford (0-2)
  • 1995 3-3 - Lost in Second Round Kane County (2-1), Michigan (1-2)
  • 1996 7-2 - Won Championship Lansing (2-1), Rockford (2-0), Wisconsin (3-1)

[edit] Detroit Tigers Affiliation

Year - Record – Results - Opponents

  • 1997 0-2 - Lost in First Round Fort Wayne (0-2)
  • 1998 7-2 - Won Championship Michigan (2-1), Clinton (2-0), Rockford (3-1)
  • 1999 Did not qualify for playoffs
  • 2000 1-2 - Lost in First Round Dayton (1-2)
  • 2001 Did not qualify for playoffs
  • 2002 3-2 - Lost in Second Round Dayton (2-0), Lansing (1-2)
  • 2003 Did not qualify for playoffs
  • 2004 7-3 - Won Championship Lansing (2-1), South Bend (2-0), Kane County (3-2)
  • 2005 2-2 - Lost in Second Round Fort Wayne (2-0), South Bend (0-2)
  • 2006 7-2 - Won Championship Fort Wayne (2-1), Lansing (2-0), Kane County (3-1)

[edit] Whitecaps Managers

Since 1994 the Whitecaps have had 6 managers. 2007 will be the first season for new manager Tom Brookens, the seventh manager in the history of the Whitecaps. Listed here are each manager and their won/loss record.

[edit] Oakland Athletics Affiliation

[edit] Detroit Tigers Affiliation


[edit] Former Whitecaps in the Majors

Below is a list of West Michigan Whitecaps who have played in the major leagues.

[edit] Oakland Athletics Affiliation 1994-1996

[edit] Detroit Tigers Affiliation 1997-Present

[edit] Source

[edit] External links


Detroit Tigers Franchise
AAA AA A Rookie
Toledo Mud Hens Erie SeaWolves
 Lakeland Flying Tigers
West Michigan Whitecaps
Oneonta Tigers		 GCL Tigers
DSL Tigers
Midwest League
Eastern Division Western Division
Dayton Dragons | Fort Wayne Wizards | Great Lakes Loons | Lansing Lugnuts | South Bend Silver Hawks | West Michigan Whitecaps Beloit Snappers | Burlington Bees | Cedar Rapids Kernels | Clinton LumberKings | Kane County Cougars | Peoria Chiefs | Swing of the Quad Cities | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
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