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Erie SeaWolves

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Erie SeaWolves
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassDouble-A (1999–present)
Previous classesClass A Short Season (1995–1998)
LeagueEastern League (2022–present)
DivisionSouthwest Division
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
TeamDetroit Tigers (2001–present)
Previous teamsAnaheim Angels (1999–2000) Pittsburgh Pirates (1995–1998)
Minor league titles
League titles (1)2023
Division titles (7)
  • 1997
  • 1999
  • 2001
  • 2007
  • 2019
  • 2022
  • 2023
First-half titles (1)
  • 2023
Second-half titles (1)
  • 2022
Team data
NameErie SeaWolves (1995–present)
ColorsBlack, red, gold, gray, white
         
BallparkUPMC Park (1995–present)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Fernando Aguirre
General managerGreg Coleman
ManagerGabe Álvarez
MediaErie Times-News
Fox Sports Radio AM 1330

The Erie SeaWolves are an American professional baseball team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. They compete in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) as a member of the Eastern League's Southwest Division, serving as the Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. The team was founded in 1989 and began playing in Erie for the 1995 season. The SeaWolves currently play their home games at UPMC Park in downtown Erie, next door to Erie Insurance Arena and the Warner Theatre.

The "SeaWolves" name refers to the city's location along Lake Erie as well as their original affiliation with the Pittsburgh Pirates. "Sea wolf" is a historical epithet for sailors who engaged in piracy.[1]

History

The team was originally formed in 1989 and based in Welland, Ontario, as a member of the New York–Penn League called the Welland Pirates. After six unsuccessful seasons, they were relocated to Erie, Pennsylvania, following the departure of the city's prior baseball team, the Erie Sailors. On June 20, 1995, the Erie SeaWolves defeated the Jamestown Jammers in their inaugural game in Erie. José Guillén, a Major League Baseball alumnus from the Dominican Republic, hit the decisive home-run for the team.[2] The SeaWolves club started in 1989 as the Welland Pirates, based in Welland, Ontario, as a member of the short-season New York–Penn League. The team played at Welland Stadium from 1989 to 1994 and was affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates. When the Welland Pirates relocated to Erie in 1995, they were rebranded as the "Erie SeaWolves". The relocation of the team from Welland to Erie forced the Frontier League incarnation of the Erie Sailors to relocate to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where they became the Johnstown Steal (this team is now known as the Florence Y'alls, based in Florence, Kentucky). Before that, another team called the Erie Sailors played in the New York - Penn League. However, they relocated to Wappingers Falls, New York (becoming the Hudson Valley Renegades), because the team's owner, Marvin Goldklang, did not upgrade Ainsworth Field to Major League Baseball specifications. Once the civic government secured an $8 million grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to build UPMC Park (then known as Jerry Uht Park), the Welland Pirates moved to Erie. While Erie lacked affiliated baseball in 1994, the city fielded an independent franchise in the Frontier League and reused the "Sailors" name. The SeaWolves succeed in various Erie-based baseball franchises, namely every version of the Erie Sailors (the New York–Penn League franchise is now called the State College Spikes).

The SeaWolves served as a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate from 1995 to 1998. In 1999, the Double-A Eastern League added two expansion franchises, with Erie gaining one of them. The team joined the Eastern League after moving from the Short-Season A to Double-A level. Therefore, the current SeaWolves organization is considered a continuation of the former even though it changed classes. Minor League Baseball allowed Erie to keep their New York–Penn League records and history as a member of the Eastern League. Subsequently, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers replaced them in the New York-Penn League, officially considered an expansion franchise rather than a continuation of the SeaWolves.

The SeaWolves became an affiliate of the Anaheim Angels after moving to the Double-A level. The team switched to the Detroit Tigers in 2001, with whom they continue to be affiliated.

In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the SeaWolves were organized into the Double-A Northeast.[3] In 2022, the Double-A Northeast became known as the Eastern League, the name historically used by the regional circuit before the 2021 reorganization.[4]

On September 26, 2023, the SeaWolves completed a full sweep of the playoffs, capped off by a 10-0 win over the Binghamton Rumble Ponies in Game 2 of the Eastern League Championship Series, leading to their first championship title in franchise history.[5]

Ownership

Palisades Baseball originally owned the Erie SeaWolves when they started to play in 1995. In 2003, Palisades sold the team to Mandalay Sports Entertainment, a former owner/operator of several Minor League Baseball clubs. On March 27, 2015, Fernando Aguirre was introduced as the owner of the SeaWolves. Aguirre, a veteran executive of Procter & Gamble (P&G) and Chiquita Brands International, purchased the team from Mandalay for an undisclosed amount and announced his intent to keep the team in Erie.[6][7] Aguirre also owns a minority share of the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball, and a one-third share of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the Single-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs in the Carolina League.[8]

Logos and uniforms

The primary colors for the Erie SeaWolves are black, red, and white, with minor accents of gold and gray. The primary logo includes a stylized "pirate wolf" centered over two intersecting baseball bats with sword hilts. The wordmark arches in line with the wolf's tricorne in white, black, and gold. The SeaWolves also have a secondary logo featuring a weathered Jolly Roger on a "bat sword", charged with a red letter "E". This emblem alludes to Erie's nickname, "Flagship City", a reference to the Flagship Niagara that Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry commanded during his 1813 victory over the British Royal Navy in the Battle of Lake Erie.[1]

The home uniforms include a black cap with the "bandanna wolf" logo and white jerseys featuring black piping. The "SeaWolves" wordmark arches across the front in black letters with a red outline, and the crossed "bat swords" logo is on the left sleeve. The away uniforms feature a gray jersey with black piping, the "Erie" wordmark in red with a black outline, and the crossed "bat sword" logo on the left sleeve. The alternate jersey is red with black piping and includes the "Erie" wordmark in white with a black outline; the "Tricorne Wolf" logo occupies the left sleeve.[1] For the 2014 season, the SeaWolves added a black, white, and red panel cap with a black alternate jersey to match. Both include the "pirate wolf" logo. In 2016, the team debuted another alternate cap featuring a black crown with a red bill, charged with the "bandanna wolf" logo.

Culture

Mascots

C. Wolf with youth softball player in June 2015

The Erie SeaWolves' official mascot is an anthropomorphic, gray Canidae named C. Wolf. He wears the team's official red alternate jersey with a pirate hat, a red and white bandana, and an eye patch. His friends include Paws (the Detroit Tigers' official mascot) as well as three anthropomorphic sausages sponsored by the Erie-based Smith's Provision Company: Kenny Kiełbasa, Herbie Hot Dog, and Santino the Italian Sausage.[9]

Promotions

Buck Night

"Buck Night" is a highly celebrated promotion by the Erie SeaWolves at UPMC Park. It is held several times each season, allowing fans who have paid for reserved seats to purchase specified food items for only $1.00 each.[10] The menu includes hot dogs, popcorn, soft drinks, and American-made beer.

Alternative Facts Night

On March 10, 2017, the Erie SeaWolves made national headlines for their upcoming "Alternative Facts Night" promotion on Friday, August 25, 2017. Their opponent was the Akron RubberDucks, whose alternative name was the "Akron Yellow Bath Toys" for the game. The promotion is a reference to a popular culture trend following a news story in which Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to U.S. president, Donald Trump, coined the phrase "alternative facts" to bolster a disputed claim by White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, that more people attended Trump's presidential inauguration on January 20, 2017 than the first inauguration of Barack Obama on January 20, 2009. The SeaWolves will host Alternative Facts Night to "celebrate facts that the team knows to be true—even if some media outlets may dispute them." As part of the promotion, the first 1,000 fans will receive a 2016 SeaWolves Eastern League Championship ring, although the RubberDucks earned the title. The club also expects to have 1.2 million fans attend the game between Erie and Akron, even though UPMC Park only has a seating capacity of 6,000. The actual proceeds for Alternative Facts Night will go to the cash-strapped Erie City School District.[11][12][13]

In anticipation of "Alternative Facts Night", Fernando Aguirre published a message on Twitter that read, "This is huge! #AlternativeFactsNight. We will build a [right field] wall, and Akron will pay for it. I promise."[14] This was a parody of Donald Trump's political campaign, in which he stated, "I would build a great wall, and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me, and I'll build them very inexpensively—I will build a great, great wall on our southern border. And I will have Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words."[15]

Community service

The Erie SeaWolves engage in many philanthropic efforts throughout Erie and its surrounding communities. Key team initiatives include UPMC Health Plan Paint the Park Pink Weekend to benefit local cancer charities, Northwest Savings Bank Gloves for Kids equipment drive, and Sensory friendly Day at the Ballpark in partnership with the Autism Society of Northwest Pennsylvania. The team also sponsors youth sports and education programs through the SeaWolves Community Fund. On September 16, 2015, the Erie SeaWolves earned the Erie Times-News Commitment to Erie Award for community service by a business with 50 or fewer employees.[16]

Broadcasting

In February 2017, the Erie SeaWolves extended their broadcasting contract with Fox Sports Radio AM 1330: The Fan, a local affiliate of Connoisseur Media, to air every game during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Greg Gania has served as the Voice of the SeaWolves since 2006 and is the longest-tenured play-by-play broadcaster in team history.[17]

Season-by-season results

Season results in New York–Penn League

Regular season

Welland Pirates – 1989–1994
Season Affiliation Manager Record
1989 Pirates U. L. Washington 32–44, 5th place Stedler
1990 Jack Lind 36–42, 3rd place Stedler
1991 Lee Driggers 30–47, 6th place Stedler
1992 Trent Jewett 31–46, 6th place Stedler
1993 Larry Smith 35–42, 5th place Stedler
1994 Jeff Banister 30–44, 4th place Stedler
Erie SeaWolves – 1995–1998
Season Affiliation Manager Record
1995 Pirates Scott Little 34–41, 3rd place Stedler
1996 Jeff Richardson 30–46, 4th place Stedler
1997 Marty Brown 50–26, 1st place Stedler
1998 Tracy Woodson 26–50, 4th place Stedler

Season results in Eastern League

Regular season

Erie SeaWolves – 1999–present
Season Affiliation Manager Record
1999 Angels Garry Templeton 81–61, 1st place South
2000 Don Wakamatsu 47–94, 6th place South
2001 Tigers Luis Pujols 84–58, 1st place South
2002 Kevin Bradshaw 52–89, 6th place South
2003 Kevin Bradshaw 72–70, 3rd place South
2004 Rick Sweet 80–62, 2nd place South
2005 Duffy Dyer 63–79, 6th place South
2006 Duffy Dyer 60–81, 6th place South
2007 Matt Walbeck 81–59, 1st place South
2008 Tom Brookens 68–74, 4th place South
2009 Tom Brookens 71–70, 4th place South
2010 Phil Nevin 66–76, 6th place West
2011 Chris Cron 67–75, 5th place West
2012 Chris Cron 57–84, 6th place West
2013 Chris Cron 76–66, 2nd place West
2014 Lance Parrish 71–71, 4th place West
2015 Lance Parrish 64–78, 6th place West
2016 Lance Parrish 62–79, 4th place West
2017 Lance Parrish 65–75, 4th place West
2018 Andrew Graham 63–77, 5th place West
2019 Mike Rabelo 77–61, 1st place West
2020 Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Arnie Beyeler 64–55, 3rd place Southwest
2022 Gabe Alvarez 80–58, 1st place Southwest
2023 Gabe Alvarez 75–62, 1st place Southwest

Playoffs

Season Semifinals League Finals
1997 L, 2–0, Pittsfield Mets -
1999 L, 3–1, Harrisburg Senators -
2001 L, 3–1, Reading Phillies -
2004 L, 3–0, Altoona Curve -
2007 L, 3–1, Akron Aeros -
2013 L, 3–1, Harrisburg Senators -
2022 W, 2–0 Richmond Flying Squirrels L, 2–1, Somerset Patriots
2023 W, 2–0 Richmond Flying Squirrels W, 2–0, Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Roster

Erie SeaWolves roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 31 Austin Bergner
  • 35 Michael Bienlien
  • 34 Garrett Burhenn
  • 24 Calvin Coker
  • 12 Wilkel Hernandez
  • 15 Jake Higginbotham
  • 21 Troy Melton
  • 26 Trevin Michael
  • -- Jake Miller
  • 38 Tim Naughton
  • 29 Tyler Owens
  • 18 Joel Peguero
  • 14 Carlos Pena
  • 17 RJ Petit
  • 25 Angel Reyes
  • 20 Matt Seelinger
  • 10 Eric Silva
  • 33 CJ Weins

Catchers

  •  2 Eliezer Alfonso
  • 30 Josh Crouch
  • 19 Liam Hicks
  • 13 Julio E. Rodriguez

Infielders

Outfielders

  •  4 Brady Allen
  • 95 Daniel Cabrera ‡
  • 16 Patrick Lee
  • 22 Ben Malgeri
  •  9 Austin Murr

Manager

Coaches

  • 34 Matt Malott (bench)
  • 24 Juan Pimentel (pitching)
  • 51 CJ Wamsley (hitting)

60-day injured list

  • 85 Blair Calvo (full season)
  • 93 Trei Cruz (full season)
  • 98 Jake Holton
  • 81 TJ Hopkins (full season)
  • 89 Tyler Mattison (full season)
  • -- Nick Starr (full season)
  • 36 Bryce Tassin
  • 86 Adam Wolf

7-day injured list
* On Detroit Tigers 40-man roster
~ Development list
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporarily inactive list
Roster updated September 29, 2024
 Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • Eastern League
 → Detroit Tigers minor league players

Notable alumni

Retired numbers

Sam Jethroe Jackie Robinson
CF
Retired by the
Erie SeaWolves
on June 6, 2005		 2B
Retired throughout
professional baseball
on April 15, 1997

References

  1. ^ a b c Hill, Benjamin (November 1, 2012). "Double-A Erie updates nautical logo". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
  2. ^ "UPMC Park". MiLB.com. 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  3. ^ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  4. ^ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  5. ^ "'We are the champions!' SeaWolves claim their first Eastern League Championship". YourErie.com. 26 September 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  6. ^ Reisenweber, Tom (March 28, 2015). "Businessman Aguirre buys SeaWolves; plans to keep team in Erie". Erie Times-News. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  7. ^ "SeaWolves Welcome New Owner Fernando Aguirre". MiLB.com. March 27, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  8. ^ Thompson, Ann (July 6, 2015). "Fernando Aguirre Enjoying Life As A Baseball Owner". Cincinnati Public Radio. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  9. ^ "Meet C. Wolf!". MiLB.com. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  10. ^ "Buck Night Package". MiLB.com. January 2, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
  11. ^ "SeaWolves To Host #AlternativeFacts Night at UPMC Park". MiLB.com. March 10, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  12. ^ Jenkins, Dan (March 10, 2017). "Tigers' Minor League Team Will Host #AlternativeFacts Night, Celebrating A Championship It Didn't Win". CBS Broadcasting, Inc. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  13. ^ Townsend, Mark (March 11, 2017). "Minor league team encourages hyperbole with 'Alternative Facts Night'". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  14. ^ Hill, Benjamin (March 17, 2017). "The Week That Was: The Truth Resides in Erie". MLBlogs.com. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  15. ^ Drew, Kate (January 26, 2017). "This is what Trump's border wall could cost". CNBC. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  16. ^ Martin, Jim (September 17, 2015). "Smith Provision, Waldameer among honorees at 2015 Commitment to Erie Awards". Erie Times-News. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  17. ^ "SeaWolves Announce Two-Year Broadcast Agreement". MiLB.com. Retrieved 2017-03-03.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Erie SeaWolves.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Eastern League champions
2023 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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