Thunder Bay Border Cats

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Thunder Bay Border Cats
Thunder Bay Border Cats logo.png
Information
League Northwoods League
Location Thunder Bay, Ontario
Ballpark Port Arthur Stadium
Founded2003 [1]
League championships2 (2005, 2008)
Division championships3 (2005, 2006, 2008)
ColorsRed, black
MascotBoomer
Manager Joe Ellison

The Thunder Bay Border Cats are a baseball team that plays in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league. The league's only Canadian team, their home games are played at Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Contents

The Border Cats have been Northwoods League champions twice, defeating the Madison Mallards two games to one in both 2005 and 2008. They also were in the Northwoods League championship in 2006, but lost to the Rochester Honkers. [2]

As of 2024, the Border Cats have sent 14 players to the major leagues. Matt Mangini was the first to make the jump, playing 11 games for the Seattle Mariners in 2011. Shortstop Jonathan Diaz followed two years later, playing four games with the Boston Red Sox in 2013. Diaz also spent time with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2014, almost making the team out of spring training. Pitcher Blaine Hardy became a regular in the Detroit Tigers bullpen in 2014. Seth Frankoff pitched in one game for the Chicago Cubs, while A.J. Schugel spent time with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Wes Parsons is currently with the Toronto Blue Jays in a relief role.

The Border Cats sat out the 2020, 2021 and 2022 seasons due to "the ongoing uncertainty of the pandemic regarding the Canada-US border closure as well as outdoor gathering numbers". [3] A travel team known as the Minnesota Mud Puppies, based in the Twin Cities region, played the Border Cats' originally scheduled 36 road games during the 2021 season. [4] The Border Cats ultimately returned for the 2023 season. [5]

2009 All-Star Game

The 2009 Northwoods League All-Star Game was held on July 21 in Thunder Bay. This was the first time the All-Star game played in Canada. The guest speaker for the event was Ferguson Jenkins, a Canadian member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. The game was won 4-2 by the South Division squad, led by the MVP performance of Kurtis Muller, who went 3-for-5.

Notable active alumni & those reaching Majors

NamePositionTeamsStatusMLB Years
Jonathan Diaz INFBoston Red Sox, Toronto Blue JaysRetired2013-2015
Matt Mangini INFSeattle MarinersNot active2010
A.J. Schugel RHPPittsburgh PiratesRetired2015-2017
Ryan Court 3BSeattle MarinersRetired2019
Blaine Hardy RHPDetroit Tigers, Milwaukee BrewersRetired2014-2021
Jason Vosler SSSan Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds, Seattle MarinersActive (AAA)2021-2024
Michael Papierski CSeattle MarinersActive (AAA)2022
Greg Weissert RPNew York Yankees, Boston Red SoxActive (AAA)2022-2024
Wes Parsons RHPAtlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland GuardiansActive (Released)2018-2024
Seth Frankoff RHPChicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners, Arizona DiamondbacksRetired2017-2021
Jacob Robson OFDetroit TigersRetired2021
Matthew Batten 2BSan Diego PadresActive (AAA)2022-2024
Penn Murfee RPSeattle Mariners, Chicago White SoxActive (AAA)2022-2023
Brandon Williamson SPCincinnati RedsActive (IL)2023
Billy Cook 1BPittsburgh PiratesActive2024-2025
Andy Weber SSAmarillo (AA)ActiveN/A
  Reached Majors

Year-by-year records

YearLeagueDiv.WLW%ManagerPlayoffs
2003 Northwoods League North3133.484Mitch DunnDid not qualify
2004 Northwoods League North3232.500Mitch DunnDid not qualify
2005 Northwoods League North4424.647Chad MillerWon championship
2006 Northwoods League North2938.433John HerreraLost final
2007 Northwoods League North2840.412Jared ManskeDid not qualify
2008 Northwoods League North4226.618Devin McIntoshWon championship
2009 Northwoods League North2741.397Joel BartaDid not qualify
2010 Northwoods League North3138.449Mike SteedDid not qualify
2011 Northwoods League North2940.420Mike SteedDid not qualify
2012 Northwoods League North3237.449Andy JudkinsDid not qualify
2013 Northwoods League North2149.300Dan HolcombDid not qualify
2014 Northwoods League North2349.319John HernandezDid not qualify
2015 Northwoods League North3338.465Danny BenedettiDid not qualify
2016 Northwoods League North2151.282Danny BenedettiDid not qualify
2017 Northwoods League North2743.386Mitch FellerDid not qualify
2018 Northwoods League North2250.306Mitch FellerDid not qualify
2019 Northwoods League Great Plains East2447.338Eric VasquezDid not qualify
2023 Northwoods League Great Plains East2741.397J.M. KellyDid not qualify
2024 Northwoods League Great Plains East3534.507J.M. KellyDid not qualify
TOTAL----558751.426----

References

  1. Millea, John (July 27, 2004). "Fielding big dreams". Star Tribune .
  2. Milewski, Todd (August 22, 2005). "Mallards Dethroned By Late Run". The Capital Times . Retrieved January 3, 2007.
  3. Reichard, Kevin (March 5, 2021). "Thunder Bay drops out of 2021 Northwoods League season". Ballpark Digest. August Publications.
  4. "Minnesota Mud Puppies". Northwoods League. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  5. "Border Cats return to field with commanding win". www.tbnewswatch.com. Retrieved May 7, 2024.