Worcester Tornadoes
Encyclopedia
The Worcester Tornadoes are a professional baseball team based in Worcester, Massachusetts
, in the United States
. The Tornadoes are a member of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball
, an independent baseball
league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball
. Since their inception in 2005, the Tornadoes have played their home games at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field
, on the College of the Holy Cross
campus.
The Tornadoes were formerly owned by Perfect Game LLC. On October 5, 2009, the majority stake of the franchise was sold to an undisclosed group of Maryland-based investors, which was later revealed to be Todd Breighner and Daniel DiGiacomo of Streamlined Sports, Inc. The directors of the ownership group include Charles Milanz and John Grammer. Jorg Bassiacos is executive vice president and general manager. The Tornadoes were managed by Rich Gedman
, a former Major League catcher with the Boston Red Sox
until the end of the 2010 season.
The Worcester Tornadoes are named after the destructive tornado
that hit Worcester on June 9, 1953.
The Tornadoes, in their first season, won the Can-Am League Championship, sweeping the Quebec Capitales
three games to zero. After beating Quebec in the first two games at Stade Municipal
, the Tornadoes clinched the championship on their home field on September 15, 2005.
The Tornadoes uniforms incorporate traditional baseball design. The primary cap is black with a burnt orange brim with the cap logo depicting a white "W" and a burnt orange tornado centered on the front. The home uniform is white with black pinstripes and burnt orange piping. The jersey features the "Tornadoes" wordmark centered across the front in black with a burnt orange outline. The players' number is centered below and to the left of the wordmark in orange with black outline. The away jersey is grey with orange piping, with the "Worcester" wordmark arched across the front of the jersey in black with burnt orange outline.
During the 2007 season, the Tornadoes competed for the Commonwealth Cup with the Can-Am League's two other Massachusetts based teams, the North Shore Spirit
and the Brockton Rox
. The Tornadoes finished in second (by three and a half games) behind the North Shore Spirit.
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Tornadoes are a member of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball
Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball
The Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, based in Durham, North Carolina, is a professional, independent baseball league located in the Northeastern United States and the Canadian province of Quebec. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is...
, 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...
. Since their inception in 2005, the Tornadoes have played their home games at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field
Fitton Field
Fitton Field is a multi-purpose sports stadium in Worcester, Massachusetts. Primarily used for College of the Holy Cross sporting events, the baseball stadium also serves as the home field for the Can-Am League Worcester Tornadoes.-History and layout:...
, on the College of the Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
campus.
The Tornadoes were formerly owned by Perfect Game LLC. On October 5, 2009, the majority stake of the franchise was sold to an undisclosed group of Maryland-based investors, which was later revealed to be Todd Breighner and Daniel DiGiacomo of Streamlined Sports, Inc. The directors of the ownership group include Charles Milanz and John Grammer. Jorg Bassiacos is executive vice president and general manager. The Tornadoes were managed by Rich Gedman
Rich Gedman
Richard Leo Gedman is a former Major League Baseball catcher and left-handed batter who played with the Boston Red Sox , Houston Astros and St...
, a former Major League catcher with the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
until the end of the 2010 season.
The Worcester Tornadoes are named after the destructive tornado
1953 Worcester Tornado
The 1953 Worcester Tornado was an extremely strong tornado that struck the city and surrounding area of Worcester, Massachusetts on June 9, 1953. It was part of the Flint–Worcester tornado outbreak sequence, which occurred over a three-day period from June 6—9, 1953. The storm stayed on the ground...
that hit Worcester on June 9, 1953.
The Tornadoes, in their first season, won the Can-Am League Championship, sweeping the Quebec Capitales
Quebec Capitales
The Québec Capitales are a professional baseball team based in Quebec City, in Canada. The Capitales are a member of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
three games to zero. After beating Quebec in the first two games at Stade Municipal
Stade Municipal (Quebec City)
Stade Municipal is a stadium in Quebec City, Quebec. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Quebec Capitales Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball minor league baseball team. It originally opened in 1938. It holds 4,800 people and is located in the...
, the Tornadoes clinched the championship on their home field on September 15, 2005.
Logos and uniforms
The official colors of the Worcester Tornadoes are black, burnt orange, and beige. The primary logo consists of a stylized, white baseball with burnt orange threads centered inside of a black ring outlined in burnt orange and black. The words "Worcester Tornadoes" are arched inside of the ring in beige in scripted, capital letters. An orange and black tornado wraps around a baseball bat in the middle of the logo, with a white "W" superimposed over the center, with black outline.The Tornadoes uniforms incorporate traditional baseball design. The primary cap is black with a burnt orange brim with the cap logo depicting a white "W" and a burnt orange tornado centered on the front. The home uniform is white with black pinstripes and burnt orange piping. The jersey features the "Tornadoes" wordmark centered across the front in black with a burnt orange outline. The players' number is centered below and to the left of the wordmark in orange with black outline. The away jersey is grey with orange piping, with the "Worcester" wordmark arched across the front of the jersey in black with burnt orange outline.
Playoffs
| Season | First Round | League Championship | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | W, 2–1, New Haven County New Haven County Cutters The New Haven County Cutters were an independent baseball team based in New Haven, Connecticut. From 2004 through 2007, it played in the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball , an independent league that is not affiliated with Major League Baseball or with the Minor League Baseball... |
W, 3-0, Quebec Quebec Capitales The Québec Capitales are a professional baseball team based in Quebec City, in Canada. The Capitales are a member of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball... |
||
| 2006 | Did Not Qualify | |||
| 2007 | Did Not Qualify | |||
| 2008 | L, 3-1, Sussex Sussex Skyhawks The Sussex Skyhawks were a professional baseball team that played at Skylands Park in Augusta, New Jersey. The team was part of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, an independent minor baseball league also referred to as the Can-Am League, from their inaugural season in 2006... |
|||
| 2009 | W, 3-0, New Jersey New Jersey Jackals The New Jersey Jackals are a professional baseball team based in Little Falls, New Jersey, in the United States. The Jackals are a member of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball... |
L, 3-1, Quebec Quebec Capitales The Québec Capitales are a professional baseball team based in Quebec City, in Canada. The Capitales are a member of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball... |
||
During the 2007 season, the Tornadoes competed for the Commonwealth Cup with the Can-Am League's two other Massachusetts based teams, the North Shore Spirit
North Shore Spirit
The North Shore Spirit was a minor-league baseball team based in Lynn, Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007. The Spirit played in the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball , an independent league that is not affiliated with Major League Baseball or with the Minor League Baseball...
and the Brockton Rox
Brockton Rox
The Brockton Rox were a professional baseball team based in Brockton, Massachusetts, in the United States. The Rox were a member of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. From the 2002 season to 2011, the Rox played their home...
. The Tornadoes finished in second (by three and a half games) behind the North Shore Spirit.
Quick facts
- Current uniformUniformA 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 with orange piping and pinstripes for home games and grey for away games. Home with the word "Tornadoes" across the front and number on the back. Black hats with an orange brim and button and the letter "W" in script. - Current logo design: A tornado swirling around a baseball bat with a "W" superimposed over the twister centered over a white baseball with orange threads. The tornado and baseball design is centered inside of a black ring outlined in orange with the team's name arched around in beige, scripted letters.
- Current mascotMascotThe term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
: Twister (2005-present). - Current Broadcasters: Radio: Nick Gagalis
- Current Radio Stations: UstreamUstreamUstream is a website which consists of a network of diverse channels providing a platform for lifecasting and live video streaming of events online. Established in March 2007, the site has over 2,000,000 registered users who generate 1,500,000+ hours of live streamed content per month with over ten...