Fort Wayne Wizards
Encyclopedia
The Fort Wayne TinCaps are a Class A minor league baseball
team, affiliated with the San Diego Padres
, that plays in the Midwest League
. They won their first Midwest League Championship in 2009.
in . The franchise dates back from the league's days as the Illinois State League, starting in in Mattoon
, Illinois
. In the team moved to Keokuk
, Iowa
, where it spent five seasons; it was based in Wisconsin Rapids
, Wisconsin
(-) and Kenosha
, Wisconsin (-) before moving to Fort Wayne. The team was a Minnesota Twins
farm team before they affiliated with the Padres in . In , the team was sold to a pair of businessmen from Atlanta who also own the Salem Red Sox.
Prior to the 2009 season, the team was known as the Fort Wayne Wizards. The name TinCaps was chosen following the 2008 season, alluding to John Chapman, better known as the cooking pot-wearing Johnny Appleseed
. The Tin Cap refers to a fictionalized depiction of John Chapman wearing one in the 1948 Walt Disney movie "Johnny Appleseed" and is not supported by any historical facts.Chapman lived in Fort Wayne in his final years and is buried in the city.
The team's home park was Memorial Stadium
, which opened in 1993; a franchise attendance record of 318,506 was also set that year. As part of the Harrison Square
revitalization project, Parkview Field
became the official home of the TinCaps at the start of the 2009 season. To coincide with the new ballpark, the team held a contest to determine a new name for the Wizards once that new ballpark opened, and "TinCaps" was the result.
The mascot of the TinCaps is Johnny. Previously, for the Wizards, it was Dinger the Dragon and prior to that, the Wizards were represented by Wayne the Wizard
.
The team won the Midwest League
2009 championship by sweeping the Burlington Bees
, 3-0. The first two games were played at Parkview Field and the final, decisive game was played in Burlington, Iowa. The team and its staff were honored at Parkview Field in a special victory rally on September 18, 2009. In addition to winning a franchise record-setting 94 games in their new home, fans shattered the previous attendance record for the season, with 378,529 coming through the turnstiles.
The TinCaps also clinched playoff spots in each of the following two seasons.
Manager
Catcher
First Baseman:
Second Baseman:
Third Baseman:
Shortstop:
Designated Hitter:
Outfielders:
Starting Pitchers:
Relief Pitchers:
,
Jake Peavy
,
Bobby Scales,
Joakim Soria,
Dale Thayer,
David Freese,
Will Venable,
Nick Hundley,
Greg Burke,
Matt Antonelli,
Josh Geer,
Josh Barfield,
Eric Cyr,
AJ Pierzynski,
Wade LeBlanc,
Cliff Bartosh,
Jack Cassel,
Corey Koskie,
Ben Johnson,
Dennis Tankersley,
JJ Trujillo,
Michael Thompson,
Latroy Hawkins,
Scott Watkins,
Matt Lawton,
Dan Naulty,
Brandon Gomes
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 San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
, that 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...
. They won their first Midwest League Championship in 2009.
History
The Midwest League came to Fort WayneFort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
in . The franchise dates back from the league's days as the Illinois State League, starting in in Mattoon
Mattoon, Illinois
Mattoon is a city in Coles County, Illinois, United States. The population was 18,555 as of the 2010 census. It is a principal city of the Charleston–Mattoon Micropolitan Statistical Area.Mattoon was the site of the "Mad Gasser" attacks of the 1940s....
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. In the team moved to Keokuk
Keokuk, Iowa
Keokuk is a city in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Iowa and one of the county seats of Lee County. The other county seat is Fort Madison. The population was 11,427 at the 2000 census. The city is named after the Sauk Chief Keokuk, who is thought to be buried in Rand Park...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, where it spent five seasons; it was based in Wisconsin Rapids
Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Rapids is a city in and the county seat of Wood County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 18,435 at the 2000 census.According to the 2010 census, the Wisconsin Rapids micropolitan area was home to 54,362 people...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
(-) and Kenosha
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha is a city and the county seat of Kenosha County in the State of Wisconsin in United States. With a population of 99,218 as of May 2011, Kenosha is the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin. Kenosha is also the fourth-largest city on the western shore of Lake Michigan, following Chicago,...
, Wisconsin (-) before moving to Fort Wayne. The team was a Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
farm team before they affiliated with the Padres in . In , the team was sold to a pair of businessmen from Atlanta who also own the Salem Red Sox.
Prior to the 2009 season, the team was known as the Fort Wayne Wizards. The name TinCaps was chosen following the 2008 season, alluding to John Chapman, better known as the cooking pot-wearing Johnny Appleseed
Johnny Appleseed
Johnny Appleseed , born John Chapman, was an American pioneer nurseryman who introduced apple trees to large parts of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois...
. The Tin Cap refers to a fictionalized depiction of John Chapman wearing one in the 1948 Walt Disney movie "Johnny Appleseed" and is not supported by any historical facts.Chapman lived in Fort Wayne in his final years and is buried in the city.
The team's home park was Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium (Fort Wayne)
Memorial Stadium was a stadium located in Johnny Appleseed Park in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It was primarily used for baseball, and was the home field of the Fort Wayne Wizards of the Midwest League baseball team...
, which opened in 1993; a franchise attendance record of 318,506 was also set that year. As part of the Harrison Square
Harrison Square
Harrison Square is a mixed-use downtown revitalization project in Fort Wayne, IN. The project includes a ballpark that is primarily used for baseball, home field to the Fort Wayne TinCaps minor league baseball team...
revitalization project, Parkview Field
Parkview Field
Parkview Field is a minor league baseball stadium located in the central business district of Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.-History:Parkview Field was built as the new home of the Midwest League's Fort Wayne TinCaps, Single-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, replacing Memorial Stadium...
became the official home of the TinCaps at the start of the 2009 season. To coincide with the new ballpark, the team held a contest to determine a new name for the Wizards once that new ballpark opened, and "TinCaps" was the result.
The mascot of the TinCaps is Johnny. Previously, for the Wizards, it was Dinger the Dragon and prior to that, the Wizards were represented by Wayne the Wizard
Wayne the Wizard
Wayne the Wizard was the mascot of the Fort Wayne Wizards minor league baseball team from 1993 through 1998. Wayne was portrayed by Travis Weaver from 1996 through 1998...
.
The team won 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...
2009 championship by sweeping the Burlington Bees
Burlington Bees
The Burlington Bees are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Oakland Athletics, that plays in the Midwest League. Their home is in Burlington, Iowa.-History:...
, 3-0. The first two games were played at Parkview Field and the final, decisive game was played in Burlington, Iowa. The team and its staff were honored at Parkview Field in a special victory rally on September 18, 2009. In addition to winning a franchise record-setting 94 games in their new home, fans shattered the previous attendance record for the season, with 378,529 coming through the turnstiles.
The TinCaps also clinched playoff spots in each of the following two seasons.
Awards and honors
- 2009 – Midwest LeagueMidwest LeagueThe 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...
championship - 2009 – This Year in Minor League Baseball AwardsThis Year in Minor League Baseball AwardsThe Minor League Baseball Yearly Awards are given annually to the most outstanding players, teams, and single-game performances of the year. Initiated by Minor League Baseball in as the "This Year in Minor League Baseball Awards", the awards were re-named the "MiLBY Awards" in 2008...
"Overall Team of the Year"
All-time team
On August 24, 2008, The Journal Gazette and the franchise selected the all-time Wizards team members.Manager
- Randy ReadyRandy ReadyRandall Max Ready , is a former professional baseball player and was the hitting coach for the San Diego Padres. Ready played in the major Leagues primarily as a utility player from to . He also played one season in Japan for the Chiba Lotte Marines in...
Catcher
- Javier ValentinJavier ValentínJosé Javier Valentín Rosario is a catcher in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent. From -, he played for the Cincinnati Reds after playing with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and playing in four brief stints for the Minnesota Twins from -. He is the younger brother of former Major League...
First Baseman:
- John Scheschuk
Second Baseman:
- Josh BarfieldJosh BarfieldJoshua LaRoy Barfield is a second baseman who is currently in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. He is the son of former major league outfielder Jesse Barfield. Barfield was born in Venezuela during his mother's two-week winterball visit with his father...
Third Baseman:
- Sean BurroughsSean BurroughsSean Patrick Burroughs is an American professional baseball third baseman who is a free agent. He has previously played for the San Diego Padres and Tampa Bay Devil Rays....
Shortstop:
- Luis RivasLuis RivasLuis Wilfredo Rivas [REE-vas] is a free agent Major League Baseball infielder.He played for the Minnesota Twins from 2000 to 2005, Cleveland Indians in 2007, and Pittsburgh Pirates in 2008. He bats and throws right-handed.Rivas was known to be a free-swinging hitter who will offer at almost any...
Designated Hitter:
- Josh Loggins
Outfielders:
- Torii HunterTorii HunterTorii Kedar Hunter is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.Hunter has taken away many home runs throughout his 13-year major league career by "climbing the fence" in the outfield. He has won nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards as an outfielder.Hunter resides...
- Jeremy Owens
- Will VenableWill VenableWilliam Dion Venable is a Major League baseball right fielder for the San Diego Padres. In the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft, he was selected by the Padres in the seventh round. Venable made his Major League debut on August 29, , against the Colorado Rockies...
- Kevin ReeseKevin ReeseKevin Patrick Reese is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who last played for the New York Yankees Triple-A club, the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees....
Starting Pitchers:
- Jake PeavyJake PeavyJacob Edward Peavy is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Chicago White Sox. He bats and throws right-handed...
- LaTroy HawkinsLaTroy HawkinsLaTroy Hawkins is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Through 2011, he was third of all active pitchers in career games pitched.-Minnesota Twins:...
- Tom Mott
- Michael Ekstrom
- Gabe Ribas
Relief Pitchers:
- J.J. Trujillo
- Dale Thayer
Former TinCaps/Wizards in the Majors
Torii HunterTorii Hunter
Torii Kedar Hunter is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.Hunter has taken away many home runs throughout his 13-year major league career by "climbing the fence" in the outfield. He has won nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards as an outfielder.Hunter resides...
,
Jake Peavy
Jake Peavy
Jacob Edward Peavy is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Chicago White Sox. He bats and throws right-handed...
,
Bobby Scales,
Joakim Soria,
Dale Thayer,
David Freese,
Will Venable,
Nick Hundley,
Greg Burke,
Matt Antonelli,
Josh Geer,
Josh Barfield,
Eric Cyr,
AJ Pierzynski,
Wade LeBlanc,
Cliff Bartosh,
Jack Cassel,
Corey Koskie,
Ben Johnson,
Dennis Tankersley,
JJ Trujillo,
Michael Thompson,
Latroy Hawkins,
Scott Watkins,
Matt Lawton,
Dan Naulty,
Brandon Gomes
Brandon Gomes
Brandon Gomes is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays. He was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 17th Round of the 2007 MLB Draft out of Tulane University...
Sources
- Dinda, J. (2003), "Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the Midwest League," http://www.mwlguide.com/cities/fortwayne/index.html