Rockford RiverHawks
Encyclopedia
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' home field was Marinelli Field
in Rockford, Illinois. In 2006, the RiverHawks moved into their new home, RiverHawks Stadium
, located in Loves Park, Illinois
.
, where they were known as the Springfield Capitals, to Rockford in time for the 2002 season. However, the RiverHawks originated in Portsmouth, Ohio
as the Portsmouth Explorers.
The Rockford RiverHawks (including years as Portsmouth and Springfield) are currently tied with the Florence Freedom
(including years as Erie and Johnstown) for the most league championships with three each.
Rich Austin broke into pro ball in 2001 with the Springfield Capitals, who moved to Rockford following the season. In three years as a RiverHawk, Austin set two career and six single-season records. In 2004, Austin hit a league-leading .359 with 15 home runs and 77 RBI. The latter two are still single-season team records. He was an a Frontier League All-Star, league Player of the Year and a first-team member of Baseball America magazine’s All-Independent Leagues team. The Kansas City Royals signed him immediately after the RiverHawks won the ’04 title, but released him in spring training the following March.
Austin hit 32 home runs in a Rockford uniform, with his home games at pitcher-friendly Marinelli Field, but the left-hander hitter’s career record stood until Jason James hit his 33rd and 34th career home runs in August.
Austin was named manager of the RiverHawks for the 2011 season.
Jason James ended 2009 atop the team record books in most offensive categories. In 2009, James hit a team-record .374 to win the league batting crown and hit a career-best 14 home runs with 48 RBI. Along the way, he had a league-record 40-game hitting streak. He signed with the Chicago Cubs in September and it is likely he is assigned to their Class AA Tennessee affiliate.
In 3½ professional seasons, all with the RiverHawks, James set nine team single-season or career records, including home runs and hits.
James has never hit under .341 and finished second in the league batting race in 2007 and ’08. His .355 career average is the best in team history. James also holds the RiverHawks’ all-time records for hits (415), home runs (34), RBI (199), doubles (86), games (306) and at-bats (1,170). In 2008, he doubled 30 times to set a single-season team record.
The RiverHawks signed the former Kishwaukee College player in July 2006 and he had two hits in his first professional game. James was voted to the Frontier League All-Star Game and to its end-of-season All-Star team in each of his three full seasons.
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
suburb of Loves Park
Loves Park, Illinois
Loves Park is a city in Winnebago County, Illinois, United States. In recent years, the city spread across the eastern Winnebago county line and now reaches into Boone County, Illinois...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Currently, the RiverHawks are a member 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...
, which they previously played in from 2002 until 2009. From the 2002 season to 2005, the RiverHawks' home field was Marinelli Field
Marinelli Field
Marinelli Field is a stadium in Rockford, Illinois located in Blackhawk Park and is overseen by the Rockford Park District. It is primarily used for baseball...
in Rockford, Illinois. In 2006, the RiverHawks moved into their new home, RiverHawks Stadium
RiverHawks Stadium
Road Ranger Stadium is a stadium in Loves Park, Illinois. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Rockford RiverHawks minor league baseball team. It opened in 2006. The capacity is 4,246 people. It replaced the club's former home, Marinelli Field.As of 2007, the Rockford...
, located in Loves Park, Illinois
Loves Park, Illinois
Loves Park is a city in Winnebago County, Illinois, United States. In recent years, the city spread across the eastern Winnebago county line and now reaches into Boone County, Illinois...
.
History
The RiverHawks franchise was relocated from Springfield, IllinoisSpringfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
, where they were known as the Springfield Capitals, to Rockford in time for the 2002 season. However, the RiverHawks originated in Portsmouth, Ohio
Portsmouth, Ohio
Portsmouth is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Scioto County. The municipality is located on the northern banks of the Ohio River and east of the Scioto River in Southern Ohio. The population was 20,226 at the 2010 census.-Foundation:...
as the Portsmouth Explorers.
The Rockford RiverHawks (including years as Portsmouth and Springfield) are currently tied with the Florence Freedom
Florence Freedom
The Florence Freedom are a professional baseball team based in the Northern Kentucky city of Florence, located near the city of Cincinnati. The Freedom are a member of the West Division of the Frontier League, an independent baseball league...
(including years as Erie and Johnstown) for the most league championships with three each.
Seasons
| Portsmouth Explorers (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 | 20-31 | .392 | 3rd in FL East | |
| 1994 | 24-38 | .387 | 4th in FL East | |
| 1995 | 28-41 | .406 | 7th in FL | |
| Total | 72-110 | .396 | ||
| Springfield Capitals (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... ) |
||||
| 1996 | 39-35 | .527 | 1st in FL West | Won 1st Round Playoff vs. Richmond Roosters 2-1. 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:... 2-0. |
| 1997 | 42-37 | .532 | 3rd in FL West | |
| 1998 | 48-29 | .623 | 1st in FL West | Won 1st Round Playoff vs. Evansville Otters Evansville Otters 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... 2-1. 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:... 2-1. |
| 1999 | 39-45 | .464 | 4th in FL West | |
| 2000 | 37-46 | .446 | 4th in FL West | |
| 2001 | 45-39 | .538 | 3rd in FL West | |
| Total | 250-231 | .520 | ||
| Playoffs | 8-3 | .727 | 2 Division Titles. 2 Championships. | |
| Rockford Riverhawks (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... ) |
||||
| 2002 | 45-39 | .538 | 2nd in FL West | |
| 2003 | 48-42 | .533 | 2nd in FL West | |
| 2004 | 59-37 | .615 | 1st in FL West | Won 1st Round Playoff 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... 3-2. Won Frontier League Championship vs. Evansville Otters Evansville Otters 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... 3-0. |
| 2005 | 51-45 | .531 | 2nd in FL West | Lost 1st Round Playoff vs. Kalamazoo Kings Kalamazoo Kings The Kalamazoo Kings are a professional baseball team based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in the United States. The Kings are a member of the Eastern Division of the Frontier League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball... 3-1. |
| 2006 | 49-47 | .510 | 1st in FL West | Lost 1st Round Playoff vs. Evansville Otters Evansville Otters 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... 3-2. |
| 2007 | 52-43 | .547 | 2nd in FL Central | Lost 1st Round Playoff vs. Windy City Thunderbolts Windy City ThunderBolts The Windy City ThunderBolts are a professional baseball team based in the Chicago suburb of Crestwood, Illinois, in the United States. The ThunderBolts are a member of the East Division of the Frontier League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball... 3-0. |
| 2008 | 48-48 | .500 | 4th in FL West | |
| 2009 | 44-50 | .468 | 4th in FL West | |
| Rockford Riverhawks (Northern League) | ||||
| 2010 | 47-52 | .475 | 5th in Northern League | |
| Total | 443-403 | .524 | ||
| Playoffs | 9-11 | .450 | 2 Division Titles. 4 Playoff Appearances. 1 Championship | |
Notable Players
Jason Shelley is arguably the top pitcher in Frontier League history. Shelley pitched a six-inning no-hitter against Evansville in June 2002 at Marinelli Field. In August 2002, be struck out River City's Joe Urban for his 130th strikeout of the season. Shelley broke Brett Grey's league record of 129 and finished the season with 156 strikeouts, still the league standard. In 2003, Shelley recorded a league-record 0.83 earned-run average. The Milwaukee Brewers signed him at midseason and assigned him to Class AA Huntsville in the Southern League. Baseball America magazine named Shelley its Independent Leagues Player of the Year in 2003.Rich Austin broke into pro ball in 2001 with the Springfield Capitals, who moved to Rockford following the season. In three years as a RiverHawk, Austin set two career and six single-season records. In 2004, Austin hit a league-leading .359 with 15 home runs and 77 RBI. The latter two are still single-season team records. He was an a Frontier League All-Star, league Player of the Year and a first-team member of Baseball America magazine’s All-Independent Leagues team. The Kansas City Royals signed him immediately after the RiverHawks won the ’04 title, but released him in spring training the following March.
Austin hit 32 home runs in a Rockford uniform, with his home games at pitcher-friendly Marinelli Field, but the left-hander hitter’s career record stood until Jason James hit his 33rd and 34th career home runs in August.
Austin was named manager of the RiverHawks for the 2011 season.
Jason James ended 2009 atop the team record books in most offensive categories. In 2009, James hit a team-record .374 to win the league batting crown and hit a career-best 14 home runs with 48 RBI. Along the way, he had a league-record 40-game hitting streak. He signed with the Chicago Cubs in September and it is likely he is assigned to their Class AA Tennessee affiliate.
In 3½ professional seasons, all with the RiverHawks, James set nine team single-season or career records, including home runs and hits.
James has never hit under .341 and finished second in the league batting race in 2007 and ’08. His .355 career average is the best in team history. James also holds the RiverHawks’ all-time records for hits (415), home runs (34), RBI (199), doubles (86), games (306) and at-bats (1,170). In 2008, he doubled 30 times to set a single-season team record.
The RiverHawks signed the former Kishwaukee College player in July 2006 and he had two hits in his first professional game. James was voted to the Frontier League All-Star Game and to its end-of-season All-Star team in each of his three full seasons.