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Milwaukee Milkmen

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Milwaukee Milkmen
File:Milwaukee Milkmen logo.png
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
LeagueAmerican Association of Professional Baseball (North Division)
LocationFranklin, Wisconsin
BallparkFranklin Field
Founded2018
League championships1 (2020)
Division championships1 (2020)
ColorsBlack and white
   
OwnershipMike Zimmerman[1]
ManagerAnthony Barone
Websitemilwaukeemilkmen.com
Uniforms
Darks
Pinstripes

The Milwaukee Milkmen are an independent baseball team based in Franklin, Wisconsin. They are members of the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major League Baseball. They began play in 2019[2] and play home games at Franklin Field (formerly known as Routine Field).[3][1]

History

Inception 2018

The Milwaukee Milkmen were announced in February 2018, as an expansion team in the American Association of professional baseball, scheduled to begin play for the 2019 season. The team was originally announced as the thirteenth team in the league,[2] but upon the conclusion of the 2018 season the Wichita Wingnuts suspended operations after they lost their stadium to make was for a new stadium for the MiLB AA Witchita Wind Surge.[4] The Milkmen nickname was chosen to reflect Wisconsin's reputation as "America's Dairyland."[5] Milkmen was among ten finalists in a "Name the Team" contest which also included: Barn Owls, Bovines, Broilers, Cheesers, Cow Tippers, Crop Dusters, Farmhands, Haymakers, and War Pigs.[6]

First season

May 16, 2019, the Milwaukee Milkmen began their first season. Their first game was a 13-inning affair against the St. Paul Saints. The game included a delay due to a power failure at CHS Field. In the end, the Milkmen walked away from game with their first win 5-4.[7]

Due to construction delays on their new stadium Routine Field, the Milwaukee Milkmen played their first 13 home games at Kokomo Municipal Stadium in Indiana.[8] Kokomo is the home to the Kokomo Jackrabbits of the Northwoods league, and are owned by the parent company of Milwaukee Milkmen. The Milkmen also hired the former Jackrabbits Manager Gary McClure to be their first manager.[9] The Milkmen's Kokomo opener was May 24, where the fell to the Chicago Dogs 4-5.[10]

The Milkmen opened Routine field on June 24 against the Gary SouthShore RailCats. The Milkmen lost the game, 3-2 in 11 innings.[1] The team finished their first season with a record of 38–62. Routine field was renamed after the 2019 season to Franklin Field after a naming rights dispute.[11] (See Franklin Field (Wisconsin) § Naming rights dispute.)

First championship

Milwaukee Milkmen mascot Bo Vine pumping up the crowd before a game at Franklin Field.

The Milkmen began their second year with new manager Anthony Barone at the helm,[12] and the 2020 season in question due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The league, determined to hold a season, was able to find a way for six teams to play a 60 game shortened season. The Milkmen were one of the six American Association teams that continued forward with the season. There was a dispersal draft of the players on the six teams that sat out the season, allowing them the opportunity to play, and return to their original team at the end of the season. The league also suspended the leagues roster years of service rules for the season.[13] While the Milwaukee Brewers were playing across town with no fans in the stands,[14] the American Association had a unique policy to allow fans. Due to this the Milkmen were able to play in front of limited capacity crowds[15] throughout the regular season and championship.[16] The season got off to a rocky start with the third game of the opening series with the Chicago Dogs getting canceled due to a positive COVID-19 test.[17] The Milkmen finished the season with a record of 34-26, and won their first championship over Sioux Falls in five games.[18]

Mascot

The Milkmen official mascot is an anthropomorphic bull named Bo Vine.[19] He wears a white pinstriped uniform with the number 2% in reference to 2% milk. Bo Vine's name is based on the word bovine pertaining to cattle.

Season-by-season records

Milwaukee Milkmen season records
Season League Division Regular Season Postseason Manager Ref
Record Win% League Division GB Record Win% Result
2019 AA North 38-62 .380 T-10th 6th 26 — — Did not qualify Gary McClure [20]
2020 AA N/A 34-26 .567 1st 1st — 4-1 .800 League champion, defeated Sioux Falls Anthony Barone [21]
2021 AA North 59-41 .590 4th 3rd 4 0-1 .000 Wildcard team, Lost to Fargo-Moorhead Anthony Barone [22]


Roster

Milwaukee Milkmen roster
Active (25-man) roster Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 14 Ryan Boyer
  • 31 Robbie Gordon
  •  4 Nate Hadley
  • 23 Zach Hartman
  • 18 David Holmberg
  • 22 Karch Kowalczyk
  • 18 Ryan Kussmaul
  • 30 Takoda Metoxen
  • 10 Kyle Mora
  • 21 Nate Pawelczyk
  •  2 Myles Smith
  • 12 Matt Solter ‡
  • 32 Christian Young
  • 16 Ryan Zimmerman



  

Catchers

  • 17 Christ Conley
  • 24 Christian Correa

Infielders

Outfielders

  •  1 Jay Charleston
  •  6 Trey Martin
  •  3 Mikey Reynolds
  •  9 Cole Sturgeon
  •  8 Brett Vertigan
  • 28 Adam Brett Walker II
  

Manager

  •  5 Anthony Barone

Coaches

  • 15 Matt Passerelle (hitting)
  • 14 Dan Runzler (pitching)
  •  9 Kyle Lesniewski (coach)

Disabled list
‡ Inactive list
§ Suspended list

Roster updated August 29, 2021
 Transactions

Notable alumni

Managers

Milwaukee Milkmen Managers
Number Manager Seasons Games W L Win % Championships Ref
1 Gary McClure 2019 100 38 62 .380 N/A [12]
2 Anthony Barone 2020-present 160 93 67 .581 2020 [23]

Player awards

  • Adam Brett Walker II — 2020 Player of the year[24]
  • Peyton Gray — 2020 Rookie of the year[25]
  • Brett Vertigan — 2020 Defensive player of the year[26]
  • Adam Brett Walker II — 2021 Player of the year[27]


References

  1. ^ a b c Spedden, Zach (June 25, 2019). "Routine Field Debuts". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Milwaukee Added as League Member for 2019". American Association of Professional Baseball. February 27, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  3. ^ Goldbeck, Madison (April 13, 2019). "Milwaukee Milkmen reschedule home opener". BizTimes. Milwaukee: BizTimes Media. Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  4. ^ Horwath, Bryan (October 9, 2018). "The Wichita Wingnuts won't play ball in 2019, though the franchise remains intact". Wichita Business Journal. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  5. ^ Reichard, Kevin (September 17, 2018). "New for 2019: Milwaukee Milkmen". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
  6. ^ "10 Finalists for Franklin American Association Team Name". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. May 3, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  7. ^ "Saints lose season opener after 13th-inning power outage". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  8. ^ "Routine Field Opening Delayed Until June 24". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. April 12, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  9. ^ Pannier, Robert (February 12, 2019). "Milwaukee Milkmen Name Gary McClure Manager". Minor League Sports Report. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  10. ^ Pannier, Robert (May 25, 2019). "Luke Westphal No-Hits Milwaukee Through 6, Dogs Prevail 5-4". Minor League Sports Report. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  11. ^ Spedden, Zach (November 25, 2019). "Settlement Reached in ROC Ventures, Routine Baseball Dispute". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  12. ^ a b Anderson, Scott (September 9, 2019). "Milwaukee Milkmen Fire Manager After 38-62 Inaugural Season". Greendale, WI Patch. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  13. ^ Reichard, Kevin (June 12, 2020). "Six American Association teams to participate in three-city season". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  14. ^ Krause, Dennis; Molloy, Dan (June 27, 2020). "Milwaukee Brewers Prepare to Adjust for Season Without Fans". Spectrum News 1 (Wisconsin). Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  15. ^ Kraemer, Sam (July 3, 2020). "'I miss baseball:' Fans flock to Franklin Field to see Milwaukee Milkmen in action". FOX 6 Now Milwaukee. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  16. ^ Rovito, Rich (September 18, 2020). "Milkmen Bring Home the Championship For Milwaukee". Milwaukee Magazine. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  17. ^ Shine, Kim (July 5, 2020). "Milkwaukee Milkmen postpone game after player tests positive for COVID-19". CBS58. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  18. ^ Hogg, Curt (September 17, 2020). "Champs! The Milwaukee Milkmen defeat Sioux Falls to win the American Association championship". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  19. ^ "Bo Vine". Milwaukee Milkmen. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  20. ^ "American Association - standings". Pointstreak Sports Technologies. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  21. ^ "American Association - standings". Pointstreak Sports Technologies. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  22. ^ "American Association - standings". Pointstreak Sports Technologies. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  23. ^ "Anthony Barone Independent Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  24. ^ Pannier, Robert (September 16, 2020). "Minor League Sports Report - Adam Walker II Named American Association Most Value Player". Minor League Sports Report. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  25. ^ "American Association of Professional Baseball - MILWAUKEE'S GRAY NAMED ROOKIE OF THE YEAR". American Association of Professional Baseball. September 15, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  26. ^ "American Association of Professional Baseball - VERTIGAN, CROUSE TABBED AS CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR". American Association of Professional Baseball. September 15, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  27. ^ Torres, Ricardo. "Milkmen slugger and Milwaukee native Adam Walker wins back-to-back MVPs in the American Association". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
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