The Lake County Captains are a minor league baseball

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 in Eastlake, Ohio

Eastlake, Ohio

As of the census of 2000, there were 20,255 people, 8,055 households, and 5,557 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,166.5 people per square mile . There were 8,310 housing units at an average density of 1,299.1 per square mile...

, a suburb of Cleveland

Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...

. The team, a Class A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians

Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...

, 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...

.

The Captains joined 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...

 following the 2009 season in a shuffle caused by the Columbus Catfish

Columbus Catfish

The Columbus Catfish were a minor league baseball team in Columbus, Georgia. They were a Class A team in the South Atlantic League, and were an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays since September 29, 2006. The Catfish relocated to Bowling Green, Kentucky for the 2009 season.The Catfish played home...

's move to Bowling Green, Kentucky

Bowling Green, Kentucky

Bowling Green is the third-most populous city in the state of Kentucky after Louisville and Lexington, with a population of 58,067 as of the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Warren County and the principal city of the Bowling Green, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area with an estimated 2009...

 for the 2009 season. The move alleviated travel costs and time, as it was the South Atlantic League

South Atlantic League

The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...

's northernmost team.
The nearest team (the West Virginia Power

West Virginia Power

This article is about the baseball team, for the electric utility serving southeast West Virginia from 1986-99, see Allegheny Energy.The West Virginia Power is a minor league baseball team of the South Atlantic League, and is the Class A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are located in...

 in Charleston

Charleston, West Virginia

Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...

) is a 256-mile drive from Eastlake.

Prior to the 2003 season, the club was based in Columbus, Georgia

Columbus, Georgia

Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...

 and known as the Columbus RedStixx

Columbus RedStixx

The Columbus RedStixx were a minor league baseball team in Columbus, Georgia. They were a Class A team in the South Atlantic League, and a farm team of the Cleveland Indians.The RedStixx played home games at Golden Park, except during 1996...

. The Captains play their home games in Classic Park

Classic Park

Classic Park is a stadium in Eastlake, Ohio, in suburban Cleveland. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Lake County Captains minor league baseball team. It was built in 2003 at a cost of $22 million and holds 7,273 people....

, which has a capacity of 7,273 and opened in 2003 as Eastlake Stadium. The current stadium name is the result of a naming rights

Naming rights

In the private sector, naming rights are a financial transaction whereby a corporation or other entity purchases the right to name a facility, typically for a defined period of time. For properties like a multi-purpose arena, performing arts venue or an athletic field, the term ranges from three...

 arrangement; the sponsor is Classic Automotive Group, a major area chain of auto dealerships. Classic Park hosted the South Atlantic League All-Star Game on June 20, 2006.

Facts

• Current uniform
  Uniform
  A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates...
  
   colors: White, navy blue, and light blue.
• Current logo design: A nautical wheel with waves and the team's wordmark.

• On-Field Host: Andrew Grover (commonly known just as "Grover")
• Mascots: Skipper, Skippy, Captain Clipper, and Captain Tony
• Merchandise Store: The Cargo Hold
• Racing fish: Buster Bluegill, Pauley Perch, and Willy Walleye

• Broadcast Information:

Radio Stations: WREO 97.1 FM, WFUN

WFUN (AM)

WFUN is an AM radio station in Ashtabula, Ohio, USA broadcasting at 970 kHz with a sports radio format. It is one of four stations in the Media One Group's Ashtabula cluster, the others being WZOO-FM, WREO-FM, WYBL and WFXJ-FM—all of which were sold off by Clear Channel in September...

 970 AM, WELW

WELW

WELW is an AM radio station licensed to Willoughby, Ohio and, while technically part of the Cleveland, Ohio radio market, its main area of service is Lake County and Eastern Cuyahoga County, Ohio.It operates on 1330 kHz...

 1330 AM

Television: Time Warner Cable

Time Warner Cable

Time Warner Cable is an American cable television company that operates in 28 states and has 31 operating divisions...

 (formerly Comcast

Comcast

Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...

) Cable Channel 99

Broadcasters: Craig Deas

Internet: Star 97

Manager: Ted Kubiak

Ted Kubiak

Theodore Rodger Kubiak is a former switch-hitting infielder for the Kansas City Athletics, the Oakland Athletics, the Milwaukee Brewers, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Texas Rangers, and the San Diego Padres. He was a member of the Oakland Athletics teams that won three World Series in a row...

Hitting Coach: Jim Rickon

Pitching Coach: Jeff Harris

Trivia

• Besides the Captains, the only other minor league baseball teams with the word "county" in their official moniker are the Brevard County Manatees
  Brevard County Manatees
  The Brevard County Manatees are a minor league baseball team of the Florida State League, and are the A-Advanced affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers...
  
  , Kane County Cougars
  Kane County Cougars
  The Kane County Cougars are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Kansas City Royals, that plays in the Midwest League. Their home games are played in Geneva, Illinois, about 35 miles west of Chicago....
  
  , Lake County Fielders
  Lake County Fielders
  The Lake County Fielders are a professional minor league baseball team based in Zion, Illinois, located in Lake County in the northern reaches of the Chicago area...
  
  , and Orange County Flyers. (A few other teams, among them the Charlotte Stone Crabs
  Charlotte Stone Crabs
  The Charlotte Stone Crabs are a minor league baseball team based in Port Charlotte, Florida. The team are currently members of the Florida State League and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays Major League Baseball team....
  
  , Lancaster Barnstormers
  Lancaster Barnstormers
  The Lancaster Barnstormers is an American professional baseball team based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. They are a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
  
  , 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...
  
  , Somerset Patriots
  Somerset Patriots
  The Somerset Patriots are an American professional baseball team based in Bridgewater Township, New Jersey. They are a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
  
  , Gwinnett Braves
  Gwinnett Braves
  The Gwinnett Braves are a minor league baseball team in the International League, the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Atlanta Braves. The team was previously the Richmond Braves for 43 seasons . On January 14, 2008, it was announced that the Richmond Braves would move from Richmond,...
  
  , represent counties but do not include the word "county".)
• While still the RedStixx, the team was sued by Exxon
  ExxonMobil
  Exxon Mobil Corporation or ExxonMobil, is an American multinational oil and gas corporation. It is a direct descendant of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil company, and was formed on November 30, 1999, by the merger of Exxon and Mobil. Its headquarters are in Irving, Texas...
  
   for using two x's in their name.
• Captains outfielder, and 2006 SAL All-Star, Johnny Drennen hit a memorable home run on June 6, against Roger Clemens
  Roger Clemens
  William Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
  
  , then pitching for the Lexington Legends
  Lexington Legends
  The Lexington Legends are a minor league baseball team of the South Atlantic League , and the Class A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Lexington, Kentucky, and play their home games at Whitaker Bank Ballpark, located in an industrial area on the northeast side of the city just...
  
   to prepare for a return to the Houston Astros
  Houston Astros
  The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
  
  .
• During a home game at Classic Park
  Classic Park
  Classic Park is a stadium in Eastlake, Ohio, in suburban Cleveland. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Lake County Captains minor league baseball team. It was built in 2003 at a cost of $22 million and holds 7,273 people....
  
   on June 24, 2007, Captains pitchers Carlton Smith, Austin Creps, and Luis Perdomo combined to throw a no-hitter
  No-hitter
  A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
  
   against the Delmarva Shorebirds
  Delmarva Shorebirds
  The Delmarva Shorebirds are a minor league baseball team based in Salisbury, Maryland. They are one of three Single-A affiliates of the Baltimore Orioles and a member of the South Atlantic League. The Shorebirds play at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.The "Shorebirds" name refers to the marine waterfowl...
  
  .
• During an away game at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium
  Arthur W. Perdue Stadium
  The Arthur W. Perdue Stadium is a baseball stadium in Salisbury, Maryland. It is the home of the Baltimore Orioles Class A affiliate Delmarva Shorebirds, and was named for the founder of Perdue Farms, Arthur Perdue. It features the Maryland Eastern Shore Baseball Hall of Fame. The stadium seats...
  
   on July 3, 2007, Captains pitchers Hector Rondon and Neil Wagner combined to throw a no-hitter against the Delmarva Shorebirds.
• During the home opener at Classic Park
  Classic Park
  Classic Park is a stadium in Eastlake, Ohio, in suburban Cleveland. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Lake County Captains minor league baseball team. It was built in 2003 at a cost of $22 million and holds 7,273 people....
  
   on April 11, 2011, Captains pitchers Trey Haley, Francisco Jimenez, and Clayton Ehlert combined to throw a no-hitter against the Dayton Dragons
  Dayton Dragons
  The Dayton Dragons are a Class A minor league baseball team from Dayton, Ohio affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds. They play in the Midwest League at Fifth Third Field.The Dragons came to Dayton in 2000...
  
  .
• The team's broadcaster, Craig Deas, successfully finished the Fifth Third Burger, a cheeseburger with five patties and a variety of other toppings, before a game against the West Michigan Whitecaps
  West Michigan Whitecaps
  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.-Franchise history:...
  
   during the 2011 season.

Franchise regular season win-loss records

Columbus Indians (73–69)

• 1991: 73–69

Columbus RedStixx (823–711)

• 1992: 77–62 (1st Half Southern Division Champions – SAL)
• 1993: 86–56
• 1994: 87–51 (1st Half Southern Division Champions – SAL)
• 1995: 80–62 (2nd Half Southern Division Champions – SAL)
• 1996: 79–63 (2nd Half Southern Division Champions – SAL)
• 1997: 62–76
• 1998: 59–81
• 1999: 70–71 (1st Half Southern Division Champions – SAL)
• 2000: 67–70 (1st Half Southern Division Champions – SAL)
• 2001: 77–59
• 2002: 79–60 (2nd Half Southern Division Champions – SAL)

Lake County Captains (646–602)

• 2003: 97–43 (1st & 2nd Half Northern Division Champions – SAL) (Best regular season record in pro baseball in 2003, min 120 games)
• 2004: 73–66
• 2005: 72–66
• 2006: 64–74
• 2007: 64–74
• 2008: 75–65 (1st Half Northern Division Champions – SAL)
• 2009: 71–66
• 2010: 77–62 (1st Half Eastern Division Champions – MWL & Midwest League Champions)
• 2011: 53–86

Franchise records

• Win-loss record entering 2012: 1542–1382 (646–602 as the Lake County Captains)
• Longest winning streak: 13 games (May 27 – June 8, 2003)
• Longest losing streak: 10 games (June 8 – June 18, 2011)
• Pitcher with most wins in a season: Steve Kline, 18 in 1994 (also league leader that year)
• Hitter with most home runs in a season: Russell Branyan
  Russell Branyan
  Russell Oles Branyan is a Major League Baseball first baseman. He throws right-handed, bats left-handed, and primarily plays first base, but is capable of playing third base and the outfield. Branyan began his professional career in the Cleveland Indians minor league system...
  
  , 40 in 1996 (also league leader that year)

Major League Alumni

• Luis Rivera, manager
• Fausto Carmona
  Fausto Carmona
  Fausto C. Carmona is a right-handed pitcher for the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball. Carmona made his major league debut with the Indians on April 15, 2006...
  
  
• Rafael Pérez
• Edward Mujica
  Edward Mujica
  Edward José Mujica [moo-HE-cah] is a right-handed relief pitcher for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball.-Cleveland Indians:Mujica originally signed with the Cleveland Indians as an undrafted free agent in...
  
  
• Kevin Kouzmanoff
  Kevin Kouzmanoff
  Kevin Kouzmanoff is an American professional baseball third baseman who is a free agent.Kouzmanoff had trouble with various sports in high school. He got special help for batting practice, just to learn how to swing a bat for three years, implementing a swing...
  
  
• Juan Lara
  Juan Lara
  Juan Manuel Lara is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher in the Cleveland Indians organization...
  
  
• Aaron Laffey
  Aaron Laffey
  Aaron Steven Laffey is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball. He made his major league debut with the Cleveland Indians in .-Cleveland Indians:...
  
  
• Jonathan Van Every
  Jonathan Van Every
  Jonathan Eugene Van Every is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who now plays for the St. Paul Saints. Van Every attended Itawamba Community College.-Baseball career:...
  
  
• Ben Francisco
  Ben Francisco
  Louis Ben Francisco is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies. He bats and throws right handed.-Early life:...
  
  
• Argenis Reyes
  Argenis Reyes
  Argenis N. Reyes Sanchez is a Major League Baseball second baseman. Formerly a member or the New York Mets organization, he is not related to former teammate José Reyes, although the two were childhood friends in the Dominican Republic.Reyes was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the...
  
  
• Brian Barton
  Brian Barton
  Brian Deon Barton is a Major League Baseball outfielder, who is currently with the Cincinnati Reds.-Early life:...
  
  
• Michael Aubrey
  Michael Aubrey
  Robert Michael Aubrey is an American baseball player currently in the Washington Nationals organization.-Amateur:He attended Southwood High School were he won Louisiana Baseball player of the year....
  
  
• Max Ramírez
  Max Ramírez
  Maximiliano R. Ramírez is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball.-Atlanta Braves:...
  
  
• Scott Radinsky
  Scott Radinsky
  Scott David Radinsky is the pitching coach of the Cleveland Indians.He is also a left-handed former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball, who had an 11-year career from – and –...
  
  , pitching coach
• Frank Herrmann
• Luis Perdomo
  Luis Perdomo
  Luis M. Perdomo is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball. He is 6'0" tall and he is 170 pounds.-Career:...
  
  
• Niuman Romero
  Niuman Romero
  Niuman José Romero is a Venezuelan professional baseball infielder for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball...
  
  
• Wyatt Toregas
  Wyatt Toregas
  Wyatt Reeder Toregas is an American professional baseball catcher who is currently in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He attended South Lakes High School in Reston, Virginia where he excelled in wrestling and golf, as well as baseball...
  
  
• Chris Gimenez
  Chris Gimenez
  Christopher Paul Gimenez , is an American Major League Baseball catcher and outfielder for the Seattle Mariners.-Career:Gimenez went to Gilroy High School, in Gilroy, California, and was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 34th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not...
  
  
• J. D. Martin
  J. D. Martin
  John Dale Martin is a Major League Baseball pitcher who is in the Washington Nationals organization....
  
  
• Trevor Crowe
  Trevor Crowe
  Trevor Thornton Crowe is a Major League Baseball outfielder in the Cleveland Indians organization. He was born on the same day as major league stars Ryan Braun and Nick Markakis....
  
  
• Jeff Stevens
  Jeff Stevens
  Jeffrey Allen Stevens is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently a free agent. He was originally selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the sixth round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft...
  
  
• Ruben Niebla
  Ruben Niebla
  Ruben O. Niebla , is a former professional baseball player and current assistant to the major-league staff of the Cleveland Indians....
  
  , pitching coach
• Tony Sipp
  Tony Sipp
  Tony Marcel Sipp is an American baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Indians. Since being drafted by Cleveland in the 45th round in 2004, Sipp has played in Minor League Baseball with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, Lake County Captains, Kinston Indians, Akron Aeros, and Columbus Clippers...
  
  

(the above names are all enshrined in the Lake County Captains Walk of Fame)

• Josh Tomlin
  Josh Tomlin
  Joshua Aubry Tomlin is a Major League Baseball pitcher, Tomlin plays for the Cleveland Indians.-Career:...
  
  
• Víctor Martínez (Columbus RedStixx)
• CC Sabathia (Columbus RedStixx)
• Jaret Wright
  Jaret Wright
  Jaret Samuel Wright is an American former Major League Baseball starting pitcher, who played 10 years for five teams. He is the son of former major league pitcher Clyde Wright.-Early life and education:...
  
   (Columbus RedStixx)
• Jhonny Peralta
  Jhonny Peralta
  Jhonny Antonio Peralta is a Dominican professional baseball shortstop with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. He previously played with the Cleveland Indians.-Playing career:...
  
   (Columbus RedStixx)
• Russell Branyan
  Russell Branyan
  Russell Oles Branyan is a Major League Baseball first baseman. He throws right-handed, bats left-handed, and primarily plays first base, but is capable of playing third base and the outfield. Branyan began his professional career in the Cleveland Indians minor league system...
  
  (Columbus RedStixx)

External links

• Lake County Captains web site
• Lake County Captains Fans web site