Clinton LumberKings

Last updated
Clinton LumberKings
ClintonLumberKings.PNG LumberKings Cap.PNG
Team logoCap insignia
Information
League Prospect League (2021–present) (Western Conference – Northwest Division)
LocationClinton, Iowa
Ballpark NelsonCorp Field (1937–present)
Founded1954
Nickname(s)Clinton LumberKings (1994–present)
League championships2 (1963, 1991)
Division championships6 (1991, 1993, 2010, 2016, 2019, 2021)
Former name(s)
  • Clinton Giants (1939–1941; 1980–1993)
  • Clinton Dodgers (1977–1979)
  • Clinton Pilots (1914–1916; 1966–1976)
  • Clinton C-Sox (1960–1965)
  • Clinton White Sox (1959)
  • Clinton Pirates (1954–1958)
  • Clinton Steers (1949)
  • Clinton Cubs (1947–1948)
  • Clinton Owls (1937–1938)
  • Clinton Champs (1910–1912)
  • Clinton Teddies (1910)
  • Clinton Infants (1907–1908)
  • Clinton Minors (1906)
  • Clinton Bridegrooms (1895)
Former league(s)
MascotLouie the Lumberking
OwnershipCommunity owned [2]
Manager Jack Dahm
General ManagerNate Vander Bleek [3]

The Clinton LumberKings are a collegiate summer baseball team of the Prospect League. They are located in Clinton, Iowa, and play their home games at NelsonCorp Field. From 1956 to 2020, they were members of Minor League Baseball's Midwest League. With Major League Baseball's reorganization of the minor leagues after the 2020 season, Clinton was not selected to continue in affiliated baseball.

Contents

The LumberKings play in the Prospect League's Western Conference – Northwest Division along with the Burlington Bees, Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp, and Springfield Lucky Horseshoes. [4]

Clinton baseball history

After beginning play in 1895, Clinton had sporadic teams in various leagues over the next few decades, as the Great Depression, World War I and World War II affected many baseball franchises. However, Clinton joined the Midwest League in 1956 and is now the oldest franchise in the league. [1] The team has had several different major league affiliations: the Brooklyn Dodgers (1937–38), New York Giants (1939–41), Chicago Cubs (1947–49), Pirates (1954–58 and 1966–68), White Sox (1959–65), Pilots/Brewers (1969–70), Tigers (1971–75), Tigers/White Sox co-op (1976), Dodgers (1977–79), Giants (1980–94), Padres (1995–98), Reds (1999–2000), Expos (2001–02), and Rangers (2003–08), and Mariners (2009–18). In September 2018, they entered into a two-year player development contract with the Miami Marlins. [5]

Aside from its time as the C-Sox (1960–65) and the Pilots (1966–76), the team used the parent major league team's nickname before adopting the LumberKings name for the 1994 season.

The 2010 LumberKings season is the subject of the 2013 book "Class A: Baseball in the Middle of Everywhere" by Lucas Mann. [6] [7]

In 2016, led by first year manager Mitch Canham, the LumberKings won 86 games to set the mark for most in a regular season by any team in Clinton franchise history. The squad went on to sweep the Peoria Chiefs in the first round of the playoffs before defeating the Cedar Rapids Kernels in a thrilling three-game series. Game three of the Western Division final ended with a Ricky Eusebio walk off hit to win 1–0 in extra innings. The LumberKings would fall, however, in the Midwest League Championship in four games to the Great Lakes Loons.

In addition to playing host to the franchise record setting LumberKings (86-54), the LumberKings transformed their ballpark overnight following game two of the Midwest League Championship to become a football field. The LumberKings played host to Camanche High School Football in the inaugural "LumberBowl." Camanche hosted Williamsburg High School in the game on September 16, 2016. The Raiders of Williamsburg defeated the Indians 55–7.

Following the 2020 season, the LumberKings were cut from the Midwest League and affiliated baseball as part of Major League Baseball's reorganization of the minor leagues. [8] They later joined the Prospect League, a collegiate summer baseball league, for 2021. [9]

NelsonCorp Field

Ashford Field. Formerly Alliant Energy Field and Riverview Stadium DSC 0198 Alliant Energy Field.JPG
Ashford Field. Formerly Alliant Energy Field and Riverview Stadium

The home park for the LumberKings is NelsonCorp Field in Clinton, Iowa. The stadium was built in 1937 as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project [10] and named Riverview Stadium, due to its location on the banks of the Mississippi River. It was renamed Alliant Energy Field in 2002 and renovated in 2005–2006 to a capacity of 4,000. It was renamed to Ashford University Field in 2011 and NelsonCorp Field in 2019. The Dimensions are: LF – 330, CF – 401, RF – 325. [11] [12] [13] [14]

No-hitters

Clinton has tossed 25 no-hitters. The list includes the following no-hitters: [15]

DatePitcher(s)OpponentScore
August 20, 1957Dick LinesDecatur6–0 (7 innings)
June 2, 1959Thomas FisherParis1–0
June 19, 1960Scott SegerQuincy3–0 (7 innings)
May 23, 1963Bill DawsonFox Cities10–0 (7 innings)
June 23, 1964Norbert RodgersQuincy2–0 (7 innings)
June 11, 1967John LambQuad City3–0 (7 innings)
June 19, 1967Joe BarnettQuincy2–0 (7 innings)
August 25, 1967 Bill Laxton Waterloo2–1 (7 innings)
August 7, 1970John ConzattiQuad Cities2–0 (6 innings)
May 3, 1972Larry BraccoWaterloo0–1 (7 innings)
May 15, 1978Russell McDonaldWausau1–0 (7 innings)
July 16, 1978Jim NoblesWisconsin Rapids7–1 (7 innings)
June 4, 1980Jerry StovallWausau2–0 (7 innings)
April 20, 1981Greg BangertBurlington4–1 (7 innings)
August 12, 1981 Mark Grant Danville9–0
May 9, 1983Ramon BautistaAppleton2–0 (7 innings)
June 6, 1989Chris Hancock, Chris FyeBurlington11–0 [16]
May 14, 1992Chuck WankePeoria5–3
August 4, 1996Jim Sak, Todd BussaBurlington3–0
August 3, 2000 Scott Dunn Lansing7–0 (Perfect Game)
July 9, 2003Domingo ValdezKane County4–0 (7 innings - G2)
July 11, 2012Jordan ShipersWest Michigan10–0 [17]
July 17, 2013Víctor SánchezLansing1–0 [18]
May 1, 2015Daniel Missaki, Kody Kerski, Troy ScottCedar Rapids1–0 [19]
August 9, 2016Pedro Vasquez, Joey Strain, Lukas Schiraldi, Matt WalkerBeloit2–0

Playoffs

Clinton LumberKings of the Midwest League
SeasonQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinals
1987–L, 2–1, Springfield –
1991–W, 2–0, Burlington W, 3–0, Madison
1993–W, 2–0, Springfield L, 3–1, South Bend
1998W, 2–1, Quad Cities L, 2–0, West Michigan –
1999L, 2–1, Burlington ––
2000L, 2–1, Beloit ––
2003W, 2–1, Kane County L, 2–1, Beloit –
2004W, 2–0, Cedar Rapids L, 2–0, Kane County –
2005W, 2–0, Quad Cities L, 2–0, Wisconsin –
2007W, 2–1, Cedar Rapids L, 2–0, Beloit –
2008L, 2–0, Cedar Rapids ––
2010W, 2–1, Cedar Rapids W, 2–1, Kane County L, 3–2, Lake County
2011L, 2–0, Quad Cities ––
2012W, 2–1, Beloit L, 2–0, Wisconsin –
2013L, 2–0, Beloit ––
2016W, 2–0, Peoria W, 2–1, Cedar Rapids L, 3–1, Great Lakes
2019W, 2–0, Kane County W, 2–1, Cedar Rapids L, 3–0, South Bend
Clinton LumberKings of the Prospect League
SeasonDivision ChampionshipConference ChampionshipProspect League Championship Series
2021W, 4–3, Normal L, 3–7, Cape –
2023L, 5–6, Quincy ––

Roster

Clinton LumberKings roster
Active rosterCoaches/Other

Pitchers

  • -- Kole Bradley
  • -- Jackson Bruno
  • -- Jimmy Burke
  • -- Ean DiPasquale
  • -- Patrick Gardner
  • -- Sam George
  • -- Elijah Green
  • -- Jai Jensen
  • -- Carson Knebel
  • -- Sam Lavin
  • -- Brenden Martin
  • -- Daniel Mosarah
  • -- Brock Reade
  • -- Garrett Siemsen
  • -- Cade Turner
  • -- Jake Weissenberger



 

Catchers

  • -- Brayden Buchanan
  • -- Max Burt
  • -- Mason McCurdy

Infielders

  • -- Ian Dittmer
  • -- Karson Grout
  • -- JD Swarbrick

Outfielders

  • -- Gage Franck
  • -- James Hackett
  • -- Clay Jacobs
  • -- Blake Timmons
  • -- John Youens
 

Manager

Coaches

  • -- Walker Gentz (pitching)
  • -- Terry McGinn (first base)
  • -- Ty Snep (hitting/third base)

Injury icon 2.svg Disabled list
‡ Inactive list
§ Suspended list

 updated March 15, 2024

Notable alumni

KinslerHeadshot.jpg
Ian Kinsler
Orel Hershiser 1993.jpg
Orel Hershiser

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References

  1. 1 2 "Clinton, Iowa Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. ↑ "Board of Directors". Clinton LumberKings. milb.com. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  3. ↑ "LUMBERKINGS ANNOUNCE NEW GENERAL MANAGER". lumberkings.com. 9 February 2024. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  4. ↑ "2024 Prospect League Standings – Prospect League Baseball". www.prospectleague.com. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  5. ↑ "Clinton, Miami Announce New Player Development Contract". Ballpark Digest. September 20, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  6. ↑ McAlpin, Heller (May 9, 2013). "Farm Team Saga 'Class A' Hits It Out Of The Park". NPR. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  7. ↑ "Class A".
  8. ↑ "Full MLB Press Release: MLB cuts Clinton LumberKings". Clinton Herald. December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  9. ↑ Reichard, Kevin (January 13, 2021). "Clinton LumberKings join Prospect League". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Fund-raising campaign will support L-King efforts". Clinton Herald. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  11. ↑ "General Information - Clinton LumberKings Ashford University Field". Clinton LumberKings.
  12. ↑ "History - Clinton LumberKings Content". Clinton LumberKings.
  13. ↑ "LumberKings to call NelsonCorp Field home". Clinton Herald . May 28, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  14. ↑ "New for 2019: NelsonCorp Field". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. May 27, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  15. ↑ "No Hitters". Midwest League Archives.
  16. ↑ "Burlington Braves at Clinton Giants, June 6th, 1989". Midwest League Archives.
  17. ↑ "Shipers hurls complete-game no-hitter". MiLB.com.
  18. ↑ "Lansing vs. Clinton - July 17, 2013 - Midwest League Box". Midwest League.
  19. ↑ Batterson, Steve (13 May 2015). "Clinton pitcher goes from no-hitter to Tommy John in two weeks". The Quad-City Times.
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