Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
Template:Short description Template:Redirect Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox Minor League Baseball
The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Grand Chute, Wisconsin, a town on the outskirts of Appleton in the Fox Cities, and are named for the timber rattlesnake, which is more commonly found in southwest Wisconsin. The team plays their home games at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium, which opened in 1995. They previously played at Goodland Field from their founding in 1958 until the end of the 1994 season.
Originally known as the Fox Cities Foxes, the team began play in 1958 as members of the Three–I League. The circuit suspended operations after the 1961 season, so the club joined the Midwest League in 1962. They became known as the Appleton Foxes in 1967 and adopted their Wisconsin Timber Rattlers moniker in 1995. In conjunction with Major League Baseball's reorganization of Minor League Baseball in 2021, Wisconsin was shifted to the High-A Central, which was renamed the Midwest League in 2022.
Wisconsin has served as a farm club for six Major League Baseball franchises. They have won ten league titles, including one Three–I League championship and nine Midwest League championships, most recently in 2012.
History
Prior professional baseball in Appleton
Appleton, the largest of Wisconsin's Fox Cities, has hosted Minor League Baseball teams since the late 19th century. The city's professional baseball history dates back to 1891 with the formation of the Appleton Papermakers in the single-season Wisconsin State League.<ref name=OfficialHistory>Template:Cite web</ref> The city was home to a new Papermakers team in the Wisconsin–Illinois League from 1909 to 1914.<ref name=OfficialHistory/> The Wisconsin State League was revived in 1940 with the Papermakers as members from 1940 to 1942 and 1946 to 1953 when the team and its league disbanded.<ref name=OfficialHistory/>
Washington Senators (1958–1959)
In 1958, the Fox Cities Foxes joined the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League, popularly known as the Three–I League, as the Class B affiliate of the Washington Senators.<ref name=OfficialHistory/><ref name=BRAppleton>Template:Cite web</ref> Their home ballpark was Goodland Field in Appleton.<ref name=GoodlandField>Template:Cite web</ref> This team was owned and operated by Appleton Baseball Club, Inc., a non-stock and nonprofit organization. Governed by a volunteer board of directors, this entity continued to own and operate the franchise through 2020.<ref name=CMehring12-22-2020>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Foxes played their inaugural game on the road against the Davenport DavSox on April 27, 1958, a 9–2 victory.<ref name=firstgame>Template:Cite news</ref> Their first home game, a 6–0 win over the Cedar Rapids Braves, was played on May 3.<ref name=firsthomegame>Template:Cite news</ref> The Senators affiliation ended after two seasons with the Foxes having a 115–140 record over that period.<ref name=BRAppleton/>
Baltimore Orioles (1960–1965)
Prior to the 1960 season, the team became an affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles.<ref name=OfficialHistory/> Managed by future Baseball Hall of Famer Earl Weaver,<ref name=1960roster>Template:Cite web</ref> they won the Three–I League championship pennant with a league-best 82–56 record in their first season with the Orioles.<ref name=1960BR>Template:Cite web</ref> Third baseman Pete Ward was selected as the league's Most Valuable Player, and first baseman Boog Powell won the Rookie of the Year Award.<ref name=1960awards>Template:Cite news</ref> The team also included pitcher Pat Gillick,<ref name=1960roster/> who was later inducted in the Hall of Fame as an executive.<ref name=GillickHOF>Template:Cite web</ref> The Three–I League suspended operations after the 1961 season, hoping to resume in 1963.<ref name=IIII-MWL>Template:Cite news</ref>
As a result, Fox Cities joined the Class D Midwest League (MWL) for 1962.<ref name=IIII-MWL/> Despite a sub-.500 season, Cal Ripken Sr. won the 1962 Midwest League Manager of the Year Award.<ref name=MWLawards>Template:Cite web</ref> The MWL was reclassified as a Class A league in 1963.<ref name=BRAppleton/> Manager Billy DeMars led the 1964 Foxes to win the second half title, qualifying them for a single championship game against the Clinton C-Sox.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=1964SC>Template:Cite web</ref> The Foxes won the game, giving them their first Midwest League championship.<ref name=1964SC/> The affiliation with Baltimore ended after the 1965 season with the Foxes having a 401–352 record over the six-year period.<ref name=BRAppleton/>
Chicago White Sox (1966–1986)
The Foxes joined the Chicago White Sox organization in 1966.<ref name=OfficialHistory/> The partnership began with the club winning back-to-back Midwest League championships. Stan Wasiak managed the 1966 squad to the first half title and a 2–0 championship series win over the Cedar Rapids Cardinals.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=1966div>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=1966SC>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1967, then known as the Appleton Foxes,<ref name=BRAppleton/> Manager of the Year Alex Cosmidis' team won the second half title before sweeping the Wisconsin Rapids Twins in two games to win the MWL crown again.<ref name=MWLawards/><ref name=1967div>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=1967SC>Template:Cite web</ref> Two years later, Tom Saffell's Foxes won both halves of the 1969 season and were named league champions without any playoffs being held.<ref name=1969SC>Template:Cite web</ref> Saffell was selected for the league's Manager of the Year Award.<ref name=MWLawards/>
Appleton won three Northern Division titles from 1971 to 1974, but they lost the league title each time in the final round. Joe Sparks was recognized as the MWL Manager of the Year for 1971.<ref name=MWLawards/> Future Hall of Fame pitcher Goose Gossage played with Appleton from 1970 to 1971 and in 1974.<ref name=GGossage>Template:Cite web</ref> Fellow Hall of Famer Harold Baines began his career with the Foxes in 1977.<ref name=HBaines>Template:Cite web</ref> The 1978 team, under the management of Gordon Lund,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> set a franchise record with their 97–40 season.<ref name=BRAppleton/> Having won the first half, they went on to capture the Northern Division title versus the Waterloo Indians, 2–0, before beating the Burlington Bees, 2–1, to win their fifth MWL championship.<ref name=1978SC>Template:Cite web</ref> Lund won the season's Manager of the Year Award,<ref name=MWLawards/> and the team was recognized as one of the 100 greatest minor league teams of all-time by baseball historians in 2001.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
From 1982 to 1984, the Foxes won three consecutive Midwest League championships. Clinching a wild card berth in 1982, Appleton won the semifinals against the Springfield Cardinals, 2–0, then claimed the league title over the Madison Muskies, 2–1,<ref name=1982SC>Template:Cite web</ref> under manager Adrian Garrett.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The 1983 Northern Division champions, then led by John Boles,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> won the semifinals versus Waterloo, 2–1,<ref name=1983SC>Template:Cite web</ref> then won a second consecutive championship against Springfield, 3–1.<ref name=1983leaguetitle>Template:Cite news</ref> Sal Rende's 1984 Foxes completed the back-to-back-to-back feat by winning the division, defeating Madison, 2–1, in the semifinals, and again taking the championship from Springfield in a full five-game series.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=1984SC>Template:Cite web</ref> The 1986 Foxes won another division title, but were kept from winning a fourth consecutive championship with elimination in the semifinals.<ref name=1985SC>Template:Cite web</ref>
The White Sox affiliation ended after the 1986 season. Spanning 21 years, this was the longest affiliation in the minor league team's history.<ref name=OfficialHistory/> It was also the most successful in terms of their win–loss record with the team going 1,471–1,261 over that stretch.<ref name=BRAppleton/>
Kansas City Royals (1987–1992)
Appleton affiliated with the Kansas City Royals in 1987.<ref name=OfficialHistory/> Aside from a 71–69 finish in 1987 and a 70–62 record with a first half title in 1992, the Foxes finished under .500 in four out of six years with the Royals.<ref name=BRAppleton/> Pitcher Tom Gordon led the Midwest League with 172 strikeouts in 1988 and was named the league's Prospect of the Year.<ref name=TGordon>Template:Cite news</ref> Tom Poquette, manager of the 1992 team, won the Manager of the Year Award.<ref name=MWLawards/> Appleton accumulated a 386–433 record during the affiliation.<ref name=BRAppleton/>
Seattle Mariners (1993–2008)
Appleton became the Class A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners in 1993.<ref name=OfficialHistory/> On August 29, 1994, the Foxes played their final game at the 54-year-old Goodland Field.<ref name=MWoods8-30-1994>Template:Cite news</ref> The 8–1 loss to the South Bend Silver Hawks was attended by a season-high 3,492 people.<ref name=MWoods8-30-1994/> The team would move to the new $4.75-million Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute the next season.<ref name=LGallup2>Template:Cite news</ref> Also in 1995, after 37 seasons as the Foxes, the team rebranded as the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. This change was made to increase their regional appeal outside the Fox Cities and to boost merchandise sales.<ref name=LGallup1>Template:Cite news</ref> "Timber Rattlers" was chosen by area school children who selected it from among three possible monikers along with several logos for each.<ref name=LGallup2/> The name refers to the timber rattlesnake, which is not typically found in the Appleton area but is more common in southwest Wisconsin.<ref name=LGallup1/><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The team's scheduled April 5, 1995, home opener at their new facility was postponed due to snow and rescheduled for the next afternoon as a doubleheader.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Timber Rattlers won both games, defeating the West Michigan Whitecaps, 3–1 and 8–6, before an audience of 1,937 people.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 1994, shortstop Alex Rodriguez was selected as the league's Prospect of the Year after hitting for a .319 batting average with 14 home runs and 55 RBI in just 65 games.<ref name=ARodgiguez>Template:Cite news</ref> Wisconsin failed to reach the postseason in their first three seasons with Seattle. As first-half winners in 1996, they won the Central Division title versus the Peoria Chiefs, 2–1, and then beat the Quad Cities River Bandits, 2–1, to advance to the championship round, but they were defeated by West Michigan, 3–1.<ref name=1996SC>Template:Cite web</ref> The 1997 and 1998 teams repeated as first half champions, but were each eliminated in the divisional rounds. In 1999, the Timber Rattlers qualified for the postseason with a second half title, won the Central Division over the Rockford Reds, 2–0, advanced through the semifinals over the Lansing Lugnuts, 2–0, but again lost the championship to Burlington, 3–2.<ref name=1999SC>Template:Cite web</ref> The team won second half titles and the quarterfinals in the next two seasons but were unable to win in the divisional rounds, and the 2003 first-half winners did not make it past the quarterfinals. In 2005, Wisconsin won both halves, the quarterfinals over the Beloit Snappers, 2–1, and the Western Division title against the Clinton LumberKings, 2–0, but failed to win the league championship as they were defeated by South Bend, 3–2.<ref name=2005SC>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Mariners affiliation ended after the 2008 season without any further postseason appearances. Over the 16-year relationship, Wisconsin had a 1,077–1,124 record.<ref name=BRAppleton/>
Milwaukee Brewers (2009–present)
The Timber Rattlers affiliated with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2009. Managed by Matt Erickson,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Wisconsin qualified for the postseason in 2012 after a six-year absence from the playoffs. Having won the first half,<ref name=2012SC>Template:Cite web</ref> they won the quarterfinals over Burlington, 2–1, and the Western Division title versus Clinton, 2–0.<ref name=2012BR>Template:Cite web</ref> They ended the postseason by winning their ninth Midwest League championship over Fort Wayne, 3–1.<ref name=2012BR/> That same season, the franchise won the Larry MacPhail Award for outstanding minor league promotions.<ref name=2012MacPhail>Template:Cite web</ref> Their most recent postseason appearances came in 2014 and 2016 via second half titles, but the Timber Rattlers were eliminated in each quarterfinal round.
Following the 2020 season, Appleton Baseball Club, Inc, sold the team to Third Base Ventures, LLC, a group consisting of principal owner Craig Dickman and minority owners team president Rob Zerjav and Brad Raaths.<ref name=CMehring12-22-2020/> The group also purchased the team's ballpark from the Fox Cities Amateur Sports Authority with plans to keep the team in Grand Chute.<ref name=2020saleFAQ>Template:Cite web</ref> Major League Baseball assumed control of Minor League Baseball before the 2021 season in a move to increase player salaries, modernize facility standards, and reduce travel. As a result, the Midwest League disbanded and the Timber Rattlers were elevated to the High-A classification and placed in the High-A Central, where they continued their affiliation with Milwaukee.<ref name=JMayo2-12-2021>Template:Cite web</ref> Wisconsin began competition in the new league on May 4 with a 2–1 victory over the Beloit Snappers at Fox Cities Stadium.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They ended the season in third place in the West Division with a 59–60 record.<ref name=BR2021>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2022, the High-A Central became known as the Midwest League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization.<ref name=MWLrename>Template:Cite web</ref> Wisconsin placed second in both halves of the split-season, missing out on qualifying for the postseason.<ref name=2022halfs>Template:Cite web</ref> Their season record was 69–60.<ref name=BRAppleton/> They did not win either half of the 2023 season in which they finished 62–68.<ref name=2023halfs>Template:Cite web</ref> The Timber Rattlers won the first-half of the 2024 season with a record of 42–44, clinching a spot in the playoffs.<ref name=2024firsthalf>Template:Cite news</ref> They won the Western Division title over the Quad Cities River Bandits, 2–0,<ref name=2024DivTitle>Template:Cite web</ref> but were defeated in the championship series by the Lake County Captains, 2–1.<ref name=2024LeagueTitle>Template:Cite web</ref> Wisconsin posted a season record of 77–54.<ref name=BR2024>Template:Cite web</ref> Victor Estevez won the Midwest League Manager of the Year Award.<ref name=2024MOTY>Template:Cite web</ref>
In April 2025, Third Base Ventures, LLC, sold the Timber Rattlers and their ballpark to Diamond Baseball Holdings, an organization that owns and operates other affiliated minor league teams across the country.<ref name=DBH4-17-25/> Over 17 complete seasons of competition as a Brewers farm club, the Timber Rattlers hold a regular-season win–loss record of 1,032–1,131.<ref name=BRAppleton/>
Season-by-season records
| League | The team's final position in the league standings |
|---|---|
| Division | The team's final position in the divisional standings |
| GB | Games behind the team that finished in first place in the division that season |
| Template:† | League champions (1958–present) |
| * | Division champions (1971–present) |
| ^ | Postseason berth (1958–present) |
| Affiliation | Regular season | Postseason | Composite | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record | Win % | Template:Abbr | Record | Win % | Record | Win % | |
| Washington Senators (1958–1959) | 115–140 | .451 | 0 | Template:Sort | Template:Sort | 115–140 | .451 |
| Baltimore Orioles (1960–1965) | 401–352 | .533 | 1 | Template:Sort | Template:Sort | 402–352 | .533 |
| Chicago White Sox (1966–1986) | 1,471–1,261 | .538 | 11 | Template:Sort | Template:Sort | 1,499–1,276 | .540 |
| Kansas City Royals (1987–1992) | 386–433 | .471 | 1 | Template:Sort | Template:Sort | 387–435 | .471 |
| Seattle Mariners (1993–2008) | 1,077–1,124 | .489 | 8 | Template:Sort | Template:Sort | 1,100–1,147 | .490 |
| Milwaukee Brewers (2009–present) | 1,032–1,131 | Template:Winpct | 4 | Template:Sort | Template:Sort | 1,042–1,139 | Template:Winpct |
| All-time | 4,482–4,442 | Template:Winpct | 25 | 63–48 | Template:Winpct | 4,545–4,490 | Template:Winpct |
Radio and television
All home and road games are broadcast on WNAM 1280 AM.<ref name=broadcast>Template:Cite web</ref> Live audio broadcasts are also available online through the team's website and the MiLB First Pitch app.<ref name=broadcast/> All home games and select road games can be viewed through the MiLB.TV subscription feature of the official website of Minor League Baseball, with audio provided by a radio simulcast.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Select home games are televised on WCWF CW 14 in Green Bay/Appleton, and on WVTV-DT2 My 24 in Milwaukee.<ref name=broadcast/>
Mascots
Wisconsin's primary mascot is an anthropomorphic timber rattler snake named Fang. He is golden yellow with a red tongue extending from his mouth and wears the same uniform as the team.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Fang is joined by Whiffer, a secondary mascot whose appearance resembles that of the Phillie Phanatic with teal fur and green face and hands.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Prior to Fang and the 1995 rebrand, Appleton's mascot was Freddy Fox, an anthropomorphic fox who wore the team's jersey and cap.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Circa 1980, the mascot was Homer Run, who was human in appearance and wore the same style uniform as the Foxes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Roster
Template:Wisconsin Timber Rattlers roster
Achievements
Awards
Four players and seven managers have won league awards in recognition for their performance with the Foxes/Timber Rattlers.
| Award | Recipient | Season | Template:Abbr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most Valuable Player | Template:Sortname | 1960 | <ref name=1960awards/> |
| Rookie of the Year | Template:Sortname | 1960 | <ref name=1960awards/> |
| Award | Recipient | Season | Template:Abbr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prospect of the Year | Template:Sortname | 1988 | <ref name=MWLawards/> |
| Prospect of the Year | Template:Sortname | 1994 | <ref name=MWLawards/> |
| Manager of the Year | Template:Sortname | 1962 | <ref name=MWLawards/> |
| Manager of the Year | Template:Sortname | 1967 | <ref name=MWLawards/> |
| Manager of the Year | Template:Sortname | 1969 | <ref name=MWLawards/> |
| Manager of the Year | Template:Sortname | 1971 | <ref name=MWLawards/> |
| Manager of the Year | Template:Sortname | 1978 | <ref name=MWLawards/> |
| Manager of the Year | Template:Sortname | 1992 | <ref name=MWLawards/> |
| Manager of the Year | Template:Sortname | 2024 | <ref name=2024MOTY/> |
No-hitters
The Timber Rattlers have pitched 14 no-hitters in their franchise history. A no-hit game occurs when a pitcher (or pitchers) allows no hits over the course of a game.<ref name=definition>Template:Cite web</ref> A perfect game, a much rarer feat, occurs when no batters reach base by a hit or any other means, such as a walk, hit by pitch, or error.<ref name=definition/> Wisconsin's no-hitters were accomplished by a total of 19 pitchers. Nine were complete games pitched by a lone pitcher, and five were combined no-hitters.
| Score | Game score with Wisconsin runs listed first |
|---|---|
| Template:Small | Number of innings in a game that was shorter or longer than 9 innings |
| £ | Pitcher was left-handed |
References
External links
Template:Milwaukee Brewers Template:Midwest League Template:Wisconsinsports Template:Diamond Baseball Holdings
- 1958 establishments in Wisconsin
- Baltimore Orioles minor league affiliates
- Baseball teams established in 1958
- Chicago White Sox minor league affiliates
- High-A Central teams
- Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League teams
- Kansas City Royals minor league affiliates
- Midwest League teams
- Milwaukee Brewers minor league affiliates
- Professional baseball teams in Wisconsin
- Seattle Mariners minor league affiliates
- Sports in Outagamie County, Wisconsin
- Washington Senators (1901–1960) minor league affiliates