Midwest League
From BR Bullpen
The Midwest League is a minor league that began play in 1947 as the Class "D" Illinois State League. In 1949, it changed names to the Mississippi-Ohio Valley League when it added teams outside Illinois, and in 1956, the Midwest League name was adopted. The circuit added three clubs from the defunct Three-I League in 1962, and the following year, it was designated a Class "A" league when the minors restructured their organization. Clinton, IA has been in the league every year since its first in 1956.
The league currently operates as an fourteen team circuit.
Contents |
[edit] Current Teams, Managers, and Affiliations
[edit] League Champions
[edit] Cities Represented
[edit] Illinois
- Danville, IL:
- Danville Warriors 1970-1974
- Danville Dodgers 1975-1976
- Danville Suns 1982
- Decatur, IL:
- Decatur Commodores 1956-1974
- Geneva, IL:
- Kane County Cougars 1991-present
- Mattoon, IL:
- Mattoon Phillies 1956, moved from Mississippi-Ohio Valley League
- Mattoon Athletics 1957
- Paris, IL:
- Paris Lakers 1956-1959, moved from Mississippi-Ohio Valley League
- Peoria, IL:
- Peoria Suns 1983
- Peoria Chiefs 1984-present
- Quincy, IL:
- Quincy Giants 1960-1961
- Quincy Jets 1962-1963
- Quincy Gems 1964
- Quincy Cubs 1965-1973
- Rockford, IL:
- Rockford Expos 1988-1992
- Rockford Royals 1993-1994
- Rockford Cubbies 1995-1998
- Rockford Reds 1999
- Springfield, IL:
- Springfield Cardinals 1982-1993
- Springfield Sultans 1994-1995
[edit] Indiana
- Fort Wayne, IN:
- Fort Wayne Wizards 1993-present
- Kokomo, IN:
- Kokomo Dodgers 1956-1961
- Lafayette, IN:
- Lafayette Red Sox 1956-1957
- Michigan City, IN:
- Michigan City White Caps 1956-1959
- South Bend, IN:
- South Bend White Sox 1988-1993
- South Bend Silver Hawks 1994-present
[edit] Iowa
- Burlington, IA:
- Burlington Bees 1962-1981, 1993-Present
- Burlington Rangers 1982-1985
- Burlington Expos 1986-1987
- Burlington Braves 1988-1990
- Burlington Astros 1991-1992
- Cedar Rapids, IA:
- Cedar Rapids Red Raiders 1962-1964
- Cedar Rapids Cardinals 1965-1972
- Cedar Rapids Astros 1973-1974
- Cedar Rapids Giants 1975-1979
- Cedar Rapids Reds 1980-1992
- Cedar Rapids Kernels 1993-present
- Clinton, IA:
- Clinton Pirates 1956-1959, moved from Mississippi-Ohio Valley League
- Clinton C-Sox 1960-1965
- Clinton Pilots 1966-1976
- Clinton Dodgers 1977-1979
- Clinton Giants 1980-1993
- Clinton Lumberkings 1994-present
- Davenport, IA, Bettendorf, IA, Moline, IL, & Rock Island, IL:
- Davenport Braves 1960
- Quad Cities Braves 1961
- Quad Cities Angels 1962-1978
- Quad Cities Cubs 1979-1984
- Quad City Angels 1985-1991
- Quad City River Bandits 1992-2003, 2008-Present
- Swing of the Quad Cities 2004-2007
- Dubuque, IA:
- Dubuque Packers 1956-1967, moved from Mississippi-Ohio Valley League, 1974-1976
- Midwest Dodgers 1962
- Dubuque Royals 1968
- Keokuk, IA:
- Keokuk Cardinals 1958-1961
- Keokuk Dodgers 1962
- Waterloo, IA:
- Waterloo Hawks 1958-1969
- Waterloo Royals 1970-1976
- Waterloo Indians 1977-1988
- Waterloo Diamonds 1989-1993
[edit] Michigan
- Battle Creek, MI:
- Michigan Battle Cats 1995-2002
- Battle Creek Yankees 2003-2004
- Southwest Michigan Devil Rays 2005-2006
- Grand Rapids, MI:
- West Michigan Whitecaps 1994-present
- Lansing, MI:
- Lansing Lugnuts 1996-present
- Midland, MI:
- Great Lakes Loons 2007-present
[edit] Ohio
- Dayton, OH:
- Dayton Dragons 2000-present
[edit] Wisconsin
- Appleton, WI:
- Appleton Foxes 1962, 1967-1994
- Fox Cities Foxes 1963-1966
- Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 1995-present
- Beloit, WI:
- Beloit Brewers 1982-1994
- Beloit Snappers 1995-present
- Kenosha, WI:
- Kenosha Twins 1984-1992
- Madison, WI:
- Madison Muskies 1982-1993
- Madison Hatters 1994
- Wausau, WI:
- Wausau Mets 1975-1978
- Wausau Timbers 1979-1990
- Wisconsin Rapids, WI:
- Wisconsin Rapids Senators 1963
- Wisconsin Rapids Twins 1964-1983
[edit] Alumni
[edit] Hall of Famers
- Carlton Fisk, 1968 Waterloo Hawks
- Goose Gossage, 1970, 1971 and 1974 Appleton Foxes
- Juan Marichal, 1958 Michigan City White Caps
- Paul Molitor, 1977 Burlington Bees
[edit] Other Notables
- Vida Blue
- Johnny Damon
- Graig Nettles
- Albert Pujols
- Alex Rodriguez
- Dave Stewart
- Billy Wagner
- Torii Hunter
- Carlos Beltran
- Jeremy Giambi
- Roy Oswalt
- Johan Santana
- Larry Walker
- Kenny Rogers
- Mark Buehrle
- Josh Beckett
- Dontrelle Willis
- Greg Maddux
- Albert Pujols
- David Ortiz
