Evansville Otters
Encyclopedia
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
. From the 1995 season to the present, the Otters have played their home games at Bosse Field
, which has been in continuous use for minor league baseball since its opening in 1915.
relocated following the 1984 season.
The Otters have been a success on the field and off since their first season of play in Evansville. On the field the Otters have reached the playoffs in 7 of their 12 seasons, including five Frontier League
Championship series, finally winning one in 2006 for their first league championship. Off the field, the Otters set numerous league attendance records in their early seasons. The Otters drew 90,000 fans in their first season, more than the entire Frontier League had in its inaugural season two years earlier. The Otters have averaged 2,500 fans per game since they started playing at Bosse Field
in Evansville. The success of the Otters in Evansville led to the move of more Frontier League teams to larger cities, many of which have built new ballparks, leading to the increased stability and success of the league in recent years. George Sherrill
, a 2008 MLB All-Star, is a former Evansville Otter.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team based in Evansville, Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Otters are a member of the West 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 1995 season to the present, the Otters have played their home games at Bosse Field
Bosse Field
Bosse Field, is a baseball stadium located in Evansville, Indiana. Built in 1915, it is the third oldest ballpark used for professional baseball on a regular basis in the country, surpassed only by Fenway Park in Boston and Wrigley Field in Chicago.It is the current home of the Frontier League...
, which has been in continuous use for minor league baseball since its opening in 1915.
History
When the Otters began play in 1995, they returned baseball to Evansville for the first time in a decade. The city had been without a team since the Evansville TripletsEvansville Triplets
The Evansville Triplets were a minor league baseball team of the American Association from to . In its last season, Evansville was the Triple-A farm team for the Detroit Tigers...
relocated following the 1984 season.
The Otters have been a success on the field and off since their first season of play in Evansville. On the field the Otters have reached the playoffs in 7 of their 12 seasons, including five 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...
Championship series, finally winning one in 2006 for their first league championship. Off the field, the Otters set numerous league attendance records in their early seasons. The Otters drew 90,000 fans in their first season, more than the entire Frontier League had in its inaugural season two years earlier. The Otters have averaged 2,500 fans per game since they started playing at Bosse Field
Bosse Field
Bosse Field, is a baseball stadium located in Evansville, Indiana. Built in 1915, it is the third oldest ballpark used for professional baseball on a regular basis in the country, surpassed only by Fenway Park in Boston and Wrigley Field in Chicago.It is the current home of the Frontier League...
in Evansville. The success of the Otters in Evansville led to the move of more Frontier League teams to larger cities, many of which have built new ballparks, leading to the increased stability and success of the league in recent years. George Sherrill
George Sherrill
George Friederich Sherrill , also known as "The Brim Reaper", "Flat Breezy", and "Duckbill" , is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher, who is a free agent-College and independent baseball:Sherrill was not drafted after graduating from Austin Peay State...
, a 2008 MLB All-Star, is a former Evansville Otter.
Season-by-season records
| Lancaster Scouts (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... ) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | W-L | PCT | Place | Postseason |
| 1993 | 22-33 | .400 | 3rd in FL West | |
| 1994 | 25-39 | .391 | 2nd in FL West | Won 1st Round Playoff 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. Lost Frontier League Championship vs. Erie Sailors Erie Sailors The Erie Sailors was the name of several minor league baseball teams that played in Erie, Pennsylvania between 1906 and 1994.-Pre-1930s:Several unrelated teams used the Erie Sailors name in the Interstate League , the Ohio-Pennsylvania League , and the Central League .-1938-1963:During these years,... 2-0. |
| Total | 47-72 | .395 | ||
| Playoffs | 2-3 | .400 | 1 Playoff Appearance. 0 Championships. | |
| Evansville Otters (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... ) |
||||
| 1995 | 31-38 | .449 | 6th in FL | |
| 1996 | 34-40 | .459 | 3rd in FL West | |
| 1997 | 46-33 | .582 | 1st in FL West | Won 1st Round Playoff vs. Richmond Roosters 2-1. Lost Frontier League Championship vs. Canton Crocodiles 2-0. |
| 1998 | 43-36 | .544 | 3rd in FL West | Lost 1st Round Playoff vs. Springfield Capitals 2-1. |
| 1999 | 43-41 | .512 | 1st in FL West | Lost 1st Round Playoff 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:... 2-0. |
| 2000 | 45-38 | .616 | 2nd in FL West | Won 1st Round Playoff vs. River City Rascals River City Rascals The River City Rascals are a professional baseball team based in O'Fallon, Missouri, in the United States. The Rascals are a member of the West Division of the Frontier League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. From the 1999 season to the present, the Rascals have played their... 2-0. Lost Frontier League Championship vs. Johnstown Johnnies 3-1. |
| 2001 | 44-40 | .524 | 4th in FL West | |
| 2002 | 33-51 | .393 | 6th in FL West | |
| 2003 | 51-37 | .580 | 3rd in FL West | Won 1st Round Playoff 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. Lost Frontier League Championship 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... 3-0. |
| 2004 | 54-42 | .562 | 2nd in FL West | Won 1st Round Playoff vs. Washington Wild Things Washington Wild Things 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... 3-0. Lost Frontier League Championship vs. Rockford Riverhawks Rockford RiverHawks The Rockford RiverHawks are a professional baseball team based in the Rockford, Illinois suburb of Loves Park, in the United States. Currently, the RiverHawks are a member of the Frontier League, which they previously played in from 2002 until 2009. From the 2002 season to 2005, the RiverHawks'... 3-0. |
| 2005 | 52-43 | .547 | 4th in FL West | |
| 2006 | 46-50 | .479 | 2nd in FL West | Won 1st Round Playoff vs. Rockford Riverhawks Rockford RiverHawks The Rockford RiverHawks are a professional baseball team based in the Rockford, Illinois suburb of Loves Park, in the United States. Currently, the RiverHawks are a member of the Frontier League, which they previously played in from 2002 until 2009. From the 2002 season to 2005, the RiverHawks'... 3-2. Won Frontier League Championship 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:... 3-0. |
| 2007 | 34-62 | .354 | 4th in FL West | |
| 2008 | 39-57 | .406 | 6th in FL West | |
| 2009 | 28-66 | .298 | 6th in FL West | |
| Total | 623-674 | .480 | ||
| Playoffs | 17-19 | .472 | 5 Division Titles. 7 Playoff Appearances. 1 Championship. | |