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Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

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"Timber Rattlers" redirects here. For other uses, see Timber rattler.
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass A [1](1963–present)
Previous classesClass B (1958–1961)
Class C (1910–1914)
Class D (1909, 1940–1953, 1962)
LeagueMidwest League (1962–present)
DivisionWestern Division
Previous leagues

Independent (1891, 1902)
Three-I League (1958–1961)
Wisconsin State League (1940–1942, 1946–1953)
Wisconsin–Illinois League (1909–1914)
Major league affiliations
TeamMilwaukee Brewers (2009–present)
Previous teamsSeattle Mariners (1993–2008)

Kansas City Royals (1987–1992)
Chicago White Sox (1966–1986)
Baltimore Orioles (1962–1965)
Washington Senators (1958–1959)
Boston Braves (1952–1953)
St. Louis Browns (1950–1951)
Philadelphia Phillies (1947–1949)

Cleveland Indians (1942–1946)
Minor league titles
League titles (10)
  • 1960
  • 1964
  • 1966
  • 1967
  • 1969
  • 1978
  • 1982
  • 1983
  • 1984
  • 2012
Team data
NameWisconsin Timber Rattlers (1995–present)
Previous names
Appleton Foxes (1962, 1967–1994)
Fox Cities Foxes (1963–1966)
Appleton Papermakers (1909–1953)
Colorsburgundy, black, white, silver
       
MascotFang (1995-present)
Freddy the Fox (1988-1994)
Homer Run (1978-1982)
BallparkNeuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium (1995–present)
Previous parks
Goodland Field (1940–1994)
League Park (1909–1914)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Appleton Baseball Club, Inc.
General managerRob Zerjav
ManagerMatt Erickson
Fang, mascot of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
Timber Rattlers pitcher Chris Tillman warming up before a start

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are a minor league baseball team of the Midwest League, and the Class A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The team is located in Grand Chute, Wisconsin, right outside of Appleton in the Fox Cities. They are named for the timber rattlesnake, which oddly enough is not indigenous to the area.[2] The team plays its home games at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium, which opened in 1995 and seats 5,170 fans (plus grass seating).[3] The Timber Rattlers have won nine league championships, most recently in 2012. World Series-winning Managers Earl Weaver and Jack McKeon were Managers at Appleton. Baseball Hall of Fame members Pat Gillick, Earl Weaver, Goose Gossage, and Harold Baines played for Appleton. Five future Cy Young Award winners and three Most Valuable Player recipients were on Appleton/Wisconsin rosters.[4] The 1978 Appleton Foxes were recognized as one of the 100 greatest minor league teams of all time.[5]

History

The team began play as the Appleton Foxes in the Three-I League in 1958, five years after Appleton's previous minor league franchise, the Papermakers, folded along with the rest of the Wisconsin State League. The Papermakers had played in the Wisconsin–Illinois League (1909–1914) before starting the franchise again decades later in the Wisconsin State League (1940–1953). The Foxes joined the Midwest League (MWL) in 1962 after the Three-I League disbanded, and continue play in the MWL today.[4]

The Foxes played at Appleton's Goodland Field and League Park before moving to their current home at Fox Cities Stadium, a larger, more modern ballpark on Appleton's northwest side. With the move, the Foxes took the new name of Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in an effort to attract fans outside the immediate Appleton/Fox Cities area. The franchise set its all-time attendance record of 253,240 in 2009, the first year of their affiliation with the Milwaukee Brewers.[3]

The Timber Rattlers are a non-stock club governed by Appleton Baseball Club, Inc., which is community-owned.[3] Appleton Baseball Club has a 12-person board of directors.[3] It has 168 active shareholders and 347 shares as of September 2008.[3]

Notable alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

Other Notable alumni

Yearly results

League Champions
†
Season Affiliation Manager Record Win % Finish Attendance Playoffs
Three-I League
1958 Washington Pete Suder 56–73 .434 6th 58,602
1959 Washington Jack McKeon 59–67 .468 4th 51,004
1960 † Baltimore Earl Weaver 82–56 .594 1st 61,062 Won Title
1961 Baltimore Earl Weaver 67–62 .519 4th 47,552
Midwest League
1962 Baltimore Billy DeMars 61–63 .492 7th 41,323 None
1963 Baltimore Billy DeMars 55–65 .458 8th 43,412 None
1964 † Baltimore Billy DeMars 81–43 .653 1st 45,557 Defeated Clinton 1–0
1965 Baltimore Billy DeMars 55–63 .466 7th 43,412 None
1966 † Chicago (AL) Stan Wasiak 77–47 .621 2nd 57,496 Defeated Cedar Rapids 2–1
1967 † Chicago (AL) Alex Cosmidis 71–46 .607 1st 48,186 Defeated Wisconsin Rapids 2–0
1968 Chicago (AL) Gary Johnson/Tom Umphlett 57–61 .483 6th 45,436 None
1969 † Chicago (AL) Tom Saffell 84–41 .672 1st 67,028 Won both halves
1970 Chicago (AL) Ira Hutchinson 64–60 .516 5th — None
1971 Chicago (AL) Joe Sparks 79–44 .642 1st — Lost to Quad Cities 2–1
1972 Chicago (AL) Bert Thiel 76–51 .598 1st — Defeated Wisconsin Rapids 1–0; Lost to Danville 2-0
1973 Chicago (AL) Grover "Deacon" Jones 44–76 .367 10th — None
1974 Chicago (AL) Gordy Lund 73–50 .593 2nd — Defeated Wisconsin Rapid 2–0; Lost to Danville 2–1
1975 Chicago (AL) Gordy Lund 50–77 .394 9th — None
1976 Chicago (AL) Jim Napier 56–74 .431 10th — None
1977 Chicago (AL) Gordy Lund 54–84 .398 8th — None
1978 † Chicago (AL) Gordy Lund 97–40 .708 1st — Defeated Waterloo 2–0; Defeated Burlington 2–1
1979 Chicago (AL) Jim Breazeale 63–72 .467 5th — None
1980 Chicago (AL) Gordy Lund 76–63 .547 2nd — None
1981 Chicago (AL) Sam Ewing 54–80 .403 6th 66,780 None
1982 † Chicago (AL) Adrian Garrett 81–59 .579 3rd 81,970 Defeated Springfield 2–0; Defeated Madison 2–1
1983 † Chicago (AL) John Boles, Jr. 87–50 .635 1st 68,751 Defeated Waterloo 2–1; Defeated Springfield 3–1
1984 † Chicago (AL) Sal Rende 87–49 .640 1st 54,281 Defeated Madison 2–1; Defeated Springfield 3–2
1985 Chicago (AL) Sal Rende 85–54 .612 1st 76,860 Lost to Kenosha 2–1
1986 Chicago (AL) Duke Sims/Rico Petrocelli 56–83 .403 11th 60,001 None
1987 Kansas City Ken Berry 71–69 .507 6th 81,208 None
1988 Kansas City Brian Poldberg 58–82 .414 13th 85,310 None
1989 Kansas City Brian Poldberg 67–68 .496 7th 76,223 None
1990 Kansas City Joe Breeden 62–71 .466 8th 84,396 None
1991 Kansas City Joe Breeden 58–81 .417 14th 72,601 None
1992 Kansas City Tom Poquette 70–62 .530 6th 46,576 Lost to Beloit 2–1
1993 Seattle Carlos Lezcano 62–73 .459 9th 56,036 None
1994 Seattle Carlos Lezcano 75–64 .540 4th 76,281 None
1995 Seattle Mike Goff 63–75 .457 12th 209,159 None
1996 Seattle Mike Goff 77–58 .570 2nd 233,797 Defeated Peoria 2–1; Defeated Quad City 2–1; Lost to West Michigan 3–1
1997 Seattle Gary Varsho 76–63 .547 2nd 227,104 Lost to Kane County 2–0
1998 Seattle Gary Varsho 72–65 .526 5th 227,306 Lost to Rockford 2–1
1999 Seattle Steve Roadcap 72–66 .522 5th 223,814 Defeated Rockford 2–0; Defeated Lansing 2–0; Lost to Burlington 3–2
2000 Seattle Gary Thurman 78–60 .565 3rd 220,372 Defeated Kane County 2–1; Lost to Beloit
2001 Seattle Gary Thurman 84–52 .618 2nd 207,823 Defeated Quad City 2–0; Lost to Kane County 2–0
2002 Seattle Gary Thurman 53–86 .381 13th 199,210 None
2003 Seattle Daren Brown 69–66 .511 6th 197,934 Lost to Beloit 2–0
2004 Seattle Steve Roadcap 57–82 .410 12th 206,487 None
2005 Seattle Scott Steinmann 76–63 .547 2nd 211,927 Defeated Beloit 2–1; Defeated Clinton 2–0; Lost to South Bend 3–2
2006 Seattle Jim Horner 54–86 .386 13th 209,033 None
2007 Seattle Jim Horner 53–85 .384 14th 197,511 None
2008 Seattle Terry Pollreisz 56–80[3] .412 10th 190,263[3] None
2009 Milwaukee Jeff Isom 58-81 .417 12th 253,240 None
2010 Milwaukee Jeff Isom 58-80 .420 14th 244,331 None
2011 Milwaukee Matt Erickson 67-72 .482 11th 240,998 None
2012 † Milwaukee Matt Erickson 78-61 .561 3rd 240,509 Defeated Burlington 2–1; Defeated Clinton 2–0; Defeated Fort Wayne 3–1
2013 Milwaukee Matt Erickson 59-76 .437 13th 241,938 None
2014 Milwaukee Matt Erickson 72-67 .518 T-5th 250,131 Lost to Kane County 2–0
2015 Milwaukee Matt Erickson 50-89 .360 15th 247,577 None
2016 Milwaukee Matt Erickson 71-69 .507 8th 243,767 Lost to Cedar Rapids 2-0
2017 Milwaukee Matt Erickson 59-79 .428 15th 230,326 None
2018 Milwaukee Matt Erickson 68-71 .489 7th 225,897 None
2019 Milwaukee Matt Erickson 69-70 .496 5th 218,037 None

Roster

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 26 Patricio Aquino
  • 31 Will Childers
  • 17 Alexander Cornielle
  • 33 Chase Costello
  • 12 Stiven Cruz
  • 36 Brian Fitzpatrick
  • 38 Yujanyer Herrera
  • 15 K. C. Hunt
  • 13 Tate Kuehner
  • 35 Mark Manfredi
  • 34 Jake Polancic
  • 30 Yerlin Rodriguez
  • 18 Will Rudy
  • 25 Aaron Rund
  • 32 Tyler Wehrle

Catchers

  • 19 Tayden Hall
  •  9 Ramón Rodríguez
  • 37 Victor Torres
  • 14 Matthew Wood

Infielders

  • 28 Luke Adams
  •  2 Jadher Areinamo
  •  5 Gregory Barrios
  • 24 Jesus Chirinos
  •  6 Jheremy Vargas

Outfielders

  •  1 Terence Doston
  • 20 Eduarqui Fernandez
  • 10 Luis Lara
  •  3 Dylan O'Rae

Manager

  •  7 Victor Estevez

Coaches

  • 23 Eric Bunnell (development)
  •  4 Tim Doherty (hitting)
  • 27 Andre Ruche (development)
  • 40 Josh Spence (pitching)

60-day injured list

  • 16 Edwin Jimenez (full season)
  • 47 Tanner Shears (full season)
  • 47 Cameron Wagoner (full season)

7-day injured list
* On Milwaukee Brewers 40-man roster
~ Development list
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporarily inactive list
Roster updated June 14, 2024
 Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • Midwest League
 → Milwaukee Brewers minor league players

References

  1. ^ http://www.milb.com/milb/info/classifications.jsp
  2. ^ http://dnr.wi.gov/eek/critter/reptile/timberrattlesnake.htm
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Christopherson, Brett (2008-09-24). "Brewers' contract a winner for Rattlers". The Appleton Post-Crescent. pp. A-1, A-6, A-7.
  4. ^ a b https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?city=Appleton&state=WI&country=US&empty=0
  5. ^ "Top 100 Teams". MiLB.com. 2001. Retrieved May 9, 2017.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
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