Wisconsin_Woodchucks
Wausau Woodchucks
Collegiate summer baseball team in Wisconsin
The Wausau Woodchucks are an American baseball team that plays in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league. They play their home games at Athletic Park in Wausau, Wisconsin.
| Wausau Woodchucks | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| League | Northwoods League (1994-present) (Great Lakes Conference-West Division: 2019-present) (South Division: 1998-2018) |
| Location | Wausau, Wisconsin |
| Ballpark | Athletic Park |
| Founded | 1994 |
| League championships | 2 (2001, 2003) |
| Division championships | 2 (2001, 2003) |
| Former name(s) | Wisconsin Woodchucks (1999–2021) Wausau Woodchucks (1994–1998) |
| Colors | Navy blue, green, sky blue and white |
| Ownership | Mark Macdonald |
| Management | Ryan Treu (GM) |
| Media | Wausau Daily Herald |
| Website | woodchucks.com |
The team was known as the Wausau Woodchucks from 1994 to 1998, but the team name was changed to Wisconsin Woodchucks for the 1999 season, as they were the only remaining team in Wisconsin in the league at that time.
The team filled the void left by the Wausau Timbers of the Class A Midwest League, who relocated after the 1990 season to Geneva, Illinois, to become the Kane County Cougars.
In 1998 Clark Eckhoff purchased The Wisconsin Woodchucks, and Eckhoff truly made an impact on the team as well as the community as a whole. Not only did attendance dramatically increase with Eckhoff as owner, but the Woodchucks would go on to win two league championships in 2001 and 2003.
The 'Chucks gained some star power for the 2007 season, as former Milwaukee Brewer and University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh product Jim Gantner managed the team. Gantner has been involved with the Brewers in various capacities since his retirement in 1992, including some coaching, but the Woodchucks job is his first managerial experience. Gantner, a native Wisconsinite who owns a second home in Boulder Junction, is familiar with the Wausau area and had expressed interest] in coaching college-age players.[1]
On February 2, 2022, the Woodchucks announced their return as the Wausau Woodchucks, with a new logo and color scheme.[2]
A number of major leaguers and other notables have played for the Wausau Woodchucks, including:[3]
- J. D. Davis, 2012 (third baseman for teams including the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants)
- Steve Foster (baseball), 2003 (pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds)
- Dave Gassner, 1998 (pitcher for the Minnesota Twins)
- Casey Janssen, 2001 (pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays)
- Mark Lowe, 2002–03 (pitcher for teams including the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers)
- Pat Neshek, 2000 (2-time MLB All Star and relief pitcher for teams including the Minnesota Twins and St. Louis Cardinals)
- Wes Obermueller, 1995 (relief pitcher for teams including the Milwaukee Brewers)
- Kevin Pillar, 2010 (outfielder for teams including the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Mets)
- Darin Ruf, 2007 (outfielder for teams including the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants)
- Pat Venditte, 2008 (switch pitcher for teams including the Oakland Athletics)
- Ben Zobrist, 2003–04 (3-time MLB All Star and World Series MVP with the Chicago Cubs)
- "Sports::Woodchucks Introduce Gantner as New Manager". WAOW. October 24, 2006. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved June 22, 2007.
- "Woodchucks Renovations go Full Circle with Brand Update". Wausau Woodchucks. February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- "Alumni in the Pros". Wausau Woodchucks. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- Wausau Woodchucks – official site
- Northwoods League – official site